Diwali this year will see the release of two films, Thamma and Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat. Neither of the two carries the big tentpole aura, which is generally associated with a major festive date like Diwali. On their own, the two films may not stand out, but each has a factor that gives it a lift. For Thamma, it is the IP branding that gives it wider visibility, while for Deewaniyat, it's the music.

Thamma is the fifth film in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe, the last two releases of which were major successes last year, including record grosser Stree 2 . Given the success of the universe and the historic track record of comedies on Diwali, there were naturally high expectations for the film. However, those expectations don’t appear to be meeting reality, at least as far as the advan

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