Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
Thamma
2025 Indian film by Aditya Sarpotdar From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
Thamma (pronounced [tʰaːmaː] transl. Leader)[a] is a 2025 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy horror film directed by Aditya Sarpotdar. It is written by Niren Bhatt, Suresh Mathew and Arun Falara and produced by Dinesh Vijan and Amar Kaushik.[5] It is the fifth installment in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe. It stars Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Paresh Rawal. The film follows a journalist who, after encountering a mysterious woman, turns into a vampiric creature called Betal and must save humanity from the bloodlust of an ancient sect.
Principal photography began in December 2024, primarily taking place in Delhi, Mumbai and Ooty and concluded by mid-2025. The soundtrack album was composed by Sachin–Jigar.
Thamma was theatrically released on 21 October 2025, coinciding with Diwali, in standard, IMAX, 4DX and D-Box formats. The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed over till ₹169.08 crore worldwide.
Remove ads
Plot
Summarize
Perspective
Alok Goyal is a meek journalist who pretends to be brave. He is stranded in a jungle where a mysterious woman named Tadaka rescues him from a bear and her section of bloodthirsty betaals (vampires). It is shown that they are not allowed to feast on human blood after seeing the horrors humans were capable of during the partition in 1947. The leader of the betaal sect, Yakshasan, opposed the ban on drinking human blood, resulting in him being held captive in a cursed cave near the betaal sect's temple for violating the rule.
Tadaka finds a way to send Alok back to his Delhi home. He takes her along despite initial refusals by her. There is a mysterious enigma around her which leaves Alok’s father suspicious. Tadaka becomes Tarika for Alok’s parents, and she struggles to find sufficient food. Alok decides to take her out for dinner, where she can enjoy non-vegetarian food. At the party, she gets drunk and dances with unknown men. On their way home, the same group of men chase Alok and Tadaka, intent on assaulting her. Alok gets out of the car and attempts to solve the matter peacefully by talking. When he is unable to do so, Tadaka loses and unleashes upon them as a betaal. While she leaves them alive, they are then killed by Yakshasan's followers. Days later, a senior police officer who also happens to be a betaal visits Alok's residence and thinks Tadaka has killed the men, and that she has to leave for Alok's safety.
Alok chases her bus and when he is about to reunite with Tadaka, the car flips over and kills him. She saves his life by biting him, turning him into a betaal. Yakshasan senses the transformation and rejoices as he will soon be freed from the cave now that Tadaka has violated the rule that forbade betaals from turning humans, and the betaal criminal would take his place in captivity as punishment. Alok learns to control his new powers and navigate his new life as a betaal with Tadaka's help.
Alok's father notices his vampire-like teeth. When the truth is revealed to him, he refuses to accept it and takes his son to the exorcist Prabhakar, who tells him Alok's condition cannot be reversed. Janardhan "Jana" is also with Prabhakar, seeking help for his werewolf cousin Bhaskar, who was severely injured during a fight with Sarkata, a headless monster.[b] Prabhakar says Bhaskar can be cured with the blood of a betaal. Bhaskar finds Alok and fights him, achieving a next level hybrid form with just one drop of Alok's blood. Tadaka comes to his rescue just in time. They then seek protection from Yadav, who takes them to the local betaal bar. It turns out to be a trap: they drug Alok then confront Tadaka for her violation and order her to leave town.
Tadaka surrenders to the sect and is put in captivity for breaking the sect's rule about drinking human blood. Alok finds his way to the land of the betaals where he and Yakshasan engage in a severe battle. Alok is beaten down and just as Yakshasan kills him, a miracle from their goddess brings him back to life. Alok gains the beating heart of the sect's deity, defeats Yakshasan with his new powers and becomes the new leader. Yakshasan is put back in the cave but Sarkata appears to free him.
Alok, Tadaka and other heads of the sect gear up to hunt Yakshasan. Alok is informed that he would need extra powers to fight him and only the blood of a werewolf can do make him more powerful. Bhaskar, in his new werewolf form, heads towards the betaal sect's temple.
