Dinesh Vijan's horror-comedy universe
| D.V. Horror-Comedy Universe | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Dinesh Vijan |
| Original work | Stree (2018) |
| Owner | Maddock Films Jio Studios |
| Films and television | |
| Film(s) | List of films |
D.V Horror-Comedy Universe is an Indian series of Hindi supernatural horror films. The film series began in 2018 with the release of Stree, directed by Amar Kaushik and starring Rajkumar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor The plot is the Bangalore legend of the 1980s known as Oh Stree Nale Ba (transl. Oh woman, come tomorrow), about a spirit who knocks on people's doors at night; it received positive reviews and grossed ₹180 crore worldwide, budget of between Rs 20 crore, The first film also spawned two direct sequels: Roohi (2021), and Bhediya (2022).
The franchise has been commercially successful, having grossed a combined ₹210 crore against a combined budget of ₹40 crore.[1] The franchise has predominantly received positive to mixed reviews.
Overview[]
Stree (2018)[]
The people of Chanderi live under constant fear of Stree, the spirit of a woman who attacks men at night during festivals. Vicky, along with his friends, decides to unravel the mystery.
Roohi (Spin-off)[]
Bhawra and Kattanni kidnap Roohi on the orders of Guniya Bhai, who wants to marry her off to his client. However, things take a paranormal turn when they realise that Roohi is possessed by a demon.
Bhediya (Spin-off)[]
Bhediya revolves around the story of a werewolf,[2] has its roots in popular folklore and is inspired by legendary tales of Arunachal Pradesh, where the movie was also shot.[3]
Films[]
| Film | Release date | Director | Screenwriter(s) | Story by | Producer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stree | 31 August 2018 | Amar Kaushik | Raj & D.K. & Sumit Arora | Dinesh Vijan & Raj & D.K. | |
| Roohi | 11 March 2021 | Hardik Mehta | Mrighdeep Singh Lamba, Gautam Mehra | Dinesh Vijan, Mrighdeep Singh Lamba | |
| Bhediya | 25 November 2022 | Amar Kaushik | Niren Bhatt | Dinesh Vijan | |
All three films of the D.V. Horror Universe take place between 1987 and 1990.[4]
Stree (2018)[]
The first installment of the series, centers on the real-life incidents. The people of Chanderi live under constant fear of Stree, the spirit of a woman who attacks men at night during festivals. Vicky, along with his friends, decides to unravel the mystery. The film focused on the "Naale Baa" was an urban legend that went viral during the 1990s in Karnataka. The myth goes "a witch roams the streets in the night and knocks the door. "Naale Baa" has been found written on walls of small towns and villages (Rural Bangalore) for years now. Stree was released on 30 August 2018 in United Arab Emirates and 31 August 2018, in India to positive reviews. It earned ₹180 crore worldwide[5] against a budget of ₹20 crore,[6][7] becoming one of the most profitable horror films in Indian history.
Roohi (2021)[]
A spin-off film, focusing on the origins of the Mudiyapairi. And also second installment in this series. The plot focused on Bhawra and Kattanni kidnap Roohi on the orders of Guniya Bhai, who wants to marry her off to his client. However, things take a turn when they realise Roohi is possessed by a demon (mudiyapairi). The film is directed by Hardik Mehta and produced by Dinesh Vijan, Mrighdeep Singh Lamba. Roohi was released on 11 March 2021,[8] gained positive response from audience and month later film released on JioCinema on 8 April and released on Netflix the next day.
