Director: Mani Ratnam
Producers: Kamal Haasan, Mani Ratnam, R. Mahendran, Shiva Ananth
Writers: Kamal Haasan, Mani Ratnam
Music Composer: A.R. Rahman
Cinematography: Ravi K. Chandran
Cast:
- Kamal Haasan
- Silambarasan T.R.
- Trisha Krishnan
- Joju George
- Nassar
- Ali Fazal
- Mahesh Manjrekar
A Story That Starts Strong but Quickly Falls Apart
Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam and led by Kamal Haasan, had massive expectations riding on it. Unfortunately, the film struggles to meet them. One major controversy that surrounded the film even before release was its ban in Karnataka. The movie wasn’t released in the Kannada language due to Kamal Haasan’s past comments about the origin of the Kannada language, which sparked political backlash. Unless an apology is issued, his films are reportedly banned in the state.
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The movie begins in a narrow lane in Old Delhi, where Kamal Haasan’s character is seen negotiating with a rival gang. But the rival gang betrays them by involving the police, leading to a violent shootout. In the chaos, a newspaper vendor is killed, leaving behind a young boy and girl. Kamal Haasan takes the boy in and raises him.
As the story progresses, the boy grows up to become Kamal Haasan’s enemy. This father-son conflict feels repetitive and lacks the emotional depth it aims for. Because of this, the film fails to generate the strong response it could have.
A Confusing and Overcrowded Plot
One of the biggest disappointments in Thug Life is its illogical and confusing narrative. The story feels scattered and lacks proper flow. Viewers are left wondering why certain events happen — for example, why Kamal Haasan suddenly travels to Nepal. Is it to learn karate? Nothing is explained clearly.
The storyline becomes even more complicated when both father and son fall in love with the same woman, which further derails the emotional connection. By the end of the film, many viewers may feel like they’ve been “thugged” by the film itself, as the storytelling fails to deliver a satisfying experience.
Expectations After Indian 2, But a Letdown
After the buzz surrounding Kamal Haasan’s Indian 2, people expected Thug Life to offer something even more powerful. However, this 163-minute film feels stretched, especially for modern audiences used to quick entertainment. Whether it will leave a mark or fade away will only be known in time.
Performances: A Mixed Bag
Kamal Haasan’s acting in this film doesn’t quite match the depth he’s known for. His performance feels flat and overdone, somewhat similar to Salman Khan in Sikandar.
Actors like Ali Fazal, Joju George, and Mahesh Manjrekar had limited screen time, but they delivered decent performances. Silambarasan T.R.’s role was exaggerated, and while he had presence, it was a bit too dramatic.
Trisha Krishnan, on the other hand, steals the spotlight with her striking screen presence. She looks stunning throughout and holds attention with ease, though her role lacks depth.
Direction That Fails to Connect
Mani Ratnam is known for directing emotionally powerful films like Dil Se, Yuva, Raavan, Guru, and Bombay. But his direction in Thug Life lacks the emotional connection seen in his previous works.
A great director can hook the audience with the screenplay, but here, the story becomes dull even before the interval. The emotional core is missing, and viewers feel disconnected as the film progresses.
Stunning Visuals But Weak Impact
One of the few high points of the film is its cinematography by Ravi K. Chandran. The use of natural lighting, vivid color grading, and rich visuals effectively transports the audience to a historical setting, possibly the 16th century.
Close-up shots capture the emotions of characters beautifully. Every frame is crafted to look visually impressive — even if it doesn’t make complete sense, it’s pleasing to watch. The cinematography adds style, but it can’t save the film from its weak storytelling.
Music That Fails to Leave a Lasting Impression
The soundtrack is composed by the legendary A.R. Rahman, but surprisingly, the music feels average. Only one song — featuring Sania — stands out slightly because of its background score.
Besides that, the music lacks uniqueness or emotional power. It neither supports the film’s dramatic moments nor creates memorable musical highs.
Final Verdict
Thug Life is a film that had all the right ingredients — a celebrated actor, a legendary director, powerful supporting cast, and strong visuals. But it lacks a coherent story and emotional depth. The film tries to be a gritty gangster drama but ends up being confused and emotionally flat.
Despite its grand visuals and a few good performances, Thug Life fails to leave an impact. It might attract die-hard fans of Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam, but for most viewers, it’s a long and tiring experience with very little reward.
