Thug Life Movie Review: Kamal Haasan’s gangster saga is stylish but falls flat on impact

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On June 5, 2025, the much-anticipated movie “Thug Life,” starring Kamal Haasan and Silambarasan TR, is set to grace the big screens. This film, helmed by the acclaimed Mani Ratnam, represents a long-awaited collaboration between him and Haasan since their legendary project, Nayakan.

In this return of the dynamic duo in another gripping gangster action film, let’s delve into the TopMob review of their latest cinematic adventure.

The Plot:

The story of Rangaraaya Sakthivel Naicker, once a notorious gangster, unfolds through Thug Life. In a violent confrontation with his adversary, an unfortunate incident leads to a man’s death. This leaves behind the man’s offspring, his son and daughter, tragically torn apart and lost from one another.

In the midst of turmoil, Sakthivel and his sibling Manickam take in a young boy named Amaran, raising him as if he were their own child. Over time, an unexpected event arises that lands a powerful crime boss behind bars. But upon his release, instead of assuming control himself, the criminal designates Amaran as the leader – a decision that breeds resentment between them.

What transpires between the father and son in this violent world narrates the rest of the tale.

The Good:

Despite Kamal Haasan’s experienced star power in Thug Life, it was Silambarasan TR who truly captured the spotlight with his captivating performance. He held his own, standing shoulder to shoulder with the legendary Virumaandi actor, and STR’s performance was nothing short of brilliant within his given role.

In the movie, Kamal Haasan delivers a captivating performance as Sakthivel, resulting in complex and multidimensional characters. The engaging storytelling, enhanced by stylistic elements, turns the film into an enjoyable experience.

Regardless of some criticisms about its script, AR Rahman yet again demonstrates his genius status in music by creating an impressive album and outstanding soundtrack. Remarkably, he has skillfully composed a collection of songs that each possess unique character, even for a film focused on the underworld.

Under Ravi K Chandran’s direction, it was his work that truly stood out and deserves recognition for the visually appealing images that captivated the viewers.

The Bad:

As a die-hard enthusiast, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of Thug Life, the long-awaited collaboration between Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan since Nayakan. But, sadly, the buildup has fallen short of expectations in my opinion. Despite the promise of a grander, more captivating portrayal of the gangster world, the script seems to have faltered significantly.

Despite boasting numerous intriguing characters and an exceptional acting ensemble, their development wasn’t fully explored in the narrative due to limited space allocation. Transferred to a script for a web series, this story had potential to be more expansive, but was streamlined for the movie format, resulting in some loss of complexity in the writing.

The overused storylines, reminiscent of Tamil films from the 1990s, cause one to wonder if it could indeed be penned by the illustrious duo, Rajinikanth (Haasan) and Mani Ratnam.

As a devoted admirer, I’ve found myself grappling with some challenges in the screenplay. The transitions appear rough and the flow seems stagnant, which could potentially hinder its success according to editing norms. Even though a seasoned editor like Sreekar Prasad is at the helm of the edits, it felt surprisingly amateurish. The song placements within the narrative also seem misguided, disrupting the film’s natural progression.

The Performances:

Despite some less-than-perfect writing in the movie, Kamal Haasan’s performance remains lively and vibrant at 65 years old. His dedication to embodying complex characters like Sakthivel, who carries a conflicted spirit, sets him apart as one of the rare superstars who don’t rely on repeating the same persona in every film.

Previously noted, it was Silambarasan TR who truly outdid expectations, thereby marking a significant career achievement for this film. Here’s hoping that he continues to take on more high-quality projects in the future.

Although Abhirami continued to captivate us much like she did during the Virumaandi era, Trisha Krishnan’s performance fell short compared to expectations. Her character was intriguing, but it seemed underdeveloped, given her past roles in recent films have been less impressive.

Watch the trailer of Thug Life

The Verdict:

Thug Life doesn’t even come close to being as great as Nayakan, and it doesn’t surpass it either. Although there are some action scenes in the movie, it fails to deliver the style that matches its content, making it one of Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam’s weaker films.

Despite the movie possibly not being a box office hit initially, it’s worth checking out once it becomes available on streaming platforms, as the visuals are quite impressive.

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2025-06-05 12:07