Bhediya (2022)[]
Bhediya is another spin-off and also third installment in this series. The film starring Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon and Deepak Dobriyal. Film is set to release on 25 November 2022 Worldwide.[9] The shooting for Bhediya is done in the regions of Arunachal Pradesh - Ziro (Lower Subansiri), Sagalee (Papum Pare) and parts of Pakke-Kessang district- over a span of two months, from March to April 2021.[10] Over 70 percent of the artists in Bhediya are from Arunachal Pradesh.The shooting schedule in Arunachal Pradesh completed on 19 April 2021.[11] The film was wrapped up on 10 July 2021.[12][13]
Future films[]
| Film | Release date | Director(s) | Screenwriter(s) | Story by | Producer(s) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bhediya | 25 November 2022 | Amar Kaushik | Niren Bhatt | Dinesh Vijan | Filming Completed | |
| Munjha | April 2023 | Yogesh Chandekar | TBA | Yogesh Chandekar | In development | |
| Stree 2 | November 2024[14] | Amar Kaushik | TBA | Amar Kaushik | ||
| Untitled Roohi Sequel | TBA | Hardik Mehta | TBA | TBA | ||
| Munjha 2 | TBA | Yogesh Chandekar | TBA | Yogesh Chandekar | ||
Bhediya (2022)[]
The film is the third installment in this series, directed by Amar Kaushik and produced by Dinesh Vijan, featuring Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon in the lead roles with Janhvi Kapoor and Flora Saini reprising their roles from the previous installments Roohi and Stree.[3][2] The principal photography begun in March 2021, and the film will release theatrically worldwide on 25 November 2022.[15]
Munjha (2023)[]
The fourth and last standalone film in this series,[16] the film is written and directed by Yogesh Chandekar, featuring Sanjana Sanghi in lead role and will be kickstarting shooting from September 2022. Munjha is a prequel to Stree, it tells the story of the girl who came in Stree and the complications she brought along. The film will release theatrically worldwide on April 2023.[17]
Stree 2 (2024)[]
The fifth installment in this series, and also a sequel to Stree (2018 film). The film is directed by Amar Kaushik and produced by Dinesh Vijan, featuring Shraddha Kapoor, Rajkumar Rao, Aparshakti Khurana and Abhishek Banerjee in lead roles.[18]
Untitled Roohi Sequel[]
After the release of Roohi, Hardik Mehta announced that he will return with the same crew for a sequel. The film titled not revealed.[citation needed]
Munjha 2[]
Before shooting the film, Dinesh Vijan shared that Munjha will be released in two parts. The first part would be a prequel to Stree,it tells the story of the girl who came in Stree and the complications she brought along. The second part titled Munjha 2 will be release after Stree 2, as announced by Dinesh Vijan. The second part will continue from the first part's story.[citation needed]
Recurring cast and characters[]
This table lists the main characters who appear in the D.V horror Universe, in alphabetical order by the character's last name.
| Actors | Films | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stree | Roohi | Bhediya | Munjha | Stree 2 | |
| Flora Saini | Stree | Stree | |||
| Shraddha Kapoor | Unknown women | TBA | |||
| Rajkumar Rao | Vicky | Bhawra Pandey | Vicky | ||
| Janhvi Kapoor | Roohi/Afza | TBA | |||
| Varun Dhawan | Bhaskar | ||||
| Kriti Sanon | Item Number | Aanika | |||
| Abhishek Banerjee | Jaana | Jaana | Jaana | ||
| Sanjana Sanghi | TBA | Munjha | |||
Additional crew and production details[]
| Film | Crew/detail | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director(s) | Cinematographer | Editor(s) | Music | Production companies |
Distributing company | Running time | |
| Stree | Amar Kaushik | Amalendu Chaudhary | Hemanti Sarkar | Songs: Sachin–Jigar Score: Ketan Sodha |
Maddock Films, D2R Films | AA Films, Jio Studios, PHARS Film | 128 minutes |
| Roohi | Hardik Mehta | Huzefa Lokhandwala | Jio Studios | 134 minutes | |||
| Bhediya | Amar Kaushik | Jishnu Bhattacharjee | Sanyukta Kaza | TBA | |||
| Munjha | Yogesh Chandekar | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | ||
| Stree 2 | Amar Kaushik | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | ||
Reception[]
Stree (2018)[]
Rajeev Masand of CNN-News18 also gave 4.5 out of 5: "Stree is especially entertaining, packed with laugh-aloud moments and a cast that’s on top of their game. It’s one of the most original films this year, and I recommend that you make the time for it."[19] Rachit Gupta of The Times of India offered 4 out of 5, noting the superlative writing and dialogues, but felt the film was a little too long and had some 'ambiguous ideas.'[20] Raja Sen of the Hindustan Times gave it a 4 out of 5 and had a more moderate tone, commending the actor's energy and collaborative efforts but noting a rushed-feeling plot: "The laughs are inconsistent, and the plotting feels sloppy and rushed. The ideas are fine, but the writing needed work."[21]
Roohi (2021)[]
