Movie: Thammudu
Rating: 1.75/5
Banner: Sri Venkateswara Creations
Cast: Nithiin, Sapthami Gowda, Laya, Varsha Bollamma, Saurabh Sachdeva, Swasika, Hari Teja, Srikanth Iyyengar, Temper Vamshi, Chammak Chandra and others
Music: B. Ajaneesh Loknath
DOP: K.V Guhan, Sameer Reddy, Setu
Editor: Prawin Pudi
Production Designer: G M Sekhar
Action: Vikram Mor, Real Satish, Ravi Verma, Ram Krishan
Produced by: Raju - Shirish
Written and Directed by: Sriram Venu
Release Date: July 4, 2025
Nithiin has been going through a rough patch with a series of flops in recent times. However, his collaboration with director Sriram Venu — known for hits like MCA and Vakeel Saab — has generated positive buzz. The trailers look promising.
Let’s take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of Thammudu.
Story:
Jay (Nithiin), a professional archer, embarks on a personal mission at the suggestion of his friend Chitra (Varsha Bollamma): to find his long-lost sister. When he finally tracks her down, he discovers that she now goes by the name Jhansi Kirnmayi (Laya) and works as a government officer.
Jhansi is determined to file a truthful report about a hazardous incident at a factory owned by the powerful and corrupt Azarwal (Sarah Sachdeva). Fearing the fallout from an honest report, Agarwal sends his henchmen to confine Jhansi within the Ambar Godugu region until she agrees to sign the document that favors his company.
Now, it’s up to Jay — not only to protect his sister from danger but also to find the right moment to reveal his true identity to her.
Will everything go according to plan? Can Jay convince her that he is the brother she once lost?
Artistes’ Performances:
Nithiin has been making a conscious effort to establish himself in action-oriented roles. While his dedication is evident, the weak characterisation gives him little room to shine, making his performance feel routine and uninspired.
Laya is well-cast as the honest government officer and Nithiin’s sister, adding credibility to her role. However, Kantara fame Sapthami Gowda, who plays an emergency contact in a forest, is hampered by a poorly written and somewhat absurd character.
Saurabh Sachdeva, a familiar face in Bollywood, stands out in a uniquely crafted villain role. He brings intensity to the screen, and it’s evident that director Venu Sriram has put more effort into developing the antagonist’s arc than the hero’s.
Varsha Bollamma, playing Nithiin’s friend, has little to contribute, and the rest of the supporting cast fails to leave a strong impression.
Technical Excellence:
Ajaneesh Loknath’s background score is decent, adding some atmosphere to the scenes, though the songs leave little to no impact. The cinematography is passable, and the action sequences follow a predictable and uninspired pattern.
However, the film’s biggest drawback lies in its screenplay, which lacks depth and coherence. Even the editing fails to salvage the pacing or improve the narrative flow.
Highlights:
Couple of episodes
Drawback:
Flat narration
Venu Sriram’s lacklustre direction
Film turning boring as it progresses
Some sequences are outrightly silly
Analysis
In the first 15 minutes, Thammudu, directed by Vakeel Saab fame Venu Sriram, gives the impression that something is off.
The opening scenes featuring Nithiin and Varsha Bollamma feel tacky and unconvincing. While some films manage to recover from a weak start, Thammudu unfortunately deteriorates further, becoming increasingly dull and uninspired as it moves into the second half, which is overloaded with action.
The core plot — a brother trying to save his estranged sister and atone for past mistakes — sounds promising on paper. However, Venu Sriram falters in both screenplay and direction.
The only new point in the first half is the villain’s introduction. Played by Saurabh Sachdeva, the antagonist is initially interesting due to his unusual condition — an aversion to loud noises above a certain decibel level. But this angle is quickly abandoned, and the character devolves into a generic villain with little depth.
As the story shifts to a forest and village — where the sister and others are trapped — we meet Sapthami Gowda’s character, Ratna. Unfortunately, her scenes with Nithiin drag and test the audience’s patience. Even the interval point, which should ideally raise the stakes, fails to create any real impact.
Though there is one mildly engaging sequence in the second half, the film as a whole remains lackluster. The hero-villain confrontations are formulaic, and despite efforts to give the antagonist a unique touch, the conflict lacks imagination. The overreliance on repetitive action sequences in the second half, with minimal emotional drama, is another major drawback.
The second half unfolds almost entirely over a single night, hinting at inspiration from Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Khaidi and Vikram.
Brother-sister sentiment has traditionally worked well in Telugu cinema, which makes Sriram’s mishandling of the theme even more disappointing.
The film also echoes themes from his earlier movie MCA, where Nani protects his sister-in-law, a government officer. In Thammudu, Laya plays the sister and government official, but unlike MCA, this film lacks engaging romance, memorable songs, and a compelling narrative.
Overall, Thammudu is another misfire for Nithiin, who is already navigating a streak of flops. It’s a weak blend of action, emotion, and sentiment that fails to engage on any front, turning into a tedious and forgettable watch.
Bottom-line: Very disappointing