Mayasabha Review: Did the Tumbbad Director Outdo Himself or is the Jaaved Jaaferi Starrer ‘Dressed Up with Nowhere to Go’? The wait is finally over for fans of atmospheric, experimental Indian cinema. Rahi Anil Barve, the visionary director who gave us the cult classic Tumbbad, has returned to the big screen with his long-awaited second directorial venture, Mayasabha: The Hall of Illusion. Released on Friday, January 30, 2026, the film has immediately sparked a firestorm of debate on social media.
While some are hailing it as a visual triumph, others are left wondering if the “Hall of Illusion” is a bit too hollow for the mainstream. Here is a deep dive into everything you need to know about the film—from the shoestring budget to the polarizing reviews.
The Story: A Single Night of Greed and Ghosts
Mayasabha is a claustrophobic psychological thriller that unfolds almost entirely within the decaying walls of an abandoned movie theatre in Mumbai.
The plot follows Parmeshwar Khanna (Jaaved Jaaferi), a once-celebrated movie producer who has lost everything. Now a broken, volatile recluse, he lives inside the crumbling theatre with his son, Vasu (Mohammad Samad). Parmeshwar is obsessed with one thing: guarding a legendary cache of 40 kg of gold hidden somewhere within the “Mayasabha” theatre—riches he himself can no longer find.
The tension spikes when two intruders, Zeenat (Veena Jamkar) and Ravrana (Deepak Damle), arrive on a stormy night. What starts as a seemingly friendly interaction quickly spirals into a lethal game of paranoia, suspicion, and shifting loyalties as the search for the gold unearths buried secrets and old wounds.
Cast and Crew: A Performance-Driven Drama
Despite its grand title, Mayasabha is an intimate character study led by a small but powerhouse cast:
- Jaaved Jaaferi as Parmeshwar Khanna: In a complete departure from his comedic roots, Jaaferi delivers a haunting, career-defining performance as a man consumed by grief and madness.
- Mohammad Samad as Vasu: Playing Parmeshwar’s son, Samad provides the film’s emotional anchor.
- Veena Jamkar & Deepak Damle: As the intruders Zeenat and Ravrana, they bring a necessary friction to the narrative.
The film is produced by Zirkon Films and distributed by Pickle Entertainment (Sameer Dixit and Rishikesh Bhiringi). Notably, the film features no songs, relying entirely on a brooding background score to build its eerie atmosphere.
The “Impossible” Budget and Production
One of the most staggering facts about Mayasabha is its production history. Director Rahi Anil Barve revealed that the film was actually shot nearly eight years ago (around 2018) on a “seven-figure” budget—reportedly less than ₹1 crore.
Barve described the project as a “blazing iron” that the team chose to hold, admitting the film survived 50 instances where it should have been shut down. The fact that it maintains high production values and stunning visuals on such a shoestring budget has earned the crew massive respect in the indie filmmaking community.
Movie Performance: A Tough Start at the Box Office
While the artistic merit is high, the commercial start has been sluggish. On its opening day (January 30), Mayasabha collected approximately ₹12 lakh at the Indian box office.
The low numbers are attributed to a “clash of the titans,” as the film released alongside major commercial heavyweights:
- Mardaani 3: Starring Rani Mukerji.
- Gandhi Talks: A silent film starring Vijay Sethupathi and Aditi Rao Hydari.
- Border 2: Continuing its dominant run in theatres.
People’s Review: Masterpiece or Misstep?
The reaction on X (formerly Twitter) has been a classic “love it or hate it” scenario.
The “Masterpiece” Camp: Many fans of Tumbbad have embraced the film’s slow-burn nature. One user wrote:
“Mayasabha is a gripping psychological drama that swaps spectacle for soul-stirring performances. A slow-burn descent into greed. Must-watch if you love character-driven tension.”
The “Frustrated” Camp: Others felt the 1-hour and 44-minute runtime felt stagnant. A widely shared critique described the film as “all dressed up with nowhere to go,” suggesting that while the visual palette is beautiful, the narrative plateaus too early.
“Rahi Anil Barve’s Mayasabha is equal parts fascinating and frustrating. Javed Jaffery is beautiful, but the film is inventive and perplexing in equal measure.”
Final Verdict
Mayasabha is not your typical weekend entertainer. It is a dense, dialogue-heavy, and atmospheric experiment. If you are looking for the high-octane horror of Tumbbad, you might be disappointed; however, if you want to see Jaaved Jaaferi deliver a masterclass in acting within a beautifully shot “Hall of Illusion,” this is a journey worth taking.