The trailer of Thamma, the new addition to the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU), is out and fans are in a tizzy. Released on September 26, 2025 at a grand event in Bandra Fort, Mumbai, this 2 minute 54 second trailer is a Diwali treat like no other. Directed by Aditya Sarpotdar, who directed Munjya and produced by Dinesh Vijan and Amar Kaushik, Thamma stars Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna in the lead roles, with Nawazuddin Siddiqui in a special appearance. Releasing on October 21, 2025 the trailer is a mix of romance, horror and comedy and is both intriguing and polarizing – good for some and underwhelming for others.
From the very beginning, the trailer gets you with a weird setup straight out of Indian life. Ayushmann’s Alok is your typical “lappu sa ladka”—a laid back, jobless guy who is constantly being chided by his father (played by Paresh Rawal) for his love for rajma-chawal and lack of ambition. Enter Rashmika as Tadaka, a mysterious woman with supernatural charm and suddenly Alok’s ordinary world turns into a fantasy. Their chance encounter leads to a romance that’s equal parts sweet and scary as Tadaka reveals her vampiric nature tied to an ancient legend. The story takes off when Alok gets bitten and he is thrust into a nocturnal life where sunlight is poison and blood cravings loom. Nawazuddin Siddiqui emerges as Yakshaashan, a powerful figure from the Betaal clan, hinting at clan wars and prophesied battles that can tear the lovers apart.
What makes the trailer special is the way it goes all out with Indian legends, redefining vampires not in the Western horror way but as “Thamma”—neglected, blood hungry beings from our stories. The visuals are stunning: moonlit cemeteries, misty woods shot in Ooty’s Nilgiri hills and scenes heavy on VFX celebrating the MHCU universe. Fast cuts and appearances of Varun Dhawan as Bhediya and Shraddha Kapoor as Stree will please the fans of the series with hidden surprises like Munjya and better werewolf visuals. Sachin-Jigar’s composition is a mix of spooky traditional tunes and peppy beats that match the trailer’s mood swings—from playful teasing to spine-tingling statements. At the core of this story is love, but it’s mixed with taboo relationships and family demands, just like the universe does—serious issues with a dash of thrills.
But for all its hype, the trailer has its flaws. At nearly 3 minutes long it feels packed to the brim and some people are complaining it reveals too much of the plot—spoilers about bites, battles and betrayals that kill the mystery. The humor lands in bursts like Alok’s vampire mishaps but lacks the sharpness of Stree. VFX is great in action scenes, but a few shots are over the top and border on campy fun and caricature. Supporting cast glimpses—Sathyaraj as a wise elder and Faisal Malik as comic relief—look great but we don’t get to see much of them and we are left wanting more.
On the other hand, haters call it “underwhelming” and propped up only by franchise goodwill. Complaints range from usual tropes to a trailer that “shows the whole movie” and hence no suspense. Some say the vampire angle is derivative, especially after recent films like Lokah with similar supernatural romance vibes. But the positives outweigh the negatives, the trailer has energy and emotional pull and we are hoping the film can redefine romantic horror in Bollywood.
Thamma is the boldest from the MHCU yet—going into bloodier and more ambitious territory while staying true to its scares with a social sting. Ayushmann, after his dramatic turns is trying his hand at comedy here and Rashmika’s pan-Indian appeal can make this a crossover hit. With production values that scream big-screen and a story that has laughs amidst the frights the trailer may divide but it delivers. As Diwali approaches Thamma is all set to bite into box-office records—sink its fangs into hearts and deliver a bloody good time.