Rajesh D
Movie Review: Stree - A Masterstroke of Satire Wrapped in Laughter
If you want to listen to this epic Story: https://youtu.be/xJ8ax75UYNA
In a world of relentless horror flicks, Stree emerges not just as a breath of fresh air but as a whirlwind of satirical comedy that tackles social commentary with an ingenious blend of laughter and subtle messages. Echoing the class of timeless satires like Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, Stree masks its sharp societal critiques under the guise of horror, ensuring you laugh but also ponder deeply. Set in the small town of Chanderi, Stree is based on the urban legend of a female spirit who haunts the town during an annual festival. The residents, in an attempt to ward off her wrath, paint their walls with "O Stree, Kal Aana" (Stree, come tomorrow). However, beneath the surface of this horror-comedy lies a profound commentary on the status of women in society – likening them to ghosts: seen, feared, but never fully acknowledged. Director Amar Kaushik executes this narrative with a commendable pace and a brilliant grasp of timing, making every scene a seamless blend of thrill and laughter. The film doesn’t depend on grand musical numbers to enhance its appeal, which is a bold move in Bollywood. Instead, it relies on a potent script and well-timed background scores, which are among the best in recent cinema, to amplify the emotional undertones and comedic punches. Rajkumar Rao delivers another stellar performance, solidifying his reputation as a torchbearer of quality cinema alongside notable contemporaries like Manoj Bajpai and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. His portrayal of Vicky, the gifted tailor who becomes the unwitting defender of the town, is both endearing and commendable. Rao brings a sincerity that adds depth to the comedy, making you root for him throughout the narrative. The supporting cast, including Pankaj Tripathi and the dynamic newcomer Jana, provide a robust backbone to the film. Tripathi’s comic timing is impeccable, and Jana, as the frenzied victim of the Stree, is a revelation. Shradhha Kapoor, as the mysterious and enigmatic woman, adds the necessary intrigue and charm, weaving seamlessly into the fabric of the story. Stree culminates in one of the most brilliantly orchestrated climaxes, which marries humor with horror in a way that leaves you both laughing and reflective. The ending twist where the town shifts from warding off the ‘Stree’ with fear to respecting her with "O Stree Raksha Karna" (Stree, protect us) is a clever critique of societal transformation regarding women’s respect. Stree is not just a film but a movement packaged with layers of humor and horror. It's a must-watch for those who cherish cinema that entertains yet enlightens. As the film ends, it promises more, just like the legend of Stree continues to linger in Chanderi. This movie not only makes a compelling case for the power of well-crafted satire but also revives hope in Indian cinema that it can engage intelligently with its audience without resorting to lowbrow content. In a nutshell, Stree is a significant triumph for Bollywood: it’s a blockbuster with a brain. Hats off to the team behind this venture for presenting a film that’s as entertaining as it is intelligent.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
09/28/24
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Audience Member
If you're a fan of streaming movies online, GlamCinema is a great site with a wide range of films. watch the any movie on https://glamcinema.com
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
09/06/24
Full Review
Tushar C
The movie is only a little bit scary but the comedy was top notch, showing double meaning jokes in a casual way. The story of the movie could have been better
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
08/18/24
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yaar b
shraddha kapoor acting is distractiing.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
07/18/24
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Audience Member
Filled with a few genuine scares but more on the comic side, a good one time watch based on a fresh concept.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
02/05/23
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Audience Member
Back when this movie was announced I wasn't exactly interested in this film. I was expecting it to be like just another cheesy Bollywood horror-comedy film. The only Bollywood horror comedy that I actually liked was Go Goa Gone, and since that film went flop, I stopped trusting Bollywood horror comedies at all.
But later on I heard many people telling how great this film is. It earned big on the box office, so I thought probably I could give this a try, and that's what I did. It was really nice. I do have some problems with it, which I will talk about later. But mostly it's "the" horror comedy movie that we'd normally expect the Indian film industry to make. And with the resources they have, they can make many such awesome ones without having to worry about the budget.
Throughout the film I didn't even notice once that Shraddha Kapoor's character never had a name. I was thinking it must have been spoken but I didn't listen. And that clearly shows one thing about Indian films that I really like. They don't complicate stories the way Hollywood does. The story is always simple and to the point, with occasional exceptions coming from bad films. This film knows its characters well, it knows exactly what kind of a sense of humour is suited for a setting that it has, and is driven more by the characters than the actual story. Stree's backstory is a very emotional one, but at the same time when Vicky is waiting for her in a groom costume it's hilarious. The "friendship" jokes are right on spot and absolutely suit the setting of the story, and Vicky's relation with his father is also very relatable.
Now like I said, I'm gonna talk about the things I didn't like in this film. First of all the very character of Stree. Her powers are very ambiguous. You don't know exactly what she's doing when she hypnotises her targets. Is she making their heads move or are they doing it voluntarily and she attacks them only if they copy her? Then her way of chasing them while levitating is also very badly done. It's so bad even I could make it better. I can understand they did it that way because it's a very low budget film, but I don't think it would be too much to ask for her to fly a bit more realistically. And whenever she flies, there's always a comedy music playing in the background, which completely undermines the tone of the movie.
The other thing I didn't like about this film was the bad cinematography. Sometimes the camera becomes a bit too shaky, especially when the camera zooms in on the "O Stree come tomorrow" text. And speaking of that, the entire concept that Vicky pissed on the text while he was horny was a bit too "coincidential" (a word I use when things just happen to happen, like a mouse running on the keyboard to bring Ant-Man back in Endgame).
Stree is one of the horror comedies I'd recommend to anyone who wants to have a look at Bollywood films and learn about the different genres and what the best films are in them. In my opinion it's a must-watch for everyone who is interested in horror-comedy and Indian films.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
01/16/23
Full Review
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