I’ll be honest: “a child wishes for a baby brother” is exactly the kind of premise that can tip into syrup. But the Little Thomas trailer playing above mostly avoids that. It is warm, gently funny, and built around a boy who treats his wish like a very serious plan.
Written and directed by Kaushal Oza, Little Thomas stars Gulshan Devaiah and Rasika Dugal as the parents of the title character, played by Hridansh Parekh. Anurag Kashyap is among the producers, alongside Anushka Shah, Charu Oza, Rajnikant Oza, Akshay Thakker, Kabir Ahuja and Ranjan Singh. The film releases nationwide in theatres on October 23, 2026.
What the trailer promises
The pitch is right there in the hook: one little boy, one little wish. The trailer sells a cosy, retro-leaning Goan family world, with lighthearted humour and just enough family drama to give the sweetness some weight. Thomas is the engine, and the film seems to understand that his innocence is funnier and more moving when the adults around him play it straight.
Gulshan Devaiah and Rasika Dugal look like they are having a good time being warm rather than brittle. That matters because the parents could easily have been reduced to obstacles. Here, they feel like people whose own nerves and love are part of the joke.
What the trailer holds back
The trailer wisely does not explain how Thomas plans to get his baby brother, nor does it show how much of the film is pure comedy and how much is a weepy family lesson. It also keeps the emotional pivot under wraps. That restraint is promising: if the film has a few surprises, the marketing is not spending them all upfront.
The moment everyone will talk about
For me, the talking point will not be a big set-piece. It will be the way Thomas’s single-mindedness turns an ordinary family request into a full-scale mission. That blend of earnestness and chaos is the film’s real hook, and it is the reason the trailer made me smile rather than cringe.
Director Kaushal Oza has said the film is inspired by his childhood and promised: ‘Thomas will make you smile, make you laugh, and even shed a tear or two.’
Where this sits for its stars
For Gulshan Devaiah, this is a softer, leading-man register than his edgier work, and he seems comfortable in it. For Rasika Dugal, it is another chance to show lightness after a run of intense roles. Under Kaushal Oza’s direction and with Anurag Kashyap among the producers, this looks like the kind of small, heartfelt film that lives or dies on word of mouth.
Honest verdict
No, it will not compete with the big-ticket spectacles. But Little Thomas looks worth the ticket if you want an unhurried, family-friendly charmer that earns its emotions instead of forcing them. I’m cautiously optimistic, and for a trailer about a child’s wish, that is exactly the right feeling.
Watch the original: Amazon MGM Studios on YouTube
Source: Hindustan Times
