Suresh Kavirayani
sureshkavirayani@gmail.com
After more than three decades, Kamal Haasan and director Mani Ratnam reunited for Thug Life. This marks their second collaboration, and the film naturally carried massive hype and curiosity. With a grand ensemble cast including Trisha, Abhirami, Silambarasan, Joju George, Nasser, Bharani, Ashok Selvan and others, with A.R. Rahman as the music director, expectations were sky-high. Here’s the story and analysis.
Story
Shakti Raju (Kamal Haasan) and his brother Manikkam (Nasser) are Delhi-based gangsters. Sadanand (Mahesh Manjrekar), a politician, is Shakti Raju’s rival. During a meeting between the brothers, a sudden police shootout kills a man, leaving his children Amar and Chandra behind. Shakti Raju escapes with Amar and raises him like his own son. A grown-up Amar (Silambarasan) becomes Shakti’s right-hand man.
Tragedy strikes when Manikkam’s daughter commits suicide after being betrayed by Sadanand’s nephew. Amar captures him, and Shakti Raju kills him. Shakti takes the blame, goes to jail, and names Amar as his successor. Upon release, Shakti finds Amar being treated as the new leader. After a failed assassination attempt, Shakti suspects Amar. Manikkam reveals to Amar that Shakti was behind his father’s death, prompting Amar to turn against his mentor.
During a spiritual journey to Mount Kailash, Shakti is attacked by Amar and left for dead. Amar and Manikkam take over the gang, and Amar even claims Shakti’s lover Indrani (Trisha). Two years later, Shakti returns, meets Dr. Chandra (Aishwarya Lekshmi), and seeks revenge on those who betrayed him. How he accomplishes that forms the crux of the story.
Analysis
When legends like Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan team up after years, the expectation isn’t just magic, but something fresh and compelling. The promotional materials positioned Thug Life as a gangster drama, co-written by Kamal and Mani themselves. Unfortunately, what they’ve delivered feels like an outdated story, told in a tired, predictable manner.
Their previous collaboration, Nayakan (1987), is considered iconic, which amplified expectations. But Thug Life is a complete letdown. Despite its massive cast, not a single character is strongly written. Emotional depth is entirely missing. For instance, Trisha’s role feels completely wasted.
The core plot—an adopted son turning against his mentor—is far from original. It feels like an aged script with a sluggish narrative. The film starts off decently, with Kamal introducing his character and the flashback featuring a younger version of himself (which is visually impressive). The portions involving his bond with Amar and his romance with Indrani are mildly engaging. However, the rest of the film lacks an interesting storyline, and several scenes defy logic and fail to convince.
The second half is a complete bore. Predictable from start to finish, it adds no excitement or emotional weight. Trisha’s character, supposedly Kamal’s lover, is later claimed by Amar without any plausible explanation, further diluting the narrative. Her role adds nothing, making her casting questionable. The lack of emotional resonance is glaring.
The climax, meant to be a heavy emotional confrontation between Kamal and Simbu with Aishwarya Lekshmi’s presence, fizzles out due to uninspired writing and routine treatment. The result is a film that squanders its potential and the legacy of its creators.
Performances
Performances across the board are passable. Kamal Haasan delivers a routine act—far from his best. While the younger version of him looks great thanks to AI, the rest lacks spark. Silambarasan’s role had potential but suffered from weak writing; despite that, he gives it his all. Abhirami stands out among the supporting cast, offering a solid performance and becoming a rare positive in the film. Trisha’s character, however, is a complete misfire. It’s baffling why she accepted such a role. Nasser, Joju George, and Bharani deliver expected performances but have little to work with. Ashok Selvan appears as a cop, but the role doesn’t suit him. Aishwarya Lekshmi, though appearing only in the climax, makes her presence felt.
Technical aspects
The only aspect that shines in Thug Life is Ravi K. Chandran’s cinematography. He delivers some stunning visuals, particularly in the action sequences, like the one on the railway platform. His camera work stands as the lone highlight. A.R. Rahman, however, disappoints. His music lacks impact and fails to elevate even a single scene. Background score is underwhelming, making it a major letdown. Editing is another weak link—numerous scenes are unnecessarily stretched. For instance, in the interval block, even with guns pointed, characters stall rather than act, stretching credibility. Dialogues are poorly written, leaving little to appreciate.
Verdict
Thug Life completely fails to meet expectations. With an outdated story, dull narration, and a lack of emotional engagement, even a stellar team like Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam couldn’t save it. Apart from a few visual highs, the film offers little of value. A star-studded ensemble and a legendary director end up delivering one of the year’s biggest cinematic disappointments.
Cast: Kamal Haasan, Silambarasan (Simbu), Trisha, Abhirami, Nasser, Ashok Selvan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Joju George, Mahesh Manjrekar, and others
Music Director: A.R. Rahman
Cinematographer: Ravi K. Chandran
Producers: Kamal Haasan, Mani Ratnam, R. Mahendran, Siva Ananth, Udhayanidhi Stalin
Director: Mani Ratnam
Release Date: June 5, 2025
Rating: 2/5
