Thammudu (2025) Review

There are good films and bad films - and then there are films like Thammudu, which manage to be bizarrely awful from start to finish. Despite an aggressive promotional blitz, Thammudu ends up as one of the most disappointing films in recent times. Nithiin, who has been struggling to find solid footing in his career, hits another low with this misfire.

The story follows Jay (Nithiin), a professional archer plagued by psychological blocks that keep him from hitting a perfect score. His struggle stems from a childhood trauma - he once failed to stand up for his sister Jhansi (Laya), leading to her being separated from her lover and forcibly married. Haunted by guilt, Jay is a broken man.

Years later, Jhansi has risen to a powerful position as the head of a committee tasked with deciding the fate of a corrupt and ruthless businessman, Agarwal (Saurabh Sachdeva). Sensing danger to his empire, Agarwal will stop at nothing - bribery, manipulation, even murder - to ensure that the report swings in his favour. Can Jay now protect his estranged sister from harm? Can he earn back her trust and find redemption?

What could've been a gripping sibling drama with a socio-political core is buried under inept direction, jarring transitions, and half-hearted performances. Thammudu had potential on paper - but on screen, it misses the mark by miles.

The film begins with a brooding, frustrated archer who keeps missing his mark. But before you settle into that genre, boom - a sudden accident derails Jay's life. The film now takes a sharp turn - archery is suddenly out the window, and now it's a rescue mission. What follows in the hunt for his missing sister is a barrage of absurdity: thousands of bizarre, extraterrestrial-like goons armed to the teeth, landmines, tree traps, the works. However, Jay, now even injured with one hand in a sling, defeats them all - Rambo-style.

Just when you think the mission's complete, the film swerves again. Then comes another twist. And another. The plot is implausible. The characters are paper-thin. The setting feels like a video game sandbox gone wild. Jay might keep winning battles, but the film loses the war.

The technical aspects and performances are all formulaic and forgettable. The only saving grace is Saurabh Sachdeva as Agarwal. One of the most respected acting coaches of our time, Sachdeva shot to fame as Suleiman Isa in Sacred Games, and has since delivered a string of compelling performances. This one is no exception either. In Thammudu, he plays a psychopathic villain with a unique disorder - his hypersensitive hearing causes him physical pain when exposed to certain decibels. This condition fuels his eerie silence and makes his brand of menace genuinely unsettling. His quiet fury is one of the film's rare creative sparks. Indeed, if there's any reason to endure Thammudu, it's Sachdeva.

But honestly? Spare yourself. Your 132 minutes deserve better.