The popular Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU), which includes films like Stree, Bhediya, and Thamma, is facing criticism for promoting “faux feminism” in its narratives. A recent critique highlights that despite the franchise’s theme of gender and social balance, its plots consistently establish male protagonists as the ultimate saviors, relegating powerful female characters to supporting or catalytic roles.
The review notes the imbalance, citing the character Vicky (Rajkummar Rao) in Stree taking the title of ‘Chanderi ka rakshak’ despite being guided by the female lead. Hope remains that the upcoming project, Shakti Shalini, will break this established formula and introduce a genuine female savior to the universe.
