No, Stree is not based on a real story in the sense of actual historical events or verified incidents. Stree is a 2018 Indian Hindi-language comedy horror film directed by Amar Kaushik and produced by Dinesh Vijan and the duo of Raj & DK. The movie stars Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana and Abhishek Banerjee.
Stree draws inspiration from a popular urban legend known as “Naale Ba” which gained widespread attention in Karnataka, particularly in Bangalore, in the 1990s. Makers of the movie have adapted the legend and interpreted it differently. Thus, the story is fictional but rooted in a popular legend.
Plot Summary
In the small town of Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh, a mysterious female spirit known as “Stree” haunts the streets during an annual festival. She calls out men’s names at night and if they turn around, she abducts them, leaving only their clothes behind. To protect themselves, the residents of Chanderi write “O Stree Kal Aana” or “Hey Woman, Come Tomorrow” on their doors and walls.
Vicky is a talented ladies’ tailor who doesn’t believe in the legend of Stree. He falls in love with a mysterious woman who appears only during the festival and asks for odd items. Vicky and his friends investigate the disappearances of men from the town. They discover that Stree was a beautiful courtesan who was murdered along with her lover centuries ago. Now she roams as a spirit and kills men to extract revenge.
Vicky and his friends confront Stree and cut her ponytail, which is the source of her power. The mysterious woman and Vicky’s love interest gains Stree’s power by merging it with her hair. She leaves on a bus with a warning.
The Naale Ba Legend and Movie Adaptation
According to a popular legend, a mysterious witch or spirit roamed the streets of Bangalore in the 1990s. She used to knock on doors and try to lure men out by mimicking the voice of their loved ones like mother, wife or sister. Anyone who paid heed to her request and opened the door would be found dead.
As the legend spread rapidly, people started writing “Naale Ba”, meaning “Come Tomorrow” in Kannada, on the walls of their homes. It was believed that this phrase drove away the witch till she came back the next day.
The film is set in the fictional town of Chanderi in Madhya Pradesh, instead of Bangalore in Karnataka. A backstory of a vengeful courtesan has been added to the legend. Furthermore, the movie has modified the phrase “Naale Ba” in Kannada to “O Stree Kal Aana” in Hindi.