Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and producer Dinesh Vijan come together for “Thamma,” the latest chapter in Maddock Films’ growing horror comedy universe.
Directed by Aditya Sarpotdar and showrun by Amar Kaushik, the film extends the franchise’s mythology while introducing new folklore, humor and emotional depth.
When “Stree” opened in 2018, few expected the small-town chiller to spark an enduring cinematic world. Seven years later, Maddock’s horror comedy saga — spanning “Stree,” “Bhediya,” “Stree 2” and “Munjya” — has become one of Hindi cinema’s most distinctive commercial ecosystems. “Thamma” now adds a fresh dimension to that trajectory.
“When ‘Stree’ worked, the way we experienced it in theaters made me realize this had potential,” Vijan tells Variety. “Someone once told me, ‘build your own box.’ It stayed with me. When ‘Stree’ fired, I started looking at it like that. The universe formed itself properly by ‘Stree,’ and today we’ve got worlds, planets, rules and surprises that all connect.”
He says “Thamma” draws directly from Indian mythology. “The legend of ‘Thamma’ is genuinely Indian source material,” he says. “We often look at Western concepts, but the origin of many of these ideas is ours — way before anything the West has shown.”
Khurrana, whose career blends mainstream entertainment with social commentary through titles such as “Andhadhun,” “Article 15” and “Dream Girl,” describes “Thamma” as his first plunge into pure fantasy. “We’ve been jamming on this for the past four or five years,” he says. “It started as a one-liner during the pandemic, and now it’s a full-fledged script. I call it the most sought-after universe in Hindi cinema. I play a Betal [a vampiric spirit from Indian folklore], and the comedy and emotion come from how an ordinary guy deals with supernatural powers. It’s less horror and more comedy, romance and action — the first romantic film of the Maddock horror comedy universe.”
Mandanna, whose career has moved fluidly across Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi-language industries with films including “Kirik Party,” “Pushpa: The Rise,” “Geetha Govindam” and “Animal,” says she was drawn to the blend of tradition and style. “When I heard ‘Thamma’ the first time, I knew I had to be part of this universe,” she says. “These are such rooted characters in our Indian culture, but at the same time they have such swag. There are no references — you’re creating these characters in your mind and completely surrendering to your team. I’m as surprised by the outcome as the audience will be.”
Vijan says Mandanna’s role stands out for its physicality. “In ‘Thamma,’ Rashmika’s character is the most physically strong in the whole universe,” he says. “If you’ve seen her work, you know how disciplined she is — every other actor left the gym intimidated.”
For Siddiqui, known for intense performances in “Raman Raghav 2.0,” “Sacred Games” and “Gangs of Wasseypur,” “Thamma” marks a tonal departure. “I wasn’t expecting this kind of character,” he says. “As an actor it’s a new challenge — a chance to step out of my comfort zone. I’m very excited to see how I fit into this universe.”
Vijan praises Siddiqui’s portrayal of Yakshasan, the film’s antagonist. “I was so pleasantly surprised by Nawaz,” he says. “He’s crazy in the film — he’s having the most fun. Yakshasan is probably the character who’s most clear about what he wants. He believes he’s superior and wants world domination, yet Nawaz somehow makes him human.”
The producer adds that “Thamma” carries the franchise’s familiar mix of humor and heart. “I don’t like obvious commentary,” he says. “Whatever’s happening in society happens in films, and vice versa. There’s a subtle messaging on humanity here, but in the most non-obvious way.”
As for where “Thamma” fits within the larger Maddock universe, Vijan calls it “the most human” film yet. “This is one you can watch with your entire family — it’s extremely funny,” he says. “Every film has to feel different. ‘Thamma’ adds another dimension without repeating what we’ve done before. The long and short of it is, we can’t be repetitive.”
Khurrana agrees. “Since it’s a genesis film, it carries the common thread forward but takes it somewhere new,” he says. “We’ve seen ghosts and spirits before, but nothing like Betals in Hindi cinema. ‘Thamma’ is the Sarvasrisht Betal — the supreme one.”
“Thamma” releases Oct. 21 over the Diwali holiday frame.
variety.com
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