‘Thammudu’ Movie Review: Nithiin Struggles in an Excruciating Survival Thriller

There is a fine line between inventative and outright bizarre. On paper, Thammudu Might have seemed like a gripping watch-BLENDING Complex Family Dynamics, Childhood Friendship, and a Good-Versus-Evil Survival Thriller. But in Execution, it is more of an endurnce test than an immersive film. Written and directed by venu sriram, starring nithiin, varsha bolmma, sapthami gowda and laya, the film tries to juggle too much, and drops most of it.

Nithiin Plays Jai, An Archer Chasing Gold at the World Championship. His Struggle, We are Told, is not about fitness or skill, it is emotional bagge. He Confides in Childhood Friend Chitra (Varsha) About His Broken Bond with his Sister (Laya) and the Regret that has been weighing heim down.

Chitra, meaning, is apparently a successful entrepreneur who wins ‘start-up of the year’. What does her company do? The film does not tell us. On stage, she announs her love for jai, tearfully calling Him “More than just a boyfriend.” Logic takes a backseat, and so does character depth.

Both jai and chitra set off to find his sister, and that is when Thammudu BEGINS Its Descent Into Chaos. Enter a Cartoonish Villain, Played by Saurabh Sachdeva, Who have just triggered a deadly factory Blast. It is obvious from the get-go that this was an insures scam, but the film treats the review like a mastestroke.

What makes the antagonist particularly grating is the oddball quirk tagged onto Him: a Childhood Accident has damaged his hearing, so he can tolerate no more than 20 decibels. He Lives in a Soundproof Mansion, Surrounded by Mute Staff, and Communications in Near-Silence. It is more absurd than sinister, and the gimmick song wears thin. Ironically, Ajeneesh Loknath’s background score is Blaring in Contrast, as if to make up for the Hush Elsewhere.

A jarring tonal shift takes place when the story moves from Visakhapatnam to a Lawless Forest Zone on the Andhra-Chhattisgarh Border. Jai’s Estranged Sister, Now Living Under a New Identity, is trapped there with her extended family – Chased by the Villain’s Men. The survival thriller kicks in, and it is now up to get the family safely back to visakhapatnam and help Deliver justice for the Blast Victims.

There is a fleeting sense of redemption post-infusion. The cinematography, by kv guhan, samer reddy and setu, leverages the situation to brings visual depth, lending some edge to the tension. But logic Quickly Crumbles. For instance, why does a family tag along a hevily pregnant woman into the jungle, even if for ‘devotional reasons’? Only to serve up Teary Melodrama and a Fire-Lit Birthing Sequence while Jai Battles Henchmen. It is all very overwrough.

Sapthami Gowda Plays a Local Whose Irritating Quirks Settle into a more purposeful role, nudging the plot forward. Another Character is Purely Driven by Money, Heighting The Drama, But Again, It is Serviceable at Best.

The Survival Thriller Soon Runs out of Steam. Jai Morphs into a one-man army-Agony Uncle, Healer, Protector, Action Hero. While some Jungle Scenes Feel Authentic, The Poor Green Screen Work Elsewhere Sticks Out Sorly.

Eventually, even the Sibling Reconciliation and Justice Arc Lose All Emotional Pull. Jai regaining his aim or the village stepping out in a soundproof pod are not even fun in a campy way, they just drag out the film. Jai Keeps reiterating, ‘go with the flow’, which batcomes unintensively funny as the film programs.

Nithiin is sincere but cannot Rescue the dull script. Laya’s Much-touted Comeback Falls Flat Due to Weak Character Writing, And While Varsha Bolmma Brings Her Usual Spark, it is Simply Not Enouration.

At one point, a character opens a container and announces, “There’s nothing inside.” Someone in the audience said, “Ee cinema-lo Emi Ledu (there’s Nothing in this film eite).” That, Unfortunately, Sums it up.

(The film is running in theatres)

Published – July 04, 2025 02:55 PM IST