‘Thamma’ movie review: Ayushmann Khurrana & Rashmika Mandanna starrer imaginative horror-comedy turns overlong & repetitive

Star cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Paresh Rawal

Director: Aditya Sarpotdar

Language: Hindi

Unlike the spy universe and the cop universe, the horror comedy universe created by Maddock Films at least explores different language and landscape to keep the momentum of their ambitions going. Stree was where it all began, an ingenious story about a mysterious woman, Bhediya was a social commentary where a brutal man-to-animal transformation blended with the political telling of the narrative. So what does the world of Thamma offer? This time, the makers aim for brain rot humor about vampires. The visual effects are neat as always and the characters are intentionally OTT. Nawazuddin Siddiqui (despite being severely underutilized) and Ayushmann Khurrana display taut timing and Rashmika Mandanna stays straight-faced.

Khurrana plays a zany journalist ala Shah Rukh Khan from Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani and Jim Carrey from Bruce Almighty. When he meets Taadka (Mandanna) for the first time, he’s in her world. He’s an outsider. Moments later in the most flimsy way possible (but not necessarily in bad ways), she enters his world and becomes the outsider. Just like Stree, it’s the heroine that comes to rescue of the bumbling hero who’s too enamored by a dark and perplexing force of nature. The leading man hasn’t built a career but almost a legacy out of playing imperfect heroes popularizing subjects often brushed under the carpet. But Thamma could be his most mainstream footing yet. And Vampires are anything but a taboo!

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And Geeta Aggarwal Sharma plays her role to the tee once again. Her perpetually suffering characters could have a universe of their own. If 12th Fail, Saiyaara, and Thamma walked into a bar, it will be intriguing to witness how the conversation looks like. This new horror comedy in the market has more things going for it than against it. But the sharpness isn’t as stimulating as it was in Stree. And then there’s the item song problem.

An ill-timed number featuring Malaika Arora sticks like a sore thumb. There’s Nora Fatehi too. These songs may work for those gratified by mass cinema, they add little to no purpose to the story. Tamannaah Bhatia in _Stree 2_ at least played someone critical and crucial to take the story ahead. These are potential comic book characters with action set pieces you can enjoy in those X-Box and Play Station video games that seek inspiration from mythology and folklore. Imagine reading a comic book and all of a sudden you have to go through inconsequential songs. But it’s also impressive how the makers have connected the threads of these stories. And the cameos never stop. It’s like watching the last five minutes of the match between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns from Wrestlemania 40. Anyone can show up anytime.

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. The cliffhangers are losing sheen and after a point, it may be difficult to connect the dots as Maddock’s horror-comedy universe continues to grow. Next in line is Shakti Shalini starring Aneet Padda in the lead. This new outing must have Geeta Sharma anyhow. We then get to see a semi-Saiyaara universe hopefully with a cameo by Mohit Suri.

Rating: 2.5 (out of 5 stars)

Thamma is now playing in cinemas