Amar Kaushik's horror-comedy Stree 2: Sarkate Ka Aatank, starring Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Abhishek Banerjee, and Aparshakti Khurana, was released in theaters on August 15, 2024, alongside John Abraham’s Vedaa and Akshay Kumar’s Khel Khel Mein.
Stree 2, written by Niren Bhatt, picks up where the original Stree left off. The people of Chanderi have created a statue of Stree as a symbol of protection from evil. However, they are now haunted by nightmares of Sarkata (played by Sunil Kumar), who targets modern girls.
This situation sparks curiosity among the people of Chanderi about what defines a "modern girl." Rudra (Pankaj Tripathi) enlightens them, explaining that watching TV, listening to music, and using social media platforms all fulfill the criteria of being a modern woman. As the townspeople search for a solution to rid themselves of Sarkata, Rudra teams up with Vicky (Rajkummar Rao), Jana (Abhishek Banerjee), and Bittu (Aparshakti Khurana). Will they succeed in saving Chanderi from Sarkata?
Rajkummar Rao steals the show with a stunning performance. His screen presence, comic timing, and expressions will make you fall in love with him instantly. From his entry scene, where he imagines Rudra as his mysterious lady love (Shraddha Kapoor), to the climax, where he confidently challenges Sarkata with the line, “Agar Maa ka doodh piya hai to humse aake lado,” Rao’s every scene is a delight.
Abhishek Banerjee once again wins hearts with his fantastic performance. The story becomes more engaging the moment he appears on screen. His expression when delivering the line, “Bhai sar katega to fir bhi maan lu lekin ye kaise maan lu ki Bittu ki koi girlfriend hai,” is hilarious. He adds more charm to his bromance with Rudra, Vicky, and Bittu. Writer Niren Bhatt deserves applause for focusing on developing the camaraderie among the characters, which is one of the major reasons the film keeps the audience engaged.
Pankaj Tripathi, an acting powerhouse, almost never fails to impress. He delivers a brilliant performance in Stree 2. His impeccable comic timing and flawless dialogue delivery make every scene he’s in a joy to watch. The nuances in his expressions add depth to the humor, making his performance not just entertaining but unforgettable. He has an unparalleled ability to elevate every moment with his brilliance, proving once again why he’s one of the finest actors in the industry.
Although Shraddha Kapoor doesn't get much screen time, she makes a valuable contribution with her performance. It’s likely the makers are planning to provide a convincing backstory for her character in Stree 3. Aparshakti Khurana offers strong support with his performance, while Varun Dhawan, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Akshay Kumar justify their cameos.
Director Amar Kaushik deserves appreciation for focusing on the right elements to deliver an engaging and entertaining horror-comedy. Sachin-Jigar’s music composition is decent, and Justin Varghese impresses with the background score. The VFX is decent in the first half but brilliant in the second. However, the editing by Hemanti Sarkar had room for improvement.
The film has successfully created a universe of supernatural characters, generating significant hype for upcoming films like Bhediya 2 and Stree 3. So far, 2024 has been a good year for Bollywood horror films, with Shaitaan and Munjya making their mark, and Stree 2 continues this trend.
The film has already crossed a massive collection of ₹300 crores in India and looks unstoppable, with the possibility of crossing ₹400 crores by next week. Besides the supernatural thriller genre, only Fighter and Crew have found significant success at the box office in 2024.
Amar Kaushik’s Stree 2 is one of those rare sequels that surpasses the original in almost every department, from acting to execution.
Stree 2: Sarkate Ka Aatank (2024) Movie Cast:
Rajkummar
Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Abhishek Banerjee, Aparshakti Khurana, Anya
Singh, Atul Srivastava, Mushtaq Khan, Sunita Rajwar, Varun Dhawan, Tamannaah
Bhatia, Akshay Kumar, Sunil Kumar, Bhoomi Rajgor, Arvind Bilgaiyan
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