Stree 2: An imperfect sequel that has hit the jackpot

Despite Stree directors Raj & DK stepping away, Stree 2 serves up a perfect recipe, driven by stellar performances, and a sharp screenplay. Led by Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor, and supported by Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, and Abhishek Banerjee, the cast keeps the magic alive. Now, 36 days into its theatrical run, the film has soared to become the highest-grossing Hindi film ever.

Quick flashback of Stree

In the first film, a mysterious spirit known as Stree haunts the men of Chanderi, abducting them under the cover of night, until a young tailor, Vicky (Rajkummar Rao), bravely cuts off her hair, severing her power and ending her reign of terror. Afterward, the village flourished as its women embraced opportunities once denied to them, excelling in education, careers, and personal freedom.

Stree 2 : Plot

- YouTubeyoutu.be

Peace is shattered in Stree 2 when a new threat emerges from the shadows. Enter Sarkata, a malevolent spirit with a headless visage and a dark ideology mirroring the most toxic of modern misogynists. His arrival brings a wave of fear as he begins abducting 'modern' women from Chanderi, a lair that looks like a dystopian nightmare.

His mission: to erase the progress women have made and reinstate an oppressive past where they are confined and controlled.

The once-progressive village is plunged back into darkness. Despite warnings of Sarkata's return, our heroes are initially powerless to prevent his rampage. The situation escalates when Bittu's girlfriend Chitti (Anya Singh) is captured.

Rallying together, Vicky (Rajkummar Rao), Bittu (Aparshakti Khurana), and the ever-wise Rudra (Pankaj Tripathi) join forces again. They hilariously summon Jana (Abhishek Banerjee) from Delhi in a scene straight out of a classic comedy

But this time, they're not alone. Stree (Shraddha Kapoor), stronger than ever, returns with her mystical choti, ready to reclaim her freedom.

Snippet from the filmMaddock

As Chanderi cowers in fear, the seasoned team, guided by Stree’s wisdom and resilience, must confront the formidable Sarkata. They face not just a physical battle, but a symbolic one, battling forces determined to reverse the progress of modern women. With courage, camaraderie, and a touch of magic, they must navigate treacherous challenges and uncover hidden truths to save the village from descending back into an era of repression.

Pop-culture references & metaverse

The barrage of meta-references was pure gold. Clever nods to films like Kabir Singh, Animal, and Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, along with shoutouts to icons like Atal, clever pop culture nods, and surprise celebrity cameos, it almost felt like a Maddock Supernatural Universe of Stree, Bhediya, and Munjya.

Shoutout to Sarkata

Snippet of Sarkata from the trailer.Maddock

Sunil Kumar’s Sarkata is both terrifying and hilarious, with a love for whistling and inventive use of his head, bringing a fresh twist to the scares. His love for whistling, random screaming, and alcohol add to his horrendous charm. Plus, the way he literally uses his head in inventive ways brings a fresh twist to his menace. Loved the jump scares.

Snippet from the trailerMaddock

While Stree 2 delivered laughs, some jokes felt recycled from the original—like swapping Aadhar jokes for GST gags, and the familiar 'Vicky Pleej' line made another appearance, though it leaned into cringy territory this time. But we get it, the makers saved satire for the first one, this one’s just for comedy.