Roohi received generally negative reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes it has an approval rating of 10% based on reviews from 10 critics.[22] Times of India gave it a rating of 3.5 stars out of 5 and said ,''Roohi is an entertaining blend of laughs and thrills".[23] Umesh Punwani of Koimoi gave the film a rating of 2.5/5 and stated "Roohi has its moments, but they’re very few to label this as an entertaining product overall. The acting department shines, and the others remain to be in between from bad to moderately good".[24] Monika Rawal Kukreja of Hindustan Times described Roohi as a "convoluted film". She praised Rao and Sharma's equation in the movie but criticised Kapoor by calling her performance average.[25]
Box office[]
The franchise has been notable for its profit, with Stree[26] and its follow-up having earned a combined profit of ₹210 crore, according to Hindustan Times.[27]
| Film | Release date | Budget | Box office revenue | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stree | 30 August 2018 | ₹20 crore (US$2.7 million) | ₹180.76 crore (US$24 million) | [5] |
| Roohi | 11 March 2021 | ₹20 crore (US$2.7 million) | ₹30.33 crore (US$4.0 million) | [28] |
| Bhediya | 25 November 2022 | TBA | TBA | [9] |
| Total | ₹40 crore (US$5.3 million) (two films) |
₹211.09 crore (US$28 million) (two films) |
||
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "Box Office: Worldwide collections and day wise break up of Stree". September 2018. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
- ^ a b "Bhediya: Varun Dhawan turns into werewolf, joins Janhvi Kapoor in horror comedy universe. Watch". The Indian Express. February 21, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ a b "Varun Dhawan's fans interrupt Bhediya shoot in Arunachal Pradesh, he climbs on top of a car to address them. Watch video". Hindustan Times. March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "Did Stree teaser give you chills? Real 'Nale ba' story behind the movie will give you nightmares". International Business Times.
- ^ a b "Stree Box Office Collection till Now". Bollywood Hungama.
- ^ "Box Office: Understanding the economics of Stree and the profits it has earned for its makers". Bollywood Hungama. September 18, 2018.
- ^ "Stree". Box Office India. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
- ^ "New release date... #RoohiAfzana - starring #RajkummarRao, #JanhviKapoor and #VarunSharma - to release on 5 June 2020... Directed by Hardik Mehta... Produced by Dinesh Vijan and Mrighdeep Singh Lamba... Jio Studios presentation". Twitter.com. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
- ^ a b "Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon starrer Bhediya to release on April 14, 2022". Bollywood Hungama. February 21, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "Varun Dhawan And Kriti Sanon Share Their Experiences Of Filming Bhediya In Arunachal Pradesh". NDTV. March 6, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "Bhediya: After The Film's Wrap, Kriti Sanon Is Busy Dreaming Of "Arunachal Travel Series" With Co-Star Varun Dhawan".
- ^ "Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon wrap up the shoot of Bhediya, motion poster unveiled". Bollywood Hungama. July 10, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
- ^ "Kriti Sanon, Varun Dhawan announce Bhediya shoot wrap with new motion poster". India Today. July 10, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
- ^ "Stree 2: Rajkummar Rao-Shraddha Kapoor's film sequel to release on 2024". India Today. Press Trust of India. May 4, 2019.
- ^ "Varun Dhawan turns into a fiery werewolf in Bhediya first look; film to now release on November 25, 2022". Bollywood Hungama. November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ "Exclusive: Dinesh Vijan opens up about Bhediya, Munjha, Stree 2 and his horror universe". pinkvilla.com. February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ "Munjha will be the fourth and last standalone film in Dinesh Vijan's horror-comedy universe". Instant Bollywood. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
- ^ "Stree 2: Rajkummar Rao-Shraddha Kapoor all set to return for second part". India Today. May 4, 2019.
- ^ Rockstah Media. "That's the spirit! - Rajeev Masand – movies that matter: from Bollywood, Hollywood and everywhere else". www.rajeevmasand.com.
- ^ "Stree Movie Review {3.5/5}: An experimental horror-comedy that is high on laughs" – via timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
- ^ "Stree movie review: Rajkummar Rao's horror-comedy needs more laughs". August 31, 2018.
- ^ "Roohi (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
- ^ "Roohi Movie Review: An entertaining blend of laughs and thrills". m.timesofindia.com. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
- ^ "Roohi Movie Review: O Stree Kal Mat Aana!". Koimoi.Com. March 11, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Roohi movie review: Rajkummar Rao-Varun Sharma's equation stands out in convoluted film, Janhvi Kapoor is average". Hindustan Times. March 11, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Stree". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
- ^ "Stree box office collection day 18: Rajkummar Rao's film is unstoppable even after crossing Rs 100 crore mark". www.timesnownews.com.
- ^ "Roohi Box Office". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
External links[]
- Film series introduced in 2018
- Indian film series
- Horror film franchises
- Fictional universes