Story: A massive factory explosion in Vizag leaves several families devastated. IAS officer Jhansi Kiranmayee (Laya Gorty), who is leading the investigation, resists pressure from powerful industrialist Azarwal (Saurabh Sachdeva) to alter the official report. While Jhansi travels to Ambara Gundem, a tribal village, to attend a family ritual, Azarwal’s men track her down and launch an attack. Amidst this turmoil arrive Jay (Nithiin), a skilled archer seeking redemption from his inner conflict, and Chitra (Varsha Bollamma), his childhood friend. As Jay’s relationship with Jhansi comes to light, he must navigate a treacherous night filled with danger and emotional reckoning.Review: Thammudu, directed by Venu Sriram, begins on a compelling note, anchored in a solid premise of familial bonds, systemic injustice and personal ambition. However, as the narrative progresses, it tumbles down a rabbit hole of exaggerated drama and logic-defying twists, never quite recovering its footing.Despite the backdrop of scenic tribal landscapes and crisp visuals, the writing fails to support the story’s ambition. The screenplay struggles to weave together its emotional core — the brother-sister bond and Jay’s dream of winning an archery gold medal — into a cohesive, convincing arc. What starts as a grounded emotional tale soon spirals into overstuffed spectacle, with an overzealous attempt to be unique that ultimately backfires.Nithiin delivers a committed performance as Jay, and Varsha Bollamma and Laya (in a welcome return) lend sincerity to their roles. Saurabh Sachdeva as the antagonist with a special condition plays an interesting role, and brings intensity to the screen. Yet, much of the film’s emotional potential is diluted by TV-serial-like interactions and melodramatic sequences that feel misplaced. Ironically, it is Ratna (Sapthami Gowda), a relatively underplayed character, who leaves the most lasting impression. All the actors try their best to breathe life into their roles, but the film’s insistence on doing too much, combined with poor sequencing and a lack of narrative clarity, proves costly. The adventure, though grand in scale, often feels detached from reality and far-fetched in execution.On the technical front, the film is visually appealing, with cinematographer KV Guhan capturing the tribal locales with flair. Ajaneesh Loknath’s background score is atmospheric but rarely elevates the emotional beats. The action choreography is stylised, though several sequences stretch believability, further distancing the viewer from the story’s emotional core.Thammudu had all the ingredients for a stirring emotional-action drama, but in trying too hard to be everything, it ends up being less than the sum of its parts. A film that had the potential to hit the bullseye sadly misses the mark.
