Thamma Movie Review | Anupama Chopra | THR India

In this review, Anupama Chopra examines "Thamma," the latest addition to the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe directed by Aditya Sarpotdar, who previously helmed "Munjya" from the same universe. The film introduces vampires called "Betal" in a romance featuring Ayushmann Khurrana as Alok Goyal, a reporter who falls for the mysterious Tadaka, played by Rashmika Mandanna, after she rescues him from a bear attack in the forest. Anupama notes how the story draws inspiration from various sources including the Vikram and Betal mythology, the Twilight franchise, and even Harry Potter's world-building concepts, while establishing new rules for its supernatural creatures and setting up future installments including the two-part films "Pehla Mahayudh" and "Doosra Mahayudh" scheduled for 2028.

While praising Sachin-Jigar's emotional ballad "Rahein Na Rahein Hum" and acknowledging Rashmika Mandanna's solid performance and impressive action sequences, Anupama critiques the film's execution across multiple fronts. She finds it barely scary compared to Aditya Sarpotdar's previous work on "Munjya," with hit-and-miss humor that feels insistent rather than organically blended like in "Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra." Despite strong efforts from Ayushmann Khurrana and Nawazuddin Siddiqui as the villain Yakshasan, Anupama feels the plotting is convenient rather than organic, reverse-engineered to serve the larger universe, with too many dance sequences diluting the storytelling. She concludes that while Thamma explores interesting themes about love's redemptive power and human violence, it needed much more wit and energy, ultimately serving as a foundation-setting placeholder that falls short compared to standout vampire films like Ryan Coogler's "Sinners" and Dominic Arun's "Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra."