Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan teaming up again after Nayakan? That’s the kind of hype that gets you buzzing for Thug Life, which dropped on June 5, 2025. Throw in Silambarasan TR, Trisha, Abhirami, and A.R. Rahman’s music, and you’re expecting a gangster epic