The much-anticipated sequel Chhorii 2 aimed to expand on the chilling social commentary of the original 2021 horror-thriller. While the first film drew attention for spotlighting female infanticide within a haunting narrative, this new installment fails to strike the right balance between fright and message. Despite having a strong premise and capable cast, the film falters in its execution, leaving audiences underwhelmed. This time, Nushratt Bharuccha returns as Sakshi, battling not just supernatural forces but also deep-rooted social evils like misogyny, blind faith, and the archaic practice of child marriage. The horror is built around a mythical ‘adi manush’ (caveman) figure worshipped by villagers, who demands the ‘seva’ and ‘samarpan’ of young girls. Soha Ali Khan plays his devoted ‘daasi’, a woman complicit in the system, serving him to gain a sense of power. The film raises critical questions about the role of women in a patriarchal world, but unfortunately, does so at the cost of genuine horror or suspense. Despite being set in eerie caves and isolated sugarcane fields, the movie fails to evoke fear. Only one scene, where Sakshi briefly gets lost in the maze, offers a glimpse of what the film could have been. There are barely any jump scares, and the atmosphere never reaches a point of dread. Instead, the plot becomes increasingly predictable, relying on maternal instincts and emotional manipulation rather than genuine thrills. The supernatural elements, including ghosts and dead women, feel tokenistic. As the story progresses, the thrill wanes, and the viewer is left merely waiting for it to end. Still, the contrasting maternal approaches of Sakshi and the daasi offer a compelling angle—while one nurtures through strength and fairy tales, the other controls through manipulation and folklore. This parallel is heartening but doesn’t carry the film. One scene that truly stands out is when young village boys, around seven or eight, barge into a room to gawk at a girl—their objectification and bullying of a transgender child expose the toxic masculinity embedded in their upbringing. It’s a disturbing yet powerful commentary on the future such a mindset breeds. Performance-wise, Nushratt once again channels her fierce maternal instinct effectively, showing growth from a school teacher to a woman who will do anything to protect her daughter (Hardika Sharma). Soha Ali Khan, however, is underutilized in a half-baked role, despite her acting chops. Gashmeer Mahajani, a familiar face from Marathi cinema, makes his Hindi film debut but is not given much scope to shine. In conclusion, Chhorii 2 had all the ingredients—a meaningful theme, a talented cast, and a rich setting—but lacked the finesse and scares to deliver a compelling horror-thriller. With tighter editing, a more focused script, and a stronger horror backbone, this could have been a standout sequel. It might be worth a weekend watch from the comfort of your home, but don’t go in expecting goosebumps.
