Thamma – Britannia Biscuit 50-50!!! PK Verdict: Just Silver – 2.5★

Thamma – Britannia Biscuit 50-50!!!

Maddock’s latest entry into the MHCU, Thamma, lands somewhere between sweet and salty — much like a Britannia 50-50 biscuit. It neither sends chills down your spine nor quite tickles your funny bone. While the film scores high on technical finesse — with impressive sound design, visuals, and direction — it falls short on the very essence of what the MHCU stands for: horror and humour.

The food looks great, but the taste doesn’t quite match. The film feels like a beautifully plated dish that’s missing seasoning. The Betaal world and its folklore offer an intriguing setup, but it’s only explored at the surface. Much of the runtime is spent on item numbers or WhatsApp-level jokes, leaving little room for depth.

Ayushmann Khurrana is firmly in his comfort zone — once again playing the quintessential Delhi guy reminiscent of his earlier roles. While the setting and struggles differ slightly (somewhat inspired by Bhediya), the familiarity lingers. Since it’s part of the MHCU, we do get the expected crossovers — Bhediya makes an appearance — but it feels more like a formality than a thrill. The action sequences are well-executed but lack freshness.

Rashmika Mandanna looks stunning and delivers a strong performance, though her Hindi dialogue delivery occasionally feels laboured. Nawazuddin Siddiqui, unfortunately, is underutilised — his menacing potential is reduced to a caricature, and he barely goes beyond what’s shown in the trailer.

Paresh Rawal and Geeta Sharma bring some charm with their chemistry and timing, but it’s not enough to elevate the overall experience. The core issue with Thamma lies in MHCU’s growing tendency to prioritise branding over storytelling. The universe promises horror-comedy, yet delivers little of either.

Director Aditya Sarpotdar, who earlier gave us the visually striking and well-balanced Munjya, doesn’t quite hit the same note this time. Thamma gives us two flashy item songs, one soulful number (Rahen Na Rahe Hum) that turns into yet another dance sequence by the end credits, and a new Betaal named Thamma — who might return in future MHCU films. Let’s just hope he brings more chills and chuckles next time.

The film’s marketing leaned heavily on its musical promotions and a much-hyped Shakti Shalini announcement — which, unfortunately, ends up as more of a digital tease than a cinematic moment.

In the end, Thamma feels like that Britannia 50-50 biscuit — good to look at, nicely packed, but missing both the maska of comedy and the chaska of horror.

Diwali timing and massive screen coverage might just make Thamma sparkle at the box office. Watch it for Ayushmann Khurrana’s effortless charm and to keep the MHCU dream alive.

PK Verdict: Just Silver – 2.5★