In Stree 2, Vicky, the endearing small-town tailor portrayed by Rajkummar Rao, is sternly reminded that his greatest virtues are ‘sachai aur saralta’—truth and simplicity. Although the film harbors a grain of truth, likening its villain to a chauvinistic, modern-day ‘influencer’ corrupting young minds, such thought-provoking ideas are gradually overshadowed by the complexities of the franchise. Directed by Amar Kaushik, Stree 2 rides on the charm of its predecessor but feels mass-produced, contrasting sharply with the carefully crafted aura of the original movie.
Having freed his cherished town of Chanderi from the menacing spirit known as Stree, who abducted lone men at night, Vicky now finds himself a heartbroken drunk. He is haunted by memories of the mysterious girl-with-no-name (Shraddha Kapoor), who disappeared with Stree’s braid at the conclusion of the first film. Vicky’s friends are equally smitten. Bittu (Aparshakti Khurana) hasn’t moved beyond the initial stages of romance with his new crush. Likewise, when the town’s paranormal expert, Rudra bhaiya (Pankaj Tripathi), receives an unexpected letter—referred to gleefully as “gupt sandesh” (secret message)—his thoughts immediately turn to Shama, his old flame.
However, the letter serves as a warning about strange happenings in Chanderi—particularly the abduction of young women by ‘Sarkata,’ a formidable demon with an ancient vendetta against Stree. The demon’s detachable, flying head, which rolls innocuously before attacking with its dreadlock-like tentacles, provides the film’s best comedic visuals.
In its initial half, Stree 2 captures the whimsical and textured essence of Raj & DK’s original screenplay, penned for the sequel by Niren Bhatt. The wordplay remains consistently amusing—Bittu misinterpreting “intimate feasting” for intermittent fasting is particularly memorable. Fans of the first film will appreciate the numerous callbacks and extended time spent on establishing the plot and assembling the core team. Characters and situations from the first film are revisited, creating a nostalgic yet slightly dragged-out experience. “First Stree, then Bhediya… why do I always get stuck?” laments Jana (Abhishek Banerjee), indicating his detour to Delhi.
Where Kaushik’s debut film tackled themes of patriarchy and gender dynamics with finesse, Stree 2 doesn’t delve as deeply into these issues. The new antagonist, Sarkata, targets modern-thinking women, those who smoke, drink, or marry outside their caste.
. Bizarrely, Rudra’s plan to lure the demon involves hosting a dance program, hardly a modern concept. Equally puzzling is the scene where Chanderi’s surviving women unanimously choose Vicky as their savior, a decision portrayed more thoughtfully in Stree through a personal backstory.
Despite some inconsistencies, the comedy in Stree 2 shines brightly. One night, while escaping Sarkata, Vicky and his friends hide inside what turns out to be a fake elephant used in fairgrounds. “There is a field beyond right and wrong…” Vicky muses, quoting from Rockstar. Bittu’s response, “And next to that a madhouse,” adds a perfect punchline.
Rajkummar Rao remains delightful as the skittish tailor, embodying Vicky’s innocent sweetness. His genuine astonishment—“Are you really inside me?”—when Kapoor’s character merges their bodies, underscores his endearing nature. Kapoor’s mysterious sorceress is more prominent in this sequel, her luminescent ponytail twirling like a lasso. Although she embodies the superhero presence the film needed, Kaushik reserves twists and turns that align with the larger cinematic universe in which Stree 2 exists.
As viewers may know, Stree 2 is a part of an ongoing cinematic universe. The film concludes with multiple post-credit sequences, introducing an actor whose presence feels incongruent with the established world. This reflects a desperate new trend in Indian cinema, one that might pay off in the short term, as seen with other franchises. However, there is a looming sense that audiences may soon tire of it.
Particularly concerning is the impact on Maddock Films. While team-ups involving cops, spies, and action heroes have clear synergy, werewolves and ghosts seem to stretch plausibility. Stree 2 currently plays in theaters, inviting audiences to appreciate its humor while contemplating the broader, more fantastical universe it is expanding into.
