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It has been the season of vampires at the box office this year. From Sinners and Lokah Chapter 1 to now Ayushmann Khurrana’s latest, Thamma, produced by Dinesh Vijan, it’s something which is dominating across languages and industries. While Thamma has crossed the Rs 100 crore in India, reactions from audiences have been mixed. Many felt the film did not fully capitalize on its potential and, in some ways, pales in comparison to earlier entries in the universe, such as the Stree movies and Bhediya. Another point of contention among netizens has been its release just two months after Lokah, the surprise hit from the Malayalam industry that explores vampirism on a relatively modest budget while achieving significant success.
Director Aditya Sarpotdar, who previously helmed the highly successful Munjya and now Thamma, recently spoke exclusively to SCREEN about the comparisons being made between his film and Lokah: “See, when I watched the film, I loved it. I’m a big fan of Dulquer Salmaan as an actor too. I reached out to him after I saw the film. I messaged him and said, ‘I just loved what you’ve done with it.’ Because primarily, as a fan and as an audience member, that’s a genre that’s very exciting to be a part of; it’s a superhero film for me. It’s a film that originates from the narrative of Lokah, of who she is, what she is, how she became what she became, and what she’ll do now.”
He added that he was so impressed with Lokah that he recommended it to Ayushmann Khurrana and Amar Kaushik, director of Stree and Bhediya: “When we internally spoke about it, about what that film is, and Ayushmann, Amar, we all had this conversation, because I recommended the film to everyone. I said, ‘Please go and watch it, it’s crazy, it’s out of this world.’ I think it’s a very, very good film.”
On the ongoing comparisons between Thamma and Lokah, Aditya Sarpotdar explained: “But our film and that film are poles apart. Those who are drawing parallels, I have no idea why they’re doing that. Just because there’s a vampire in that film and there’s a vampire in my film, people are putting them in the same space. It’s stupid to do that. Because, see, while there is a supernatural element, that’s a common fact, and I agree, if you want to compare, then you can compare Bhediya and Thamma also. You can compare Munjya and Thamma also. Just because there’s a vampire in both films, they’re being compared.”
He further elaborated on the differences: “But I do feel that our intention, the way our film fits into the world we’re creating, the way the characters are, the way our audiences are, the way we’re positioning this film, it’s poles apart from what Lokah is. So what’s the point of comparing it with Lokah? And I also feel they have their own universe they’re building, they have their own path they’re following, and we have ours. You can look at each independently and say, ‘We like this film,’ or, ‘We don’t like that film,’ whatever it is, it’s personal opinion. But to put them in the same basket and start comparing them is pointless.”
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Aditya Sarpotdar also reflected on a wider trend in Hindi cinema, where films are often harshly criticized online: “And I’ve seen that happen a lot, unfortunately, with a lot of YouTube reviewers and YouTube comments you see under those videos. People just love ridiculing and pulling down Hindi films. It’s become a trend; people think it’s fun to do that. I just feel that if there’s criticism, it has to be constructive, that you have a point, you prove it, and you talk about it. But just pointlessly bashing a certain industry, I’m not talking only about Thamma, I’m talking in general, about all Hindi films, it’s just become a thing now: ‘Pull this industry down because they’re good for nothing.’”
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He emphasized: “It doesn’t work like that, guys. Come on, everybody’s here to make good films. As I said earlier, nobody sets out saying, ‘Okay, let’s make the worst film ever.’ Nobody does that. And there are so many challenges when you’re putting out a Hindi-driven film, a bigger market, a wider audience, a film that caters to B and C centres, there are so many different kinds of people you’re addressing.”
While Thamma continues to play in theatres, makers are already planning the next instalment in the universe, titled Shakti Shalini, which stars Saiyaara fame actress Aneet Padda. Meanwhile, after a successful theatrical run, Lokah begins its streaming journey starting tonight.
