Ayushmann Khurrana’s ‘Thamma’ Becomes 2025’s 12th Biggest Hindi Blockbuster
Thamma – A Haunting Tale of Love, Myth, and Madness
Ayushmann Khurrana’s ‘Thamma’ When you step into a theater, you don’t just want to watch a movie you want to feel it. You want a story that leaves something behind, something that lingers long after the lights turn back on. That’s exactly what Thamma, the latest addition to Maddock Films’ horror-comedy universe, promises and for the most part, it delivers.
The Story
At its heart, Thamma tells the story of Alok Goyal (played by Ayushmann Khurrana), a small-town journalist who sets out to shoot a documentary deep inside a mysterious forest. What starts as a simple work assignment soon turns into a strange, spine-tingling journey when he encounters Tadak (Rashmika Mandanna) a woman who seems both real and unreal.
From there, the film drifts into a world where love crosses the border between the living and the mythical. Tadak belongs to an ancient race called the Baitals creatures bound by a sacred oath never to drink human blood again. But when one of them, Yakshasan (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), breaks the rule, the balance of both worlds shatters.
What follows is part love story, part horror, and part folklore a refreshing blend that feels both rooted in Indian tradition and surprisingly global in its storytelling tone.
If you go in expecting a few chills, a few laughs, and a heartfelt story, you won’t be disappointed. But if you’re looking for a hardcore horror film, this might feel a bit too poetic for your taste.
What Works
The film’s biggest strength lies in its casting and chemistry. Ayushmann and Rashmika look striking together. Their scenes carry a warmth and tension that feel genuine, not over-scripted. Ayushmann’s comic timing keeps the film light even when the plot dips into darker corners, while Rashmika brings a quiet mystery to her role her eyes say more than most dialogues do.
Visually, Thamma is stunning. The forest sequences are shot with eerie beauty mist-laden paths, silent ruins, and flickers of light that blur the line between dream and nightmare. The film doesn’t rely on jump scares; instead, it builds slow, cinematic fear through atmosphere and silence.
Another smart touch is how the movie expands Maddock’s Horror-Comedy Universe. You get tiny Easter eggs connecting it to earlier films like Stree and Bhediya. It’s clever world-building without shouting for attention.
Where It Falters
Of course, no film is flawless. While Thamma nails the mood, it sometimes struggles with depth. The humor, though enjoyable, occasionally feels familiar as if recycled from earlier horror comedies. The narrative drags a bit in the second half, especially around song sequences that break the tension rather than enhance it.
Nawazuddin’s Yakshasan, while intriguing, deserved a stronger build-up. His menace flickers but never fully burns. You want to fear him, but the writing doesn’t quite allow it.
The Deeper Layer
What makes Thamma stand out is its theme of forbidden love. It’s not your typical vampire-meets-human story it’s more about what love costs when it defies the rules of nature. The idea that emotion can outlast mortality is beautifully woven into Alok and Tadak’s journey.
In many ways, Thamma isn’t just horror or romance it’s a metaphor for loneliness and redemption. The “monster” here isn’t evil; it’s misunderstood, broken, searching for meaning much like the humans chasing truth in the dark.
Verdict
In the end, Thamma is not a perfect film, but it’s a memorable one. It dares to blend horror, humor, and heartbreak into one surreal ride. It entertains without losing its emotional pulse and that’s rare.
If you go in expecting a few chills, a few laughs, and a heartfelt story, you won’t be disappointed. But if you’re looking for a hardcore horror film, this might feel a bit too poetic for your taste.
Still, it’s worth watching on the big screen preferably in IMAX to soak in its haunting visuals and crisp sound design. And when the credits roll, don’t be surprised if you walk out thinking: maybe monsters love a little differently than we do.