Movie: Thug Life
Rating: 2/5
Banner: Raaj Kamal Films International, Madras Talkies & Red Giant Movies
Cast: Kamal Haasan, Silambarasan TR, Trisha, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nasser, Mahesh Manjrekar and Ali Fazaland others
Music: AR Rahman
DOP: Ravi K. Chandran
Editor: Sreekar Prasad
Production Designer: Sharmishta Roy
Fights: Anbariv
Produced by: Kamal Haasan, Mani Ratnam, R Mahendran, Siva Ananth
Screenplay and Directed by: Mani Ratnam
Release Date: June 5, 2025
Thug Life marks the second collaboration between Kamal Haasan and director Mani Ratnam, following their iconic film Nayakan (1987). Promoted as a gritty and intense gangster saga, Thug Life generated significant buzz ahead of its release.
Let’s explore its strengths and weaknesses.
Story:
Rangaraya Shakti Raju (Kamal Haasan), a gangster based in Delhi, rescues a young boy named Amar during a police shootout and raises him as his own.
As an adult, Amar (Simbu) becomes Shakti Raju’s most trusted aide, managing both the crime syndicate and personal affairs — such as arranging the marriage of Shakti Raju’s daughter.
Though Shakti Raju treats Amar like a younger brother, an undercurrent of mistrust remains between them.
Influenced by Shakti Raju’s brother, Manikam (Nasser), Amar eventually turns against his mentor and leads a brutal attack on him during a trip to Nepal.
Believed to be dead, Shakti Raju is betrayed as Amar and Manikam take control of the syndicate. Amar even claims Shakti Raju’s lover, Indrani (Trisha), as his own.
Two years later, Shakti Raju returns — determined to reunite with his wife Lakshmi, reclaim Indrani, and exact ruthless revenge.
Artistes’ Performances:
Kamal Haasan, though primarily seen in an age-appropriate role, also appears as a younger version of himself — with de-aging technology applied quite effectively. As Shakti Rangaraju, an aging gangster, Kamal delivers yet another solid performance. While it may not rank among his best, he is far more convincing here than in some of his recent films.
Simbu, unfortunately, is burdened with a poorly written role — neither fully heroic nor villainous. Despite the weak characterization, he does his best to make it work.
Trisha, too, is let down by the script. Her character begins with potential but devolves into a caricature as the film progresses.
Abhirami shines in a well-defined role, particularly in the second half, where her performance stands out.
Nasser, Mahesh Manjrekar, and Tanikella Bharani are given routine roles with limited scope.
Ashok Selvan seems miscast as a police officer, appearing out of place in this gritty gangster setting. Aishwarya Lekshmi gets her moment only in the climax.
Technical Excellence:
A R Rahman’s music is a major disappointment. Neither the background score nor the songs leave an impact.
The true standout of the film, however, is cinematographer Ravi K. Chandran. Whether it’s high-octane action sequences, breathtaking landscapes, or simple indoor scenes, his visuals are consistently stunning and significantly enhance the viewing experience.
The editing in the first half is relatively tight, maintaining a steady rhythm. However, the second half falls apart, with abrupt transitions and poor pacing.
Both the dialogue and screenplay lack spark and originality, causing much of the storytelling to feel flat and uninspired.
Highlights:
Brilliant cinematography
Couple of portions in the first half
Drawback:
Slow and boring narration
Second half
Weak music
Lack of strong emotions
Analysis
Coming off the Ponniyin Selvan films — which, despite their success in Tamil, didn’t resonate with a large section of the Telugu audience — many hoped Thug Life would be an engaging and emotionally layered drama.
Although the trailer seemed generic, there was cautious optimism, especially with two legends — Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan — joining forces. Unfortunately, the film ends up being even more lackluster than the trailer hinted.
It’s difficult to understand what drew Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan to this story, which they co-wrote. The core premise — a mentor and his protégé turning against each other, leading to a tale of revenge — has been explored countless times. Thug Life offers nothing new to the genre.
The plot lacks originality, and the storytelling fails to elevate familiar tropes with fresh perspectives or emotional depth.
That said, the film begins with a mildly intriguing setup. Kamal Haasan’s character, Rangaraya Shakti Raju, stands in a field claiming a special bond with Yama, the god of death, and insists he cannot die yet — leading into an extended flashback.
The early segments, where he saves a child during a shootout, raises him as his own (who grows up to be Simbu), and falls in love with a bar dancer (Trisha), are moderately engaging. While not standout, these scenes at least manage to hold the viewer’s attention.
The narrative starts to unravel with the Nepal sequence. The interval scene — where Kamal is ambushed and falls from a cliff — is unintentionally symbolic: from that point, the story nosedives and never recovers. The second half becomes a test of patience.
Simbu’s takeover of the crime empire and his supposed relationship with Trisha lack conviction and emotional weight. These scenes feel flat and uninspired.
Even an action sequence set in a railway station — seemingly a tribute to RGV’s Shiva — feels dated and unimaginative. Supporting characters, typically a Mani Ratnam strength, are underwritten and tedious here, making it hard to stay invested.
The climax, which should have been a powerful emotional showdown between Kamal Haasan and Simbu, ends up falling flat. The final moments lack impact or payoff, leaving the audience detached and underwhelmed.
Despite a few passable early scenes and Ravi K Chandran’s excellent cinematography, Thug Life quickly descends into a tired, cliché-ridden gangster-revenge saga that feels like a rehash of many earlier films. Overall, it’s a major disappointment. After Shankar’s underwhelming Indian 2, Mani Ratnam too delivers a dud with the veteran actor.
Bottom-line: Bore Thug
