Stree Review - A Comedy of Horrors

Stree is unintentionally bewildering. Not because of the conviction with which writers Raj & DK serve up this insatiable plot, and not even the stellar acts from seasoned actors like Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi and Aparshakti Khurana. But it is the sheer messaging and moral that ebbs in each scene. The pain with which Stree rampages around leaving only a man’s vastra. It’s an inspired attempt, and I’ll be damned … it works. The metaphorical intensity of the plot is lightened, by director Amar Kaushik’s lighter side of things.

He shows us the Chanderi, not where Stree hunts, but where directors like RS Prasanna and Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari picked up scripts and ideas for their films. So, Vicky (Rao) or ‘Bicky’ as he is lovingly called in this sleepy town, is a tailor. He can just look at a woman and find out her measurements. Then there’s an unknown woman (Shraddha Kapoor) who comes only around the time of the Puja. This unnamed crusader is overtly creepy and oddly silent. And to add subtext to the film, there’s also an urban legend - the titular stree, who comes every puja and takes men away. This serves the horror genre.

Now, knowing Bollywood and rapport with horror, Stree was a self-proclaimed train wreck. And don’t get me wrong. It very much is. Especially in the first half, where it struggles with tone and pacing. There are far too many songs and Aao Kabhi Haveli Pe and Kamariya are polar opposites to the feminist outcry subverting the patriarchy in our country. Also, Amar and his wobbly script, can’t decide whether Stree is more like Pari or Bareilly Ki Barfi. So, in its first hour, the tonality changes - but that’s fine, because leading man, Rajkummar Rao, embraces each curveball the script throws at him.

He has a special power, to make even the scariest of scenes funny. So even as the camera follows him in quick, fast and light flashes and you know that kisi mard ko dard hoga, you can’t help but anticipate Rao’s comedic antics. It’s a ballsy performance, almost leaning on the caricature-ish small-town man Rao himself created, but with Raj & DK’s eccentric and alien story, Rao’s familiarity almost falls into place. He is aided, but not surpassed by a delightful Pankaj Tripathi as this anomalous old man. Pankaj is perfect and doesn’t miss a beat, in the sadly limited screen time he has.

Also good is Aparshakti Khurana as Vicky’s friend Bittu, but too much of his character arc is spent whining and being a downer, so he never really gets his true breakout scenes. Abhishek Banerjee as Dana is charming, and his chemistry with Khurana in the film’s first half, lights the screen on fire. But Stree’s real surprise is Shraddha Kapoor, as the slightly awkward mysterious crusader - her crusade being to rid Chanderi of its horrid Stree. She has an aura of creepiness to her that translates to the scene around her instantly being terrifying. Her back-and-forth with Rao seems a bit forced, but both actors, equipped with smart dialogues, sustain the pacing with enough conviction

So Stree works in three artistic aspects - its writing, its brilliant acting and its brilliant direction. But, it’s a technical debacle. The cinematography by Amalendu Chaudhary works in the beginning half, but in the latter half it becomes confusing and perplexing. Also, the titular stree herself looks unconvincing and like a chudail belonging in one of those cheap YouTube horror-sex (horex) productions. But, as they say, it’s only the storytelling that matters and I can’t not recommend Stree enough.

It’s bewildering that Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K.’s film in its being is such a statement. It alludes to the commercial aspect of our cinema, and how we must make ‘commercially viable’ films - something that all members of the star cast have been subjected to. But Stree is meant to make uncomfortable all those same people who will go and watch. It’s a scathing critique on our society, that the tailors and storeowners of Chanderi could have a greater and wider perspective than us urban audience. It’s perfectly horrid, and in a good way.

Stree works both as a piece of art and as a statement, and if that doesn’t work … it makes for some pretty good horror - something that India has been lacking for much too long. Perhaps Stree can do away with those awful Balaji quasi-sequels and the new genre could be horror-comedy? Stree is fresh and smart.

I’m going with 3.5 stars. Watch it for everything it offers.