Thug Life Review

Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam reunite for Thug Life, a gangster saga that begins with promise but falters as it unfolds. With themes of loyalty, betrayal, and revenge, the film features Kamal Haasan as an aging don, Simbu as his protégé, and Trisha and Abhirami in key supporting roles. While the initial premise piques interest, the narrative soon turns into a tedious journey.

Story:

Rangaraya Shakti Raju (Kamal Haasan), a dreaded gangster in Delhi, escapes a police shootout by using a child, Amar, as a shield—resulting in Amar’s father’s death and his sister’s disappearance. Overcome with guilt or perhaps strategy, Shakti adopts Amar and grooms him within his criminal empire.

Years later, Amar (Simbu) becomes a key player in Shakti Raju’s operations, expanding their reach through political deals. But when trust begins to erode, betrayal ensues. A trip to Nepal ends with Shakti being ambushed by his own men and presumed dead. Amar rises in power and claims even Shakti’s mistress, Indrani (Trisha). Two years later, Shakti returns to seek revenge—but the battle for loyalty, legacy, and justice has only just begun.

Analysis:

Thug Life opens with some intrigue, thanks to its bold setup and Mani Ratnam’s signature storytelling spark. The first half contains a few interesting moments and hints at emotional depth, especially in the early interactions between Kamal Haasan, Trisha, and Simbu. However, the film begins to nosedive shortly after.

The second half is where Thug Life completely loses grip. The pacing becomes painfully slow, with a highly predictable narrative that lacks tension or surprise. Despite a potentially powerful emotional core, the film fails to connect due to undercooked character arcs and inconsistent writing.

Kamal Haasan does his best to carry the film—his performance remains the highlight. Simbu gives a sincere performance, but the role of Amar is written without clarity or complexity. Trisha’s character is criminally underutilized, contributing little to the plot. Abhirami fares better with a grounded role that offers some emotional weight.

The film moves across multiple locations—Delhi, Goa, Nepal, Nellore—but these changes are cosmetic and add no real substance to the storytelling. Several sequences stretch believability, including Shakti’s survival after being shot and thrown off a cliff, followed by a sudden martial arts training arc.

AR Rahman’s music is a surprising misfire. The background score often feels out of sync with the scenes, and only the song “Acha Vanne Puvvu” manages to make an impression. However, Ravi K Chandran’s cinematography is a true visual treat, and the production design is solid throughout.

Verdict:

Thug Life ends up as a boring gangster drama that had some intrigue in its setup but loses all momentum as it progresses. Mani Ratnam shows early promise but the narration becomes slow, overly familiar, and emotionally hollow. With forgettable music, uneven writing, and a lack of originality, Thug Life ultimately disappoints—even with Kamal Haasan’s best efforts and world-class visuals.