Thamma’s Big Swing: How the Film Jiggles Romance, Comedy, and Horror

New Delhi, Tuesday, October 28, 2025: The Maddock Horror Comedy Universe has done it again! The newest film, “Thamma,” hit the screens this Diwali and brought a fresh mix of genres. This movie is not just a simple story. It tries to bring together romance, comedy, and horror in one big package.

Directed by Aditya Sarpotdar, this film is the fifth part of the popular spooky universe. Starring Ayushmann Khurrana as Alok and Rashmika Mandanna as Tadaka, “Thamma” introduces a new supernatural being to the audience: the ‘Betaal,’ or Indian vampire.

Thamma’s Romantic Core: An Unconventional Love Story

At its heart, “Thamma” is a love story that crosses all boundaries. The romance element is the engine that drives the whole plot. It’s a very unusual “inter-species” love story.

Alok and Tadaka’s Forbidden Pyaar

• Alok Goyal is a small-time journalist. He is a bit of a scaredy-cat but pretends to be brave.
• He gets lost in a forest, and a mysterious woman, Tadaka, saves his life from a bear.
• Tadaka is a Betaal, a powerful undead being who cannot drink human blood.
• Alok falls for her beauty. Tadaka is drawn to the sound of his beating heart. This is the start of their forbidden love.
• Tadaka breaks her tribe’s strict rules to save Alok. She even turns him into a Betaal to save his life after an accident. This act changes everything.
• The film focuses on the emotional journey of Alok accepting his new, darker self for the woman he loves. It’s a sweet but often tense romance.

The first half of the film is especially praised for this love story part. It sets up their unique relationship well.

The Comic Relief: Making Horror Funny

Comedy is a key part of the Maddock Universe, and “Thamma” has its moments. The humor mostly comes from the funny situations the characters find themselves in, especially when a supernatural world meets the very normal life of Delhi.

Ayushmann’s Comic Timing and Paresh Rawal’s Role

• Ayushmann Khurrana uses his known comic timing to play Alok. He is a lovable, goofy character.
• The clash between the scary Betaal world and the real world gives many laughs. For example, Tadaka is renamed “Tarika” to be more acceptable to Alok’s family.
• Paresh Rawal plays Alok’s skeptical father. His disbelief and his funny reaction to his son’s transformation provide much-needed comic relief. He even takes his Betaal son to an exorcist!
• A few jokes and pop culture references also hit the right note with the audience. The dialogue, though sometimes uneven, aims to be quirky and relatable.

The Horror and Mythological Twist

“Thamma” is rooted in Indian folklore. It expands the horror element of the universe by introducing a new, powerful monster and an ancient story.

Introducing the Betaals and Yakshasan

• The film’s main horror comes from the ‘Betaals,’ the vampire-like creatures. Unlike typical Western vampires, these Betaals are bound by certain Indian mythological rules.
• The main villain is Yakshasan (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), the ancient, evil leader of the Betaals. His menace brings the proper horror element to the story.
• Yakshasan wants to break the rules and start drinking human blood again. This sets up the big fight between good and evil.
• The action sequences, especially the fight between the transformed Alok and Yakshasan, are intense. The visual effects (VFX) used to show the Betaal world are a highlight.
• The film also ties into the overall Maddock universe. Cameos from characters like Bhediya (Varun Dhawan) and Jana (Abhishek Banerjee) remind the audience that this world is growing bigger.

In the end, “Thamma” is an ambitious film that tries to mix many flavors. While some critics say the balance is not perfect, the audience seems to be enjoying this “Diwali Thammaka.” It successfully reinforces the idea of a connected supernatural world in Bollywood.