Ever since Dominic Arun’s Lokah Chapter 1 – Chandra stormed the Malayalam box office with its unique blend of fantasy, folklore, and horror, comparisons have been rife between the Kalyani Priyadarshan-led
hit and Aditya Sarpotdar’s upcoming vampire comedy Thamma, starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna. Now, Ayushmann has addressed these parallels, asserting that Thamma will be a far more “massier” experience designed to appeal to pan-Indian audiences.
Ayushmann on the Lokah Comparisons
In an interview with Galatta Plus, the actor shared his perspective on the frequent comparisons between the two supernatural films. “We are high on comedy,” he said. “Though I enjoyed Lokah, I was shooting in Allahabad at that time and it wasn’t released there. So ours is a more massy film because it penetrates down to the Hindi-speaking markets also. Lokah could be a good induction for certain multiplex audiences towards this thing, but we have a different genesis, different situations, and it’s a different story. There’s hardly any similarity.”
Rashmika on Thamma Being a ‘Different Experience’
Rashmika Mandanna, who stars opposite Ayushmann, echoed his thoughts while emphasizing that Thamma will offer audiences something entirely new. “I watched Lokah and I’m good friends with Kalyani,” Rashmika said. “Having DQ (Dulquer Salmaan), Thomas (Tovino), and Kalyani doing their thing — it was a different world altogether. Knowing what we have in store and where we’re coming from, I can promise you it’s going to be a different experience. You can’t put both films together. I understand the comparison, but when you walk out of Thamma, it’ll be a new conversation altogether.”
Producer Dinesh Vijan on Thamma’s Mythic Roots
Producer Dinesh Vijan, who has backed several hits in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (Stree, Bhediya, and Munjya), shared that while he hasn’t seen Lokah, he heard it was “exceptional.” He explained that Thamma is rooted in mythos and aims to expand the studio’s horror-comedy universe with an entirely fresh narrative lens.
About Thamma and Lokah
Directed by Aditya Sarpotdar, Thamma is the fifth instalment in Maddock’s Horror Comedy Universe and is set to explore the lore of vampires in an Indian setting. The film will hit theatres on October 21, coinciding with Diwali 2025, and promises a mix of scares, satire, and supernatural spectacle.
Meanwhile, Lokah Chapter 1 – Chandra, which drew from Kerala’s rich folklore — including myths around Kalliyankattu Neeli (vampire), Chathan (goblin), and Odiyan (shape-shifting ninja) — has become a cultural phenomenon. The Malayalam blockbuster became the first film from the industry to cross ₹300 crore worldwide, with cameos by Dulquer Salmaan, Tovino Thomas, Anna Ben, and Soubin Shahir adding to its star power.
With both films exploring vampire mythology through vastly different lenses, audiences seem to have a thrilling cinematic clash to look forward to this October.
