Did Thamma Kill Its Own Buzz? How Ayushmann’s Film Could Be The Biggest Upset Of 2025

I still remember watching Street in theatres purely because of its trailer, as it was fresh, mysterious, and unlike anything I had seen before. That sense of intrigue has now become Maddock Films’ signature style.

Over the years, they’ve perfected a simple yet highly effective promotional formula: announce the project months in advance, tease audiences with a short but impactful glimpse of the film’s world, let fans build theories and anticipation online, follow up with a few catchy songs that dominate social media reels and finally, drop a trailer that seals the deal.

This minimalistic and mystery-driven marketing approach has worked wonders for Maddock Films and even for YRF, which has adopted a similar strategy for their spy universe. The idea is to let curiosity and fan speculation do the marketing rather than overselling the film. However, with Thammathis very formula seems to have lost its magic.

© Maddock Films

What started as one of the most thrilling announcements in the Maddock horror-comedy universe has now become one of the most sceptical and debated projects of the year. Fans who were once eagerly awaiting its release are now unsure, and the blame largely falls on the promotional campaign.

The teasers, songs and trailer have struggled to capture the pop-cultural energy that made earlier Maddock projects so memorable. Unlike Street’s iconic dialogue “She is a street, she can do so much,” Munjya’s viral song Tarasor Street 2’s witty pop-culture references, Thamma has yet to deliver that one standout moment that hooks audiences instantly.

The film was once touted as one of the most awaited releases of the year, but the excitement has gradually faded after a lukewarm trailer and underwhelming music releases.

On social media, users are calling it ‘mid’, not bad, but far from impressive and many are now predicting that Thamma could become one of 2025’s biggest disappointments if it fails to deliver strong word-of-mouth after release.

To make matters more challenging, Thamma is also set to clash with The madness of a crazy persona romantic drama starring Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa.

Given the recent resurgence of romantic films like Saiyaara and the successful re-release of Sanam Teri Kasamthere’s a genuine possibility that The madness of a crazy person could draw a significant portion of the audience away from Thamma.

© Maddock Films

About Thamma

Thamma marks the fifth instalment in Maddock Films’ expanding horror-comedy universe, following Street, wolf, Munjya and Street 2The film features an impressive ensemble cast that includes Ayushmann Khurrana, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Rashmika Mandanna and Paresh Rawal in pivotal roles.

While expectations remain high given Maddock’s track record, the film’s muted buzz suggests that Thamma will have to rely heavily on strong storytelling and performances to reignite audience interest and prove that the franchise still has life left in it.

If Thamma manages to bring back the freshness and emotional connect that Street and Munjya offered, it might still surprise everyone. But as of now, it seems the film has an uphill battle ahead, both at the box office and in winning back the confidence of a once-eager fanbase.