I never knew that this franchise existed. I had heard of the films Stree and Bhediya, but I didn’t think they were part of the same universe, and I had no idea about Munjya. Finally, after seeing the massive response, I decided to give it a try, and guess what—it has just blown my mind. The universe is truly one of a kind, with ignited supernatural elements coupled with humor and good graphics.
1. Stree (2018)
The franchise started off with Stree. Though it’s a horror comedy, I loved the way the film was treated with excellent screenplay. It gives us chills while keeping us engaged with humor and suspense until the very end. Shraddha Kapoor’s character was perfectly designed to make us believe she might be the ghost, but the climax revelation was pure madness. I loved it! On the other hand, the trio comedy of Rajkummar Rao, Aparshakti Khurana, and Abhishek Banerjee was just hilarious. Pankaj Tripathi’s character was also a standout in terms of humor.
Available to Stream: Disney+ Hotstar
2. Bhediya (2022)
I never thought that Bollywood would even dare to touch this kind of concept, but they did. While there were hiccups in matching the standards set by Stree, as the film progresses, it finds its footing. Abhishek Banerjee was again a standout character for me, and the reunion of Stree characters in the post-credit scene was just amazing. The way the film linked itself to the universe was really well done. The last 30 minutes were the highlight of the film. The makers showcased animal love so effectively that for a moment, you forget it’s actually Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon’s souls. The shape-shifting aspect and the binding to the universe were exceptional. It was a bold move from the makers to showcase such a concept.
Available to Stream: Jio Cinema
3. Munjya (2024)
This one is just a hilarious ride in a horror film. There was a bit of overdosed comedy at times, but the concept and characterizations, with fresh faces, made it a lot more interesting. Abhay Verma and Sharvari did very well in their roles, and their on-screen chemistry was promising. Satyadev’s character was reminiscent of Pankaj Tripathi’s from Stree—he pulled it off with great comedic skills. Even though it’s a horror-comic story, it’s enjoyable for kids too. A good show overall, with the post-credit scene where the Bhediya characters return being particularly hilarious.
Coming Soon: Disney+ Hotstar
The future of this universe is very promising with these films so far. It seems like everything will have a sequel, starting with Stree 2 this August 15th. After looking into more projects, I am very excited about the exploration of this supernatural franchise.
