Thamma Director Aditya Reacts To Criticism For Having 3 Item Songs In The Film
Updated on: 06 November, 2025 02:00 PM IST |Shweta Shah
Thamma director on having three item songs in the film
Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna`s Thamma might have performed exceptionally well at the box office, but it has been garnering conversations about its bold music. The latest addition to Dinesh Vijan`s horror comedy universe has sparked debate on having three item songs.
Director Aditya Sarpotdar, who previously delivered a hit with Munjya, says there`s a reason why those songs exist in the vampire world.
Thamma director clears item song controversy
In a chat with SCREEN, the filmmaker thinks the criticism feels misplaced, especially when the audience has celebrated and danced to a similar genre of songs in the past Maddock films.
“All these things are marketing assets that lead you into a film. What counts at the end of the day is what the film is. When you sit through a film, what do you get out of it? For me, when these songs come into the film, I want them there because I know my story unfolds there. At some point, the fact that you feel that the film is only known for its item numbers is unfortunate, because that’s not what the film is known for. That was never the intention," he said.
Also Read: Thamma Movie Review - Is This Maddock`s Weakest Film?
Sarpotdar pointed out that songs like Taras and Aaj Ki Raat were accepted with open arms by the audience, without a hint of controversy.
He added, “You also can’t deny the fact that this is the same audience who has watched my earlier films, like Munjya, where Taras became a massive hit, right? It’s the same audience who loved Aaj Ki Raat, right? Nobody had a problem there. It’s just that now, because you see it happening a lot more, you feel it’s a problem. And I say, okay, you can have an opinion, and you don’t like it. I’ll take it in my stride. But maybe what’s also happening is: in a vampire film, you need a certain sense of glitz, glamour, and madness. Here, we had the chance to do that."
As per his vision, the film demanded a vibrant, louder and flashier vibe.
Aditya Sarpotdar opined, “In Munjya, if I had put three item numbers, there was no chance to do that; the world is different. But here, you have a sense of a world that is intriguing, marvellous, glamorous, and a little crazy, in the sense of what vampires could be. Maybe that’s how we went ahead thinking about it."
Having said that, the filmmaker is happy that the audience didn`t completely reject the idea of bold music in the horror comedy.
“But what’s happened is that even before the film was released, it got branded as an ‘item number film’, and that, I think, is a very typical mindset. Because you have accepted the same songs wholeheartedly and enjoyed them earlier. Now suddenly you have a problem with them. It’s a little odd. But okay, I understand. And I am glad that the same people also came and watched the film. People have seen the film. So as long as you see the film, that’s the point," he concluded.
Up next in the horror-comedy universe is Shakti Shalini, led by Aneet Padda.
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