The reunion of director Mani Ratnam and superstar Kamal Haasan – the iconic duo behind 1987’s masterpiece Nayakan – promised fireworks. Sadly, their new film Thug Life is a damp squib that drowns in tired gangster tropes.
Kamal plays Rangaraya Sakthivel, an aging gangster who raises Amaran (Silambarasan TR) after accidentally causing his father’s death. Decades later, Amaran becomes Sakthivel’s trusted lieutenant while rival gangster Sadanand (Mahesh Manjrekar) plots against them. When family betrayal turns Amaran against his mentor, Sakthivel faces his toughest battle yet.
What Works (Barely)
The first half builds intrigue through subplots:
- Sakthivel’s search for Amaran’s missing sister
- A bar singer (Trisha) he rescues
- A vengeful nephew (Ali Fazal)
- A determined cop (Ashok Selvan)
Ravi K Chandran’s glossy cinematography and the emotional father-son conflict offer fleeting moments of engagement.
What Fails Miserably
- Clichéd Story: Gang rivalries, betrayal arcs, and “immortal” hero tropes feel recycled.
- Sloppy Second Half: Promising subplots vanish; Amaran disappears for 30+ minutes.
- Unbelievable Action: Sakthivel survives point-blank shootings and stabbings repeatedly, killing tension.
- Wasted Talent: Trisha, Ali Fazal & Joju George get negligible screen time.
- Flat Antagonists: Villains pose no real threat. Even AR Rahman’s score feels disconnected.
Verdict
Thug Life wastes its legendary talent on a script that feels like a gangster-movie checklist. Despite Kamal’s earnest performance, the film collapses under weak writing and pacing. A painful disappointment for Nayakan fans.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
Wait for OTT release.
Feature Image Credit : https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23398540/mediaviewer/rm2559674370/
