Thamma Can Be A Lot Of Fun If Only You'll Allow It To Be

Let me start by confessing that I’m not a fan of movie universes. Cops, spies, none of them. Not even Maddock’s horror-comedy one. Or MHCU, as it’s now being called. Yes, I’ve enjoyed both Stree movies and even Varun Dhawan’s Bhediya but I still go into every new movie from this ‘universe’ with a fair amount of trepidation. After all, since every big movie has been nothing but a big disappointment off late, how long till this one too meets the same fate? It’ll be a while for Thamma has hit it out of the park!

After witches and werewolves, the universe certainly needed another creature and it’s betaals who have arrived further elevating the build-up to the ultimate showdown planned ahead.

I’m trying to do this without giving out spoilers, so excuse me from getting into details.

Thamma is this universe’s first love story and both Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna manage a fairly decent chemistry, even if takes a while to get there. Khurrana plays a goofy Delhi boy, a role he has mastered already whose love makes a betaal (Mandanna) break all rules, and is entirely convincing in his arc as loser turned lover boy-turned-lusty saviour.

One of the biggest joys of this horror-comedy universe is watching women kick butt, and Mandanna gets to do that aplenty here. She’s fabulous at it too and you almost forgive her Hindi diction (which has improved a lot!), which is saying a lot.

As the antagonist, Nawazuddin Siddiqui doesn’t have too many scenes but whenever he does show up, he’s suitably dramatic. As is Paresh Rawal in his part as Khurrana’s dumbfounded dad.

It isn’t even remotely scary, mind you, but funny enough to tide the wave. Do you miss the horror? A tad bit, especially since the film spends so much energy trying to make you laugh. You’ll enjoy the VFX though which is top-notch. As is the music, though how many item songs is too many of them?

Thamma is definitely designed as more of a build-up movie for the final showdown as a standalone one. They wanted to introduce betaals to set up the conflict for a future film, and that conflict is looking absolutely pulsating. Especially thanks to those two A-lister cameos, both of whom play key roles in the MHCU – it's definitely the best bit in the movie, that one time the audiences were hooting and how in the theatre!

Don't go into Thamma expecting another Stree. Look at it instead as the start of an exciting new chapter in this horror-comedy universe, and you’ll find yourself enjoying what’s an offer. Especially since it's signalling the onset of something bigger and better in the future. Who knew the MHCU could turn me into an optimist?