Remove ads
Cast
- Ayushmann Khurrana as Alok Goyal
- Rashmika Mandanna as Tadaka / Tarika
- Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Yakshasan
- Paresh Rawal as Ram Bajaj Goyal
- Geeta Agarwal Sharma as Sudha Goyal
- Faisal Malik as Inspector P. K. Yadav[6]
- Rachit Singh as Veeran
- Alexx O'Nell as Alexander / Sikander
- Ankit Mohan as Jimmy
- Vinod Suryavanshi as Ambhu
- Hritika Kanwar as Tanya
- Deepak Kalra as Joy
- Raj Premi as Raktaksh
- Shailesh Korde as Elder Betaal 1
- Krishna Kant Rai as Elder Betaal 2
- Janardhan Kadam as the man at graveyard
- Hashim Haider as News Reporter
- Deepak Daryani as Doctor
- Cameo appearances[7]
- Nora Fatehi as the dancer from Stree (also in the song "Dilbar Ki Aankhon Ka")
- Malaika Arora (in the song "Poison Baby")
- Amar Kaushik (in the song "Poison Baby")
- Sathyaraj as Elvis Karim Prabhakar
- Abhishek Banerjee as Janardhan "Jana"
- Varun Dhawan as Bhaskar / Bhediya
- Sunil Kumar as Sarkata
Remove ads
Production
Summarize
Perspective
Development
In July 2022, Dinesh Vijan’s next production venture was reported, which would have Ayushmann Khurrana and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, titled Vampires of Vijay Nagar, and was supposed to commence filming late in the year. However it was delayed as the makers considered the recently announced Stree 2 as their top priority. Later in April 2023, it was confirmed that filming will start at the end of the same year.[8] In June 2023, Maddock announced 15 more films with VOV—Vampires of Vijay Nagar as one of them with the scope of expanding their horror-comedy universe, also developing a series of cinematic adaptations of the Arabian Nights.[9]
The film was then launched a year later in June 2024, with Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna as the lead roles.[10] The film was also teased in the post-credit scene of Stree 2 (2024).[11] On the occasion of Diwali 2024, the announcement teaser of the film was released, revealing the title as Thama. Later, in September 2025, the title was renamed as Thamma,[12] in accordance with numerology.[13] Director Aditya Sarpotdar confirmed in an interview with Zoom that the film is not a horror-comedy like earlier installments of the Maddock Horror-Comedy Universe but rather a romantic comedy infused with supernatural and mythical elements rather than just rooted in folklore.[14][15][16]
Casting
Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna were announced as the lead in June 2024.[17] Nawazuddin Siddiqui joined the cast as the main antagonist in October 2024.[18] Paresh Rawal also joined the cast for a supporting role in the same month.[19] Malaika Arora and Nora Fatehi will make special appearances in the songs[20] while Varun Dhawan made a cameo appearance in the film, reprising his role from Bhediya (2022).[21] Samantha Ruth Prabhu was originally cast as the lead actress but opted out due to being diagnosed with Myositis, even returning her signing pay.[22]
Filming
Principal photography commenced in December 2024 in Chitra Studios, Mumbai.[23] However, the shooting was delayed after Mandanna injured her leg.[24] Later, filming resumed in March 2025 at Film City, Mumbai where sets that look like houses, streets and graveyards of Delhi were erected.[25][26] In April 2025, filming moved to the forests of Ooty, Nilgiri hills and Dodabetta.[27] Various portions of Siddiqui's character origin as how he became the vampire were also shot in Ooty.[28] Khurrana, Mandanna and Siddiqui wrapped up their portions by May 2025.[29] The special songs featuring Arora and Fatehi were filmed in July 2025.[30] In the same month, Dhawan shot his cameo in six days.[31]
Remove ads
Music
The film's music was composed by Sachin–Jigar, with lyrics written by Amitabh Bhattacharya,
The first single "Tum Mere Na Huye" was released on 29 September 2025.[32] The second single "Dilbar Ki Aankhon Ka" released on 07 October 2025.[33] The third single "Rahein Na Rahein Hum" released on 10 October 2025.[34] The fourth single "Poison Baby" released on 13 October 2025.[35]
Remove ads
Marketing
The film's first look posters were released on 18 August 2025.[36] The film's teaser titled World Of Thamma was released on 19 August 2025.[37] The film's trailer was launched at an event at Bandra Fort, Mumbai on 26 September 2025.[38] It received criticism from viewers for its humour being derivative and repetitive, but Dhawan's cameo received praise.[39]
Release
Theatrical
The film was released worldwide on 21 October 2025, coinciding with Diwali, in standard, IMAX, 4DX and D-Box formats.[40][41]
Distribution
The film was distributed by PVR Inox Pictures in India and Yash Raj Films internationally.[42][43]
Reception
Summarize
Perspective
Box office
As of 18 November 2025, Thamma has grossed ₹147.14 crore (US$17 million) domestically and ₹21.94 crore (US$2.6 million) overseas for a worldwide gross of ₹169.08 crore (US$20 million).[44]
Critical Reception
Thamma received mixed reviews from critics. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 40% of 10 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.3/10.[45]
A critic for Bollywood Hungama rated the film 4 stars out of 5 and wrote "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."[46] Rishabh Suri of Hindustan Times rated the film 3.5 stars out of 5 and wrote "Overall, Thamma feels less like another franchise instalment and more like the moment the MHCU truly finds its rhythm. It blends humour, and heart with surprising confidence, leaving you curious about what’s next...and for once, that curiosity feels well-earned."[47] Dhaval Roy of The Times Of India rated the film 3.5 stars out of 5 and wrote "Thamma ends on a thrilling note, teasing the next chapter of the horror-comedy universe. With its engaging humour, strong performances, slick visuals, and inventive VFX, it's a thoroughly entertaining watch-and one that keeps the Stree universe alive and kicking."[48]
Titas Chowdhury of News18 rated the film 3 stars out of 5 and wrote "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."[49] Vinamra Mathur of Firstpost rated the film 2.5 stars out of 5 and wrote "Thamma has sweep, ambition, and imagination but it’s also overlong and repetitive. The vampire jokes stop being comical after a point. There’s an ill-timed kiss too. Another flimsy moment (this time not in good ways) that shows a Herculean Ayushmann Khurrana brings back memories of a man-mountain Hrithik Roshan from the climax of Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage."[50] Tanmayi Savadi of Times Now rated the film 2.5 stars out of 5 and wrote "Rashmika Mandanna gets the meatiest role in the entire horror comedy universe. She has a prominent role and personality to enact. Ayushmann Khurrana is endearing and hilarious. Nawazuddin Siddiqui walks the thin line between cringe and funny; inclined more towards the latter."[51]
Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV rated the film 2.5 stars out of 5 and wrote "Nawazuddin Siddiqui brings an exceptional level of flash and flair to bear upon the titular role. It is a brilliantly modulated performance even when it appears to border on the excessive. That, to a certain extent, is true of the film as a whole. It teeters on the edge at times but never topples over."[52] Vineeta Kumar of India Today rated the film 2 stars out of 5 and wrote "Thamma' is an ambitious but hollow addition to the Maddock horror comedy universe. There's blood, there's chaos, there's even a universe connection, but very little soul. These fangs don't dig deep, and yet, the mess is all over the floor."[53] Rahul Desai of The Hollywood Reporter wrote "The world-building of Thamma feels a little like excited writers' room ideas that don’t go beyond a draft. Given the unfamiliarity of this genre on Hindi shores, the scope is endless. But the focus is more on creativity than subtext; any political nods feel like watered-down draught beer in a Mumbai dive bar. The interplay between actual history and the film’s fictions is not explored enough."[54]
Remove ads
Notes
- The Hindi text थामा, if correctly transliterated in English, would be Thama or Thaama. However, the film's official English title Thamma is a sensational spelling, done for numerological reasons.
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads