Thamma Movie Review: A Cringe-Fest Wrapped in Vampire Makeup and Male Gaze Masala
- Vishal waghela
- Oct 19, 2025
- 5 min read
Bollywood finally tried to “bite” into the vampire genre — and honestly, it should’ve just let this one stay buried. Thamma, the fifth installment in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe, promised to be a romantic horror revolution. Instead, it ends up as a bloody disappointment that feels like an overlong TikTok skit stretched to 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Directed by Aditya Sarpotdar and starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Thamma tries to blend horror, comedy, and romance — but fails to deliver on all three. The jokes? Cringe from another era. The songs? Made purely for the male gaze playlist. The plot? Lost somewhere between a vampire curse and a bad shaadi video.
The Plot: Betaal Meets Boring
Ayushmann plays Alok Goyal, a historian who accidentally turns into a vampire after crossing paths with Yakshasan, an ancient bloodsucker (Nawazuddin Siddiqui). Enter Tadaka, played by Rashmika Mandanna — a mysterious woman who looks like she’s wandered in from a perfume ad.
There’s a prophecy, some random flashbacks, and a love story that’s supposed to make us weep — but instead makes us wonder, “Yeh kya dekh liya maine?”
The film wants to be Twilight meets Stree, but ends up being Bhediya with bad lighting and worse jokes.
Outdated Jokes, Recycled Laughs
Remember those WhatsApp forwards your uncle still sends on Diwali? That’s what Thamma’s humor feels like. The one-liners land with the enthusiasm of a Monday morning Zoom call.
Paresh Rawal, usually the savior in chaotic comedies, looks visibly tired of the script. Ayushmann tries hard — too hard — to make the film work, but even his charm can’t rescue dialogue that sounds like it was written in 2012.
At one point, a character says, “Main vampire hoon, par pyaar ka bhooka hoon.” — and that’s when you know the writer gave up too.
The Songs: A Male-Gaze Music Video Marathon
Let’s talk about the real horror — the songs.
“Poison Baby” featuring Malaika Arora feels like a desperate attempt to go viral on Reels.
“Dilbar Ki Aankhon Ka” has Nora Fatehi dancing in an item number that adds absolutely nothing to the story except a collective eye-roll.
“Tum Mere Na Huye” tries to be emotional but ends up sounding like a rejected Stree 3 leftover.
Every song feels strategically placed just to grab eyeballs — not to move the story. It’s like Maddock Films confused story progression with playlist programming. Even Rashmika, who usually shines in emotional moments, is reduced to glossy slow-motion shots and pointless costume changes.
Direction & VFX: All Style, No Soul
Aditya Sarpotdar, who impressed everyone with Munjya, loses the plot here, literally. The film looks expensive, sure. There’s smoke, red lights, CGI bats, and drone shots of caves. But none of it means anything because the story has no emotional anchor. The VFX by DNEG is decent, but when your script bleeds cliches, even good visuals can’t save you. The editing feels patchy, and some transitions are so random you’d think Netflix accidentally autoplayed the next show.
Performances: Talent Wasted
Ayushmann Khurrana deserves better. He gives it his all, but he’s trapped in a script that doesn’t understand tone.
Rashmika Mandanna is charming but criminally underused, reduced to a “pretty prop” instead of the fierce prophecy-driven character we were promised.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui hams his way through, making even Yakshasan look bored of eternal life.
When even Paresh Rawal’s comedy fails to land, you know the script has drained all its blood.
Themes That Never Hit
The film tries to talk about love, immortality, and self-acceptance — but none of it lands. The supposed “social message” about embracing your inner monster is drowned in misplaced jokes and unnecessary dance numbers. Instead of exploring Indian vampire folklore (Betaal, Chudail, etc.), Thamma goes for Western tropes — brooding hero, forbidden love, slow motion, and cringe dialogues about eternal romance. By the end, it’s neither scary nor sexy — just tiring.
Final Verdict: The Real Horror Is the Writing
Thamma is proof that even good actors and great budgets can’t save a bad script. It’s a film that mistakes chaos for creativity and objectification for glamour. If Maddock Films wanted to reinvent its Horror Comedy Universe, this was not the way. Instead of feeling like the next Stree, it feels like a forced Instagram filter — pretty to look at, hollow underneath.
Verdict: 1.5/5 ⭐Watch it only if you’re into pain, pretty faces, or popcorn naps. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is Thamma (2025) about and who are the main actors?
Thamma (2025) is a Bollywood vampire romantic comedy film directed by Aditya Sarpotdar and produced by Maddock Films. The movie stars Ayushmann Khurrana as Alok Goyal, Rashmika Mandanna as Tadaka, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Yakshasan. It mixes horror, romance, and fantasy but has received criticism for its weak writing, outdated jokes, and overuse of male-gaze visuals.
2. Is Thamma connected to the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (Stree, Bhediya, Munjya)?
Yes. Thamma is the fifth installment in Maddock’s Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU), following Stree, Roohi, Bhediya, and Munjya. However, the connection is minimal. The only notable crossover is Varun Dhawan’s cameo as Bhediya, which feels forced and adds little value to the story.
3. Why are critics calling Thamma cringe or outdated?
Most film critics and audiences found Thamma cringe because of its outdated humor, unnecessary item songs, and predictable screenplay. The jokes rely on overused punchlines, while the film focuses more on glamour and visual spectacle than genuine story or emotional depth. Many have called it a male-gaze-driven vampire film with very little originality.
4. Are the Thamma songs like “Poison Baby” and “Dilbar Ki Aankhon Ka” worth watching?
The Thamma soundtrack by Sachin-Jigar features chart-friendly tracks like “Poison Baby” (Malaika Arora) and “Dilbar Ki Aankhon Ka” (Nora Fatehi), but critics say these songs exist only for visual appeal, not for narrative purpose. They have been labeled as objectifying and purely designed for male gaze, failing to add any emotional or story value to the film.
5. How did audiences and critics react to Thamma (2025) after release?
Early reviews of Thamma have been largely negative. Critics called it a “bloody mess” with poor humor, weak VFX storytelling, and a confused tone. While Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna’s performances earned some praise, the film was widely described as disappointing, outdated, and over-marketed compared to Stree or Bhediya.
6. What went wrong with Thamma compared to other Maddock horror-comedies?
Unlike Stree or Bhediya, which balanced mythology, humor, and social message, Thamma struggles with tone and script. It replaces story with flashy item songs, random jokes, and weak character arcs, making it feel more like a long music video than a film. Viewers found the writing lazy and direction confused, causing the universe’s weakest entry yet.
7. Should you watch Thamma in theatres or wait for OTT release?
Unless you’re a hardcore Ayushmann or Rashmika fan, it’s better to skip the theatre experience and wait for Thamma’s OTT release. The film’s visuals don’t justify an IMAX ticket, and reviews suggest it’s best watched at home if curiosity strikes.
8. Where to watch Thamma online after theatres?
Thamma is expected to stream on JioCinema or Netflix India after its theatrical run, as Maddock Films typically collaborates with these OTT platforms. The digital release date hasn’t been confirmed yet, but it’s likely to premiere online in December 2025.
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