Movie: Thammudu
Rating: 2/5
Cast: Nitin, Laya, Saptami Goud, Varsha Bollamma, Saurabh Sachdev, Haritha, Srikanth Iyengar, Temper Vamsi, Chammak Chandra, Shwasik and others
Cinematography: Guhan
Editing: Praveen Pudi
Music: Ajaneesh Loknath
Producers: Raju-Shirish
Director: Venu Sriram
Release Date: July 4, 2025
After hits like Bheeshma and Rang De, Nitin hasn’t had a proper hit for a while. Director Venu Sriram recent successes include MCA and the comeback hit Vakeel Saab .Now, Nitin teams up with Venu Sriram for Thammudu, a film that also marks the comeback of actress Laya. The trailer promised a mix of sentiment and action, but does the movie live up to expectations or the director’s previous successes? Let’s find out.
Storyline Overview
Thammudu revolves around Jai (Nitin), a talented sportsman who struggles to overcome a mental block affecting his performance, specifically hitting the bull’s eye. The cause of this trauma is deeply personal. His friend Chitra (Varsha Bollamma) believes that reuniting Jai with his long-lost sister Jhansi (Laya) will help him overcome this mental hurdle.
The story follows Jai’s search for his sister and their eventual reunion, where Jhansi is trapped in a dangerous situation. The film then focuses on Jai’s efforts to rescue her. While the premise sounds straightforward, the execution lacks freshness or depth.
What Works and What Doesn’t?
Weak Storytelling & Conflict: The sibling estrangement reason is flimsy and unconvincing. The emotional core between Jai and Jhansi fails to resonate, making the narrative less believable.
Predictable & Forced Scenes: Much of the film revolves around clichéd elements such as wandering in forests, villagers chasing them, villains pursuing, and side characters dealing with personal issues. These scenes feel outdated and often unintentionally humorous rather than emotional.
Villain & Characters: The villain’s introduction tries to be unique but soon turns irritating and unintentionally funny, breaking the film’s seriousness. Some supporting roles, including Saptami Goud and Varsha Bollamma, suffer from weak writing and poor placement, adding to the disjointed feel.
Direction & Screenplay: The movie loses grip quickly, especially post-interval, with repetitive sequences of hiding and fighting that fail to maintain interest. The screenplay and dialogues lack punch and fail to engage the audience. The climax offers no real payoff, leaving viewers disappointed.
Technical Aspects: Ajaneesh Loknath’s music and background score are average, not matching the expectations from his work. Cinematography by Guhan is decent but underutilized. Despite having an award-winning editor, the film’s content feels weak and difficult to tighten.
Performances: Nitin does his best within the weak script but can’t shine due to poor writing and uninspiring dialogues. Laya’s comeback performance is sincere but unimpressive, showing no growth after a long hiatus. Varsha Bollamma and Saptami Goud’s roles are weakly written, while Shwasik Vijay impresses in his negative role. Other supporting actors do justice to their limited scenes.
Comparisons: Thammudu shares some thematic similarities with recent films like Arjun Sanmukh Vijayanti but fails to deliver natural performances or believable ambience. Instead, it tests the audience’s patience with unnatural character arcs and forced drama.
Final Verdict: Thammudu suffers from a weak plot, poor screenplay, and inconsistent tone. Despite the promising cast and technical crew, the movie fails to evoke the intended emotions or entertain. Even fans who appreciate the title or Laya’s comeback may struggle to sit through the entire film. The story’s lack of novelty and poor execution make this film a difficult watch.
Bottom Line: A tough watch, Thammudu disappoints both critics and audiences alike.
