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Prime Video streams Maddock’s Thamma worldwide after box-office run
MUMBAI: Prime Video has released Maddock Films’ supernatural horror-comedy Thamma for exclusive global streaming, following a successful theatrical run. The film began streaming on December 16 across India and more than 200 countries and territories.
Produced by Dinesh Vijan under the Maddock Films banner and by Amar Kaushik, and directed by Aditya Sarpotdar, Thamma stars Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, with Paresh Rawal and Faisal Malik in pivotal roles. The film also features special appearances by Varun Dhawan, Abhishek Banerjee, Nora Fatehi and Malaika Arora.
Set in a mythical world, Thamma expands the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe, linking its narrative to franchises such as Stree, Munjya and Bhediya. Blending folklore with humour, romance and horror, the film follows a battle between humanity’s last hope and a dark supernatural force threatening the world.
Prime Video India director and head of content licensing Manish Menghani, said the film underlines the platform’s commitment to distinctive Indian storytelling with global appeal. Dinesh Vijan said the worldwide streaming premiere marks a key step in taking the Maddock universe to wider audiences.
The digital release positions Thamma as the latest chapter in one of Hindi cinema’s most commercially successful genre experiments, as horror-comedy continues to travel well beyond the box office.
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Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square makes $64 billion bid to acquire Universal Music Group
Ackman pitches NYSE relisting plan as UMG board weighs unsolicited offer
The hedge fund has proposed a business combination that values UMG at €30.40 per share, representing a hefty 78 per cent premium to its current trading price. The offer includes €9.4 billion in cash alongside stock in a newly formed entity, with shareholders set to receive €5.05 per share in cash and 0.77 shares in the new company for each UMG share they hold.
Under the proposal, UMG would merge with Pershing Square SPARC Holdings Ltd and re-emerge as a Nevada-based entity listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The move is designed to boost investor visibility and potentially secure inclusion in major indices such as the S&P 500.
Pershing Square Capital Management ceo Bill Ackman argued that while UMG’s operational performance remains strong, its market valuation has lagged due to external factors. “UMG’s stock price has languished due to a combination of issues that are unrelated to the performance of its music business,” Ackman said, pointing to concerns ranging from shareholder overhang to delayed US listing plans.
Ackman also flagged what he sees as untapped potential in UMG’s balance sheet and a lack of clear capital allocation strategy. He added that the market has not fully recognised the value of UMG’s €2.7 billion stake in Spotify, alongside gaps in investor communication.
The proposed transaction would also result in the cancellation of around 17 per cent of UMG’s outstanding shares, while maintaining its investment-grade balance sheet. Pershing Square has said it will fully backstop the equity financing, with debt commitments secured at signing. The deal is targeted for completion by the end of the year.
UMG, however, has struck a measured tone. The company confirmed that its board has received the non-binding proposal and will review it with advisers. It reiterated confidence in its current strategy and leadership under Lucian Grainge, signalling no immediate shift in stance.
The proposal comes at a time when global music companies are navigating evolving investor expectations, streaming economics and capital allocation pressures. For Pershing Square, the bet is clear: sharpen the financial story, relist in the US, and let the music play louder in the markets.
Whether UMG’s board is ready to change the tune remains to be seen, but the spotlight on its valuation just got a lot brighter.
