The much-awaited sequel to the 2018 hit Stree, titled Stree 2: Sarkate Ka Aatank (2024) completed its glorious run at the theatres after minting over INR 600 crore at the box office. The music of the 2018 film, starring Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor in the lead, was one of its biggest draws that lured the audience to the theatres, whereas the massive reception and success of the horror-comedy had the viewers waiting in anticipation for its sequel. Here’s a look at what worked (and what didn’t) in the music album of both the films, composed by the duo of Sachin-Jigar.
Aaj Ki Raat and Kamariya
There’s no doubt that Aaj Ki Raat is probably the most popular track from the music album of Stree 2, thanks to the adaayein and scintillating dance moves of Tamannaah Bhatia. The lyrics penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya are also quite meaningful and weighty in equal measures. However, we feel that this peppy track somewhere lost the importance it deserved in the cacophony of its beats which seem to have been tailored ‘for your eyes only’ on Instagram Reels. On the other hand, Kamariya from the 2018 film was also meant to be a dance number but the reason it stood out was because its lyrics were not trying to convey any messaging. It was supposed to be a fun, party number and it delivered just that, whereas Aaj Ki Raat is loaded with significant messaging which gets lost in translation, especially in its music video. Lyrics like “..ke khareedi nahi ja sakti haseeno ki ijaazat” in a song deserve better composition. Also, the song seems short of one more paragraph for some reason.
Khoobsurat, Tumhare Hi Rahenge Hum and Nazar Na Lag Jaaye
The two soulful numbers from Stree 2 – Khoobsurat and Tumhare Hi Rahenge Hum have been composed beautifully and have a poetic element, highlighted especially by the chorus, that lends an almost qawwali-like feel to them. While the songs have a soothing quality, we aren’t sure how well they’re going to age, or if they’ll continue to be a part of the listeners’ playlists long after the hysteria of the sequel dies down. On the other hand, Nazar Na Lag Jaaye from the 2018 film has managed to carve a place for itself even six years after its release, owing to its dreamy, soft-romantic appeal. The minimalistic arrangement that allowed the vocals to take center stage worked wonders for this love song that continues to resonate with listeners to date.
Aayi Nai and Milegi Milegi
Both Aayi Nai and Milegi Milegi are meant to be playful numbers aimed at nothing but fun! While both the songs succeed in delivering on the ‘fun’ quotient, the music composition of Milegi Milegi is far more catchy than that of Aayi Nai. Milegi Milegi has an infectious vibe with the use of electronic music blended well with folk elements that make it more appealing. Aayi Nai on the other hand boasts of a single hook which sounds repetitive on listening to it for a few times. The opening tunes of Milegi Milegi from the 2018 film command your attention instantly while those of Aayi Nai take quite some time to grow on you. Nevertheless, full marks for the choreography of both numbers which makes them both quite visually appealing.
Pooja Ke Dino Mein Aati Thi and Dil Ka Dazi
Both the songs appear in the opening credits of the respective films. While Dil Ka Darzi is much more upbeat and playful – qualities that were essential to showcase the flirtatious and carefree nature of Vicky (Rajkummar Rao), Pooja Ke Dino Mein Aati Thi serves as a means for a quick recap of the premise and all the action that transpired in Stree. Dil Ka Darzi emerges as a winner since it fuses folk-inspired sounds with modern electronic beats which makes the track extremely hummable. The beats of Pooja Ke Dino Mein… on the other hand are presented as a typical bhajan or a jagrata song. This works in the context of the film but fails the test of time.
Aao Kabhi Haveli Pe
This quirky number from Stree deserves a special mention owing to its peppy and upbeat tunes and snappy lyrics. Full marks to Badshah and Jigar Saraiya for incorporating popular gen-z slangs (remember “Lagna Tu LIT AF Tu, Ban Than Aaja ASAP Tu”?) in the lyrics which made it an instant hit. Who would have thought that late Amrish Puri’s dialogue “Aao kabhi haveli pe” from Nagina, which became a cult meme, could be turned into such a lively and energetic dance track?
(This Feature was first published on The Movie Mail’s Instagram page)
