'Thamma' review: A soulless, unexciting, and instantly forgettable adventure

I don't know if the idea to do a shared cinematic universe was planned alongside the conception of the original Stree film or if it was an afterthought. Because there is not as much effort to entertain found in the subsequent entries as in the first, which, while not 'masterpiece' material, arrived like a breath of fresh air. It felt fresh. It had equal contributions in the horror and comedy departments. Stree 2, despite feeling unnecessary, had some interesting things going for it, besides the endearing lead cast members.
Rajkummar Rao, Abhishek Banerjee, and Pankaj Tripathi were relatively more fortunate because the material had very few cracks and therefore fewer opportunities for them to slip. The other entries in the universe — Bhediya and Munjya — didn't do too badly, but, as in the case of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there was the feeling of going to a fast-food joint and leaving with hardly any aftertaste. You consume them and later forget about them. The only notable plus is the realisation that Abhishek Banerjee is a versatile actor.
Thamma is the weakest of the MHCU. There is nothing wrong with campiness and creating over-the-top moments, but when more priority is given to comedy than horror, then one gets the feeling they are trying to ape everything wrong about Marvel. What's the point of saying you're bringing out a "horror-comedy" movie when the villain and his minions don't look formidable or menacing enough? Oh, we're told things are going to get scarier, but that's in a movie yet to be made. When, by the end of the Thamma, we don't feel invested in what happens to any of the characters, good or bad, why should we even remotely consider looking forward to the next entries?
Take the love story between Alok, the influencer played by Ayushmann Khurrana, and the mysterious woman, Tadakha (Rashmika Mandanna), whom he meets when he accidentally stumbles into a forest. The whole thing is half-baked and juvenile, something that would appeal more to those who are still young and innocent, someone who has been fortunate enough to live a sheltered existence for a long time, free from all the negativity and harsh realities of the world, who was fed false stories about life and love by their parents. These are the two lead characters we are supposed to care about. Unfortunately, these are cardboard characters who simply exist as an excuse for the makers to create the next step in the universe. No amount of self-aware dialogues about the characters making PJs (poor jokes) can make things better. The less I say about it, the better.
Now, as for the true nature of Tadakha, well, that's something I'd rather leave to the viewers to discover — that is, if they plan to see Thamma irrespective of what this review tells them. It is, however, a relief to see Rashmika play a saviour instead of the men for a change. One strikingly intense — but not outstanding — action sequence involving her had me wishing that every Delhi girl had Tadakha's powers. It's a pity that none of the other action sequences in Thamma is blessed with this cathartic quality.
I must admit, though, that what the makers did with the lore and connection to Hindu mythology is mildly interesting. Nawazuddin Siddiqui's antagonist, Yakshasan, and a group of characters reside on a whole different plane that is governed by its own rules, breaking which will affect the other characters in drastic ways.
Nawazuddin, to his credit, has a lot of fun with the character and the lines given to him. One hilarious example is when he suddenly starts uttering English words, and he simply attributes his solid vocabulary to the "blood of Englishmen" he drank ages ago. But this fun aspect of this character is what works to his detriment, too. How can we take seriously a villain who constantly behaves like a stand-up comedian? The problem we once associated with the MCU is now the problem of M(H)CU, too.
And what was the need for those three item songs? Not at all necessary to the plot. The inclusion of 'Aaj Ki Raat' in Stree 2 made sense, but the songs here are annoying speedbreakers, aside from being visually and aurally unappealing.
Strangely enough, the most invested cast member is Paresh Rawal, who imbues his character — of Alok's overprotective and concerned father — with enough personality and emotional weight to such an extent that you start wondering why the makers didn't put the same effort into writing Alok, whose evolution from a naive and anxious young man to the suave and formidable leader feels rushed and unconvincing.
Since the memory of Lokah: Chapter 1 - Chandra is still fresh in the minds of everyone who loved it, it would be difficult for films like Thamma to evade comparisons to the Kalyani Priyadarshan-starrer, which did a far better job with a similar concept. It had better heroes, anti-heroes, and villains. Even if one were to evaluate Thamma for its own merits, the flaws far outweigh the strengths. Lokah was a home-cooked meal; Thamma is processed food.
Film: Thamma
Director: Aditya Sarpotdar
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
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