BOTTOM LINE More For Universe Fans, Less For Others
RATING
2.5/5
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CENSOR
‘U/A’ Certified, 2h 30m. |
What Is the Film About?
Alook Goel (
) is lost in a jungle and gets attacked by a bear after an adventure trip goes wrong. Taadka (Rashmika Mandanna) saves and nurses him back to life.
But, there is a bigger threat to the lives of Goel and Taadka when the former falls in love with the latter. Who is Taadka and what’s the issue and its resolutions form Thammas’ overall story.
Performances
Ayushman Khurana makes his entry into the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe with Thamma. He plays a vampire kind of character localised as Bhetal. The actor perfectly suits the part, especially the vulnerable guy during the movie’s first half.
The actor neatly pulls off the awkward fun and romance during the first half. The role turns out a bit monotonous during the latter portions and he is alright. He looks convincing as the Bhetaal, and that seems like a job done as far as Thamma is concerned.
Rashmika Mandanna plays a unique character named Tadaka. There has to be a sense of innocence-like quality to the part while simultaneously maintaining years of experience. She is okay having overall command of the part, but the love portions are easily done. The emotional bits, too, are convincingly done.
Analysis
Aditya Sarpotdar directs Thamma. It’s an origin story of the titular character while also establishing the mythos related to the world. All the while, there is a routine love story and drama going on.
The movie hooks one right from the start as not much time is wasted in getting into the main world. The bear attack followed by Rashmika’s entry immediately makes one curious without any lag.
The following sequences, in which Tadaka (Rashmika) character’s world is further revealed, continue to engage and be curious about the proceedings.
And then all of a sudden, the hero expresses love, and an incident happens that changes the whole story’s place. It feels too soon and rushed. One doesn’t feel the ‘love’ emotion yet, and the narrative wants us to believe that they are in love passionately, which makes them take extraordinary decisions.
The good thing, despite the issue, is that there is no lag, and we still don’t know the full world and background of Tadaka. It’s revealed slowly, and by the time the interval arrives, the curiosity is maintained to see what happens next.
Post intermission, the focus is more on exploring the Bhetal world and connecting it to the existing horror universe.
The big interaction between Bhetal and Thodelu (Bhedia) is sure to strike a chord with fans of the universe who have been following it from the start. Even if one isn’t, things are clearly laid out so that there is no confusion. Yes, one might wonder who Thodelu is, but the actual sequence will make one forget it, at least temporarily, while watching the proceedings.
The real drama related to the story is explored only in the final half an hour when the evil Yaksha breaks free of his shackles. However, it too is pretty quickly resolved. The narrative gives the feeling that it’s in a rush to conclude things soon and set for the next part(s). It might be exciting for the followers, but for standalone viewers, the experience remains a notch lower due to the rush.
Thamma, in general, runs on two tracks, one is the core movie-related story that is like the origin of a key character. The other is the overall arc establishing a further universe. The process leads to a bit of shortchange in the ‘present’ story, and main points are glossed over swiftly without depth or required emotion.
Overall, Thamma is another decent addition to the Horror Comedy Universe from Maddock. Its background and fun are related to it. The emotions, however, are rushed keeping the next parts in mind. It leaves a mixed response as the universe fans might be satisfied, but a casual viewer feels underwhelmed.
Performances by Others Actors
There are limited supporting characters in the movie. Among them, Paresh Rawal and Nawazuddin Siddiqui are the main characters. The former is reliable as usual and does more than expected. The latter is disappointing, though. It’s mainly due to the pre-release expectations as one expects more from the character. He has very little screen time. The rest of the actors are adequate in their bits and pieces parts. Varun Dhawan, appearing in a cameo, is fine.
Music and Other Departments?
Sachin-Jigar’s music is actually good in its original form, but the dubbing misses the mark due to the lyrics. The background score has no such issues and it’s good. The cinematography is superb giving the right vibe for the subject. The editing is also fine. The writing lacks impact in dubbing. The fun doesn’t translate in Telugu most of the time.
Highlights?
Story’s Background
Slick Execution
Casting
Technically Strong
Drawbacks?
Rushed Emotional Moments
Universe Integration
Less Mythos Exploration
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, but with mixed emotions. The impact is missing as a regular viewer when compared to someone who is following the universe.
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, but only to those who are following the universe.
Thamma Movie Review by M9
Tags: reviewsThamma#TOPSTORIES
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About the AuthorSiddartha ToletiWith over a decade of experience as a movie reviewer, Siddhartha (pen name) brings in-depth analysis and insights to every review. Passionate about films and TV series across all languages, Siddhartha primarily focuses o…