Opening Doorz

By Ananya Kashyap |Opening Doorz Editorial | September 23, 2024

Rating: 3/5

The Essense: Perhaps it is wrong to expect the sequel to be as good as the first film, but ‘Stree2: Sarkate Ka Aatank’ has its audience believe that it matched up, right up till the interval. The two dance numbers, Aayi Nahi and Aaj Ki Raat are catchy and Tamannaah Bhatia’s performance in the latter is the saving grace in the second half of the film.

Headless Ancestor’s Terror

A headless antagonist, a witch with supernatural powers, mixed with characters you cannot help but love, makes for the perfect recipe for the horror comedy film that Stree2: Sarkate Ka Aatank. Does this sequel to the first blockbuster horror-comedy film ‘Stree’ do justice to the franchise? Let’s see…

A Feast for the Senses

Every dialogue had the audience erupting into laughter. The genius of writer Niren Bhatt is obvious here. How the ensemble cast (Rajkumar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, and Abhishek Banerjee) adapted to the characters, is paisa vasool. It was justice to the roles they portrayed. With references to Bhediya and Munjya, Stree2: Sarkate Ka Aatank takes the franchise forward. It is refreshing to witness a Maddock Films universe of sorts.

A Familiar Yet Fresh Tale

After Stree, the town of Chanderi faces a new evil that puts women in danger. The idea behind it is that these are the women who were considered ‘modern’, i.e. they wore what they wanted, exercised their freedom, moved out of town for education, and excelled in other male-dominated fields, something that was unacceptable to ‘Sarkata’, (headless) the evil that haunted their village. The way the stories of the antagonists in both movies are intertwined is testimony to the brilliance of the film’s writer. The fact that the filmmakers did not stray away from the concept of the first movie, but rather built upon it makes the franchise go forward.

Rajkumar Rao Shines

Rajkumar Rao never fails to amaze. That he is a talent that excels in every outing, makes one look forward to his next. In Stree2: Sarkate Ka Aatank he makes you laugh out loud. His portrayal of Vicky, a ladies tailor, who gets entangled in the supernatural mess that Sarkata causes, is way above par. Pankaj Tripathi, another genius in Bollywood, pitches in with his timing and quick wit. Also, special mention to the CGI (Computer Generated Imagery)—A job well done. Aparkshakti Khurana and Abhishek Banerjee deliver stellar performances, making it hard not to love their characters, Bittu and Jana respectively.

The Downfall

Post interval, however, the film takes a nose-dive. What initially felt like a blockbuster, fizzles out quickly. The problem is that the movie strays away from all the comedic genius, something that was a riot in the first half. Moreover, Shraddha Kapoor barely has a role in the film, despite it being named after her character.

The extended climax, while visually impressive, feels drawn out and somewhat repetitive. Some scenes in the second half raise questions about their necessity, leaving the audience wondering if the film could have been tighter.

Perhaps it is wrong to expect the sequel to be as good as the first film, but Stree2: Sarkate Ka Aatank has its audience believe that it matched up, right up till the interval. The two dance numbers, Aayi Nahi and Aaj Ki Raat are catchy and Tamannaah Bhatia’s performance in the latter is the saving grace in the second half of the film.

A Satisfying Watch

Overall, Stree2: Sarkate Ka Aatank is a worthy sequel that will entertain fans of the original film. While it may not reach the same heights as its predecessor, it offers a blend of humour, horror, and a touch of social commentary.

CREDITS
Movie: Stree2: Sarkate Ka Aatank
Producers: Dinesh Vijan, Jyoti Deshpande, Maddock Films, and Jio Studios
Director: Amar Kaushik
Star Cast: Rajkumar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee

Also Read: Kangana and Rajkumar Rao’s blade run, Raima’s Tarikh!

Also Read: Trapped Movie Review: Watchmaaan, Helloooo!