Name: Thamma
Genre: Horror, Comedy, Romance
Released: 2025-10-21
Rating: 7.0
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Paresh Rawal, Faisal Malik

Thamma is a supernatural romantic horror-comedy about two star-crossed lovers fighting against myth, destiny and supernatural forces that threaten to tear them apart.

Thamma

Bollywood Hungama

NDTV

News18

Taran Adarsh

Niren Bhatt, Suresh Mathew and Arun Fulara's story is drawn from Indian folklore and is refreshing. Niren Bhatt, Suresh Mathew and Arun Fulara's screenplay flows smoothly, maintaining tension and curiosity throughout. But the writing also suffers in some places. Niren Bhatt, Suresh Mathew and Arun Fulara's dialogues are witty, sharp and the ones mouthed by Nawazuddin are too funny.

Aditya Sarpotdar's direction once again hits the bullseye after MUNJYA (2024). His command over genre-mixing, blending supernatural tension with genuine emotion and humour, is commendable. Moreover, he keeps the narrative very simple and ensures that it has mainstream appeal. A few scenes stand out like Tadaka’s entry, Tadaka having dinner with Alok’s parents, Tadaka saving Alok from the goons etc. The intermission point is dramatic while the climax is gripping. A fight that takes place in the pre-climax is visually stunning.

Oh the flipside, the character intro is too quick. The makers don’t invest time in Alok’s work life. In fact, there was no requirement to show Alok is a reporter; it served no purpose. Moreover, Alok was supposed to be a loser but this aspect doesn’t come across well. Sure, he’s goofy but he also seemed dashing. The pace dips in the second half. Lastly, though the climax fight has its moments, it is underwhelming when compared to the endings of the previous films of the universe.
Ayushmann Khurrana is in exceptional form. His performance moves seamlessly from vulnerability to comic timing to intensity. He anchors the film brilliantly. Rashmika Mandanna proves her worth. She owns every frame with her charm, fierceness, and mystique. Paresh Rawal is dependable. His comic timing and fatherly warmth provide the perfect emotional balance. Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s act reminds of his performances in films like KICK (2014) but it works well and raised laughs. Faisal Malik (P K Yadav; cop) is impressive while Geeta Agarwal Sharma lends able support. Varun Dhawan as Bhediya is too good.
Sachin-Jigar's music is peppy but again, falls short when compared to the previous films of the universe. 'Tum Mere Na Huye' appears in the end credits is stunning. 'Rahein Na Rahein Hum' is haunting while 'Dilbar Ki Aankhon Ka' and 'Poison Baby' are foot-tapping. Sachin-Jigar's background score is electrifying and enhances the tension and romantic intensity throughout.

Saurabh Goswami's cinematography is captivating. DNEG's VFX is top-notch, particularly in the creature sequences and mystical visuals. Grant Hulley and Parvez Shaikh's action is slick and energetic. Subrata Chakraborty and Amit Ray's production design and Sheetal Iqbal Sharma's costumes are appealing. Hemanti Sarkar's editing is slick but it also drags in the second half.
On the whole, THAMMA is a well-packaged entertainer that reinforces why the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe continues to be a franchise worth tracking. At the box office, the winning combination of its genre appeal, brand value, and the extended Diwali weekend is bound to translate into strong collections.

Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna's film Thamma is releasing in theatres today, October 21st. With this film, another film from the horror comedy universe has entered the market. Thamma is the fifth film in the Maddock horror comedy universe, which includes films like Stree, Bhediya, and Munjya. The film is releasing on 4000 screens across India. With no other Hindi film releasing on Diwali, a blockbuster day is expected, but it may lag behind the impressive openings of last year's Diwali releases—Kartik Aryan's Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (₹35 crore) and Ajay Devgn's Singham Returns (₹32 crore).
The first scene of Thama reveals that Alexander died in an attack by a demon in the jungles of India.

The film's buildup begins right from the first scene. From the outset, we see a battle between humans and vampires. Rashmika, a vampire, saves the life of Ayushmann Khurrana, who plays a journalist.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui's dialogues are ultimate and Ayushmann Khurrana is also perfect.

The story revolves around Betaal. Paresh Rawal's role will entertain you, but Nawazuddin Siddiqui overshadows everyone else.
Up until the interval, the film is quite entertaining and doesn't bore you for a moment. Logically, don't have such high expectations from a film like this. It will keep you laughing and entertaining. 


Thama moves into full speed after the interval, and the world of mystery and adventure becomes even more interesting.

The fight scene between the wolf and the vampire will thoroughly entertain fans. This film will keep you entertained until the very end. Overall, it's a fun dose that you can enjoy with your family. 


First, we met a female spirit who turned the usual gender narrative on its head. A werewolf followed her. Then came the ghost of a boy who died after his munj ceremony and later, a headless phantom. So, why should benevolent vampires be left behind? The Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU) took their assignment rather seriously and now, Thamma has come into being. Novel, right? Yes, it was. But it’s this need for novelty that throws down the gauntlet to MHCU. The result? Thamma struggles under the weight of the lofty ambitions and conventional tropes of its own universe.

The Aditya Sarpotdar directorial opens with a sequence in 323 BC. Alexander The Great, also known as Sikandar, sets foot into the woods with his people and one of his entourage members cautions him about ‘insaanon ka khoon peene waala’ Betal. When the emperor pays no heed to his words, the omnipotent Betal descends and attacks him. The action then shifts to the present day when a reporter named Alok treks into the same forest with a couple of his peers. But soon, a bear chases him down and injures him.
When Alok almost succumbs to his destiny of being killed by a bear, Tadaka, a forest girl, comes to his rescue and protects him. It’s then revealed that she too is a member of the Betal community, that thrives on fresh blood. The leader of the community is Yakshasan, who had also sucked Alexander’s blood out. He has been held captive in a hill. Yakshasan and his followers look like humans but they hardly are. They’re immortal but don’t have a beating heart. However, there’s a conflict between him and Tadaka.

While the former still craves for human blood, Tadaka has decided to stay away from it after an epiphany hit her during the riots of 1947. She realised that humans are after all evil entities who carry venom and animosity in their hearts. Cut to the present day, Tadaka protects Alok from the clutches of Yakshasan and they go back to city life where Alok’s father senses something suspicious about him. During a tiff between Alok and a bunch of other Delhi boys, Tadaka’s fangs come out and she ends up bruising and fighting them.
One thing leads to another and a tragic event leads Alok to become a vampire. Together, they fight Yakshasan and attempt to bring back principles, ethics and morality to the community of Betals. What’s interesting about Thamma is that here, for a change, we’ve a woman with a saviour complex. Tadaka magically pops up during all kinds of pandemonium and rescues Alok from danger and bad guys and even when he locks horns with Bhediya. Yes, there are cameos by Varun Dhawan as Bhediya and Abhishek Banerjee as Jana.

And once again, Jana hits the ball out of the park with his impeccable and effortless comic timing. His Dame Un Grrr and good actors being a ‘rare species’ jokes will crack you up. The same, unfortunately, cannot be said about the writing of Thamma. The makers try their best to incorporate one-liners and repartees in the script but they hardly ever land. There are references made to Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and meta jokes on Ayushmann Khurrana too.
Underneath the veil of the myth, the folklore and the supernaturalism, it’s Tadaka and Alok’s love story that forms the heart of the narrative. It’s the driving force of the tale but that heavily suffers due to the writing. As a result, it lacks the intensity and rawness that could’ve otherwise elevated the screenplay. At 2 hours 30 minutes, Thamma often ends up feeling too stretched. A taut, crisper storytelling perhaps could’ve saved the day. As for the performances, Ayushmann gives it his all as Alok.

It’s a delight to see him back on the big screen after more than two years. He’s sincere and delivers a competent turn but the role doesn’t quite stretch his range. However, thanks to his acting instincts, he holds his ground even when the writing doesn’t fully support him. As for Rashmika Mandanna, it’s a space she hasn’t traversed before. Her Tadaka is quietly simmering and enigmatic. The makers play to her strengths and offer her a role that fits her well. Her minimalism works here as Tadaka is a character that thrives on emotional restraint.

Paresh Rawal returns to a zone he’s immensely loved for – comedy. However, his timing and instincts feel wasted. Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Yakshasan and the original Thamma is interesting. But he too suffers due to an under-cooked character with no layers. Sathyaraj returns as Elvis, the quirky paranormal expert, whose conversation with Jana stands out. He also forms an integral link between Thamma and Bhediya. Nora Fatehi’s cameo in Dilbar Ki Aankhon Ka isn’t just restricted to that of a dancer. She too is an important part of this folklore world.

Thamma was capable of so much more. This is the first time that a mainstream Hindi film is exploring the myths surrounding vampires. Yes, there’s masala, loads of it. But MHCU’s earlier films had raised our expectations so high that by the end of Thamma, you’ll be left feeling high and dry. There was ample room for experimentation and there was so much potential to push boundaries and dare more. But ultimately, the storytelling remains curiously restrained and gets reduced to just another horror-comedy with tropes that arrive on cue.


#MaddockFilms delivers yet another winner… A delicious cocktail of humour, supernatural, and romance... Takes a completely uncharted path as far as the plot goes… EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED! #ThammaReview

Director #AdityaSarpotdar – who impressed with #Munjya – once again hits the right notes… The plot is entirely novel for #Hindi movie audiences, and that is its biggest strength... The film draws inspiration from #Indian folklore, and the narrative remains engaging throughout – keeping you hooked, entertained, and guessing right until the finale.

Besides the razor-sharp writing, the witty one-liners and clever twists are a major plus.

The music is another strong point… #TumMereNaHuye, #PoisonBaby, and #DilbarKiAankhonKa are already popular and enhance the narrative beautifully... Special mention must be made of the background score – it's electrifying.

Hiccups? Slightly dips in pace in parts of the second half, but the overall impact remains unaffected.

#AyushmannKhurrana is in top form… Effortlessly switches between fear and fun, he anchors the film with a pitch-perfect performance... #RashmikaMandanna is a complete revelation... She gets one of the most challenging roles of her career – and she sparkles.

#NawazuddinSiddiqui is wildly entertaining and will be loved by the masses... His eccentric, unpredictable act turns several scenes into absolute gems... #PareshRawal delivers yet another knockout performance… His impeccable timing elevates every sequence he's in.

A cameo by a prominent actor, followed by an action piece, leaves you awestruck.

⭐️ Final word? #Thamma is a well-packaged entertainer… #Maddock's winning streak in horror-comedy space continues!

Thamma Official Hindi Trailer | Ayushmann, Rashmika, Paresh, Nawazuddin | In Cinemas This Diwali- 21st Oct

Thamma Official Telugu Trailer | Ayushmann, Rashmika, Paresh, Nawazuddin | This Diwali- 21st Oct

World of Thama | Official Teaser | Ayushmann, Rashmika, Paresh, Nawazuddin | Dinesh V | This Diwali

Ayushmann Khurrana is a singer and actor who made his Bollywood debut with the Shoojit Sircar directorial Vicky Donor. He is best known for appearing in romantic comedies such as Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Bareilly Ki Barfi and Shubh Mangal Savdhan. He has won several awards for his acting including Filmfare and Stardust.

Ayushmann Khurrana

Rashmika Mandanna is an Indian actress and model who works predominantly in Telugu and Kannada language films. She is a recipient of the Filmfare Award South and the SIIMA Award. She is known for her roles in Kirik Party and Geetha Govindam.

Rashmika Mandanna

Hailing from the Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh, Nawazuddin Siddiqui is a popular Bollywood actor known for his unconventional roles. An alumnus of National School of Drama (NSD), Nawazuddin made his acting debut with Aamir Khan starrer Sarfarosh (1999). He rose to fame with his performance in Gangs Of Wasseypur. Nawazuddin has garnered huge critical and commercial acclaim for his performances in movies like Kahaani, New York, Talaash, Gangs Of Wasseypur II, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Manjhi- The Mountain Man, Kahani, Raees and Freaky Ali.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui

An Indian actor and politician, he is largely known for his extensive work in Bollywood. Owing to his fluency in multiple languages such as Hindi, English, Marathi, Gujarati and Telugu, he has acted out in several regional films as well. Primarily, he started off with negative roles but eventually has established himself in comedy films as well. The versatile actor has delivered many memorable performances in films such as Andaz Apna Apna (1994), Chachi 420 (1997), Hera Pheri (2000), Table No. 21 (2013), Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007), Welcome (2007), OMG - Oh My God! (2012), Tiger Zinda Hai (2017) and many others. He has bagged several awards including Padma Shri, National Film Awards and Filmfare for his outstanding cinematic performances.

Paresh Rawal

Faisal Malik

Geeta Agarwal

Sathyaraj is an actor known for his work in Tamil films, especially in negative roles. Eventually, he emerged as one of the most popular leading actors in the industry and won several awards for his performances in films like the Baahubali series, Periyar, Nadigan, Vedham Pudhithu, Onbadhu Roobai Nottu and Nanban among others.

Thamma(2025)