It’s not every day that two legends of Tamil cinema—Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan—come together again.
So when Thug Life was announced, excitement rippled through fans and the film industry alike. After nearly four decades since their iconic Nayagan, expectations soared. But as with all great reunions, there's always the risk that the past outshines the present—and unfortunately, that’s where Thug Life falters.
A Premise With Promise
Thug Life starts with all the ingredients for a compelling gangster drama. At its core is a story about Sakthivel, a feared don who rescues a young boy, Amaran, in the middle of a violent gang war and raises him as his own. Fast forward years later, their relationship faces the ultimate test when Sakthivel survives an assassination attempt and begins to suspect Amaran’s hand in it.
This father-son-like dynamic—mentor vs. protégé—could have formed the emotional spine of the film. The narrative explores themes of betrayal, pride, ambition, and fear. However, the film only scratches the surface of these themes without digging deeper, ultimately leaving the audience more puzzled than invested.
A Shadow of Nayagan
Comparisons to Nayagan were inevitable, especially given the film's genre and shared creative minds. That film was a landmark not just because of its performances or direction, but because it gave its setting—Bombay—a soul. In contrast, Thug Life only hints at making the city a character, particularly during a thoughtful moment when Kamal’s character reflects on how Delhi has changed. Unfortunately, such moments are few and fleeting.
Casting Choices and Character Depth
The ensemble cast is star-studded, but the performances often feel uneven and, at times, uninspired. Kamal Haasan delivers as expected in certain scenes, especially in the striking black-and-white flashback where he looks compellingly youthful thanks to de-aging effects. His portrayal of a man seemingly walking hand-in-hand with death has a symbolic, almost poetic flair. Yet, even his character isn't developed enough to leave a lasting impact.
Simbu, though physically prepared for his role, portrays a character that lacks cunning or depth—someone who is easily manipulated and never fully comes into his own. Trisha, playing a sugar baby, is burdened by a character sketch that feels both shallow and inconsistent. Unlike Saranya’s emotionally rich role in Nayagan, Trisha's character never evolves or even earns the viewer’s empathy.
Other notable names—like Nassar, Joju George, and Aishwarya Lekshmi—have minimal material to work with. These are talented actors, but their roles feel like mere placeholders in a story that doesn't seem to know what to do with them.
Aesthetic and Technical Choices
Visually, Thug Life tries for a gritty realism. The tone leans heavily on muted color palettes, dim lighting, and subdued aesthetics. While this may have been an intentional artistic decision, the result feels monotonous. There's a lack of visual rhythm—no peaks, no dynamism—to draw the viewer in.
The background score has its moments but doesn’t rise to the level needed to carry an emotionally hefty film. Even the fight sequences, though competently shot, lack the flair or creativity to be memorable.
The film’s second half is where the narrative starts to truly unravel. A long, unexpected survival sequence—echoing The Revenant—feels completely disconnected from the rest of the story. It's a jarring tonal shift that adds little to the overarching plot and stretches the runtime unnecessarily.
Moments That Could Have Been More
Despite its flaws, Thug Life does offer glimmers of brilliance. The aforementioned flashback is one. Another is a dialogue between Kamal and Simbu that momentarily anchors the film in something real and reflective. These instances show what the movie could have been—a complex, emotionally charged tale about legacy, loyalty, and loss.
But these glimpses are fleeting. The film feels emotionally distant, its characters more symbolic than relatable. It gestures at themes like the futility of violence and the price of power but never sits with them long enough to make them resonate.
Final Verdict
Thug Life isn’t a bad film—it’s a missed opportunity. With names like Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam attached, the bar was understandably high. There are moments that hint at greatness, but the film never fully commits to its ideas or characters.
In the end, Thug Life feels more like a cinematic tribute to past glories than a compelling story in its own right. It’s visually competent, occasionally thought-provoking, but ultimately too scattered and emotionally hollow to leave a mark. For a film meant to celebrate a legendary reunion, it sadly ends up reminding us that some legacies are better left untarnished.
