Bollywood seems to have found a new way to celebrate Diwali — by lighting up the box office with flops. Thamma, which was supposed to be Ayushmann Khurrana’s big festive release, has somehow managed to turn a golden release window into a cold, dull, and uninspired affair. Usually, Diwali is that time when audiences eagerly await a good family entertainer, but this time, the response is as flat as the film’s own marketing strategy. There’s absolutely no buzz, no chatter, no curiosity — almost as if Thamma doesn’t even exist.
The makers clearly sensed the dead air surrounding the film and tried to rescue it with what they thought would be a “grand musical night.” They roped in Nora Fatehi for a live dance performance to boost publicity, banking on her glamour and stage presence. But even Nora’s shimmer couldn’t save this sinking ship. Her performance was labelled “dull”, “uninspired”, and “out of sync” by those in attendance. It felt more like a desperate PR stunt than a celebration of cinema.
And to make things even more awkward, Ayushmann Khurrana himself joined Nora on stage — hoping to inject some energy into the lifeless event. But that, too, fell flat. There was no spark, no crowd enthusiasm, and no viral moment to talk about. The entire evening felt forced — an attempt to create buzz that just wasn’t meant to happen. The truth is simple: Thamma looks like a movie no one asked for and one that the audience certainly doesn’t seem to care about.
Trade analysts are already calling it one of the weakest Diwali openings in years. With little to no marketing recall, no hit song, and zero online engagement, Thamma is expected to open in the ₹2–3 crore range, which is shockingly low for a holiday release. Even optimistic estimates barely touch ₹5 crore. For context, smaller independent films have managed better numbers without half the star power or promotional budget.
Even Ayushmann’s usual charm, which once carried films like Dream Girl and Bala, seems missing this time. The actor, who was known for bringing fresh stories to the screen, seems to have fallen into the trap of formula films — and Thamma appears to be the weakest of them all. Social media users have already begun mocking the title and trailer, calling it “a recycled Ayushmann project with new clothes but no heart.
With no real excitement, a half-hearted marketing push, and a musical event that turned out to be a snoozefest, Thamma feels like a film that has lost the race even before reaching the starting line. Diwali releases are supposed to bring sparkle to the big screen — but this one’s just flickering in the dark. If early reactions are anything to go by, Thamma might just become another expensive lesson in what happens when a movie releases without a reason to exist.