Thamma Movie Review: Does This Vampire Romance Have Enough Bite?
Rating: ★★★½☆ (3.5/5)
The Maddock Horror Comedy Universe continues its ambitious expansion with Thamma, a folklore-infused vampire romance that chooses heart over horror. Released during the Diwali festivities of 2025, this Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna starrer attempts to blend ancient mythology with modern storytelling sensibilities. But does it succeed in capturing the magic that made Stree and Bhediya household names?
What’s the Story About?
Thamma introduces us to Alok Goyal, a journalist whose routine life takes a supernatural turn after a fateful encounter in a mythical jungle. There, he meets Tadaka—not your typical love interest, but a powerful betaal bound by ancient rules that forbid romance between her kind and humans.
The film draws from fascinating Partition-era folklore, reimagining betaals as reluctant guardians who swore off human blood after witnessing humanity’s darkest hours. This forbidden love story unfolds against the backdrop of prophecies, family expectations, and the ever-present threat of supernatural consequences.
Director Aditya Sarpotdar, who previously helmed Munjya, takes his time establishing this mystical world. The first half focuses on building the lore and developing the central relationship, while the second half shifts gears into action-packed territory with emotional peaks.
The Performances That Steal the Show
Ayushmann Khurrana delivers what might be his most versatile performance yet. He effortlessly transitions from bumbling vulnerability to heroic intensity, bringing both comic timing and emotional depth to Alok. Think of him as a desi answer to supernatural romance heroes, but with sharp social commentary woven into his character.
Rashmika Mandanna is the film’s revelation. Her portrayal of Tadaka combines fierce warrior energy with surprising vulnerability, creating a character that’s both intimidating and endearing. The chemistry between the leads works when the script allows them space to breathe, though some critics felt their bond needed more development.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui brings his trademark intensity as Yakshasan, the betaal overlord, though the character doesn’t quite reach its menacing potential. Paresh Rawal provides reliable comic relief with his impeccable timing and shayari-filled dialogues, even if his screen time feels limited.
The cameo appearances, particularly Varun Dhawan’s return as Bhediya, provide crowd-pleasing moments that tie the expanding universe together organically.
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Visual Spectacle Meets Indian Mythology
Where Thamma truly shines is in its technical execution. The visual effects team has crafted a betaal world that rivals international standards—forest sequences, transformation scenes, and battle sequences are genuinely impressive and demand theatrical viewing.
The cinematography embraces darkness effectively, creating an atmospheric experience that serves the supernatural elements well. Sachin-Jigar’s background score elevates tension during key moments, though the film’s songs prove divisive. While tracks like “Tum Mere Na Huye” add festive energy, they often interrupt narrative momentum at crucial junctures.
The Fresh Take on Folklore
One of the film’s strongest aspects is its approach to Indian vampire mythology. Rather than simply transplanting Western vampire tropes, Thamma explores betaals as complex beings with their own code and history. The subtle incorporation of themes around patriarchy, environmental concerns, and urban safety adds layers without becoming preachy.
The connections to the larger Maddock universe feel earned rather than forced, teasing future crossovers while maintaining focus on the central story.
Where It Stumbles
Despite its strengths, Thamma isn’t without significant flaws. The pacing issues are hard to ignore—the first half drags with excessive setup and jokes that don’t always land. Meanwhile, the second half feels overstuffed with cameos and lore revelations that lead to repetitive moments, particularly with vampire-related gags that wear thin.
The film’s runtime of over two hours tests patience in places, and an ill-timed romantic sequence disrupts what should have been a tense moment. For a horror-comedy, Thamma leans heavily toward romance, which may disappoint fans expecting the jump scares and terror that characterized earlier franchise entries.
The villain’s arc feels underdeveloped—a recurring challenge in Maddock films—and the social commentary, while clever in spots, lands unevenly across the narrative.
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How Critics and Audiences Reacted
The critical reception has been decidedly mixed. Bollywood Hungama awarded it 4 out of 5 stars, praising its refreshing folklore elements and entertainment value. Times of India gave it 3.5 stars, appreciating the visual sharpness and MHCU teases.
However, publications like India Today were less impressed, rating it 2.5 stars and noting that despite its promises, the film lacks soul in execution. GreatAndhra criticized it as “forced comedy with zero horror,” while News18 described it as having “heart but lacking bite.”
Interestingly, audience reactions on social media platforms trend significantly more positive. Many viewers hailed it as the perfect Diwali entertainer, with IMDb users averaging 7.2 out of 10. The disconnect between critical and audience reception suggests the film succeeds as crowd-pleasing entertainment, even if it doesn’t push creative boundaries.
The Verdict: Worth Your Time?
Thamma represents an ambitious addition to the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe—one that prioritizes emotional storytelling over pure scares. It’s a visually stunning film with committed performances and an interesting mythological foundation.
However, it doesn’t quite achieve the balance that made Stree a phenomenon or the social relevance of Bhediya. The uneven pacing, repetitive humor, and underdeveloped horror elements prevent it from being the franchise’s sharpest entry.
Who Should Watch:
- Fans invested in the MHCU continuity
- Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna admirers
- Those who enjoy folklore-based fantasy romances
- Families seeking festive entertainment
Skip If:
- You’re craving genuine scares and horror
- Slow-burn setups frustrate you
- You prefer tightly edited films under two hours
Early box office projections suggest an opening in the Rs 20-30 crore range, buoyed by positive word-of-mouth and the Diwali holiday advantage. Whether it maintains momentum will depend on how general audiences respond to its romance-heavy approach.
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Final Thoughts
Thamma is best experienced on the big screen where its visual achievements can be fully appreciated. It’s a flawed but fun supernatural romance that delivers entertainment, even if it doesn’t revolutionize the genre. Consider it bloody good escapism with room to bite harder—a worthy addition to your Diwali watchlist, provided you adjust expectations accordingly.
The Maddock universe continues to expand with confidence, and while Thamma may not be its strongest installment, it keeps the momentum alive and sets up intriguing possibilities for future crossovers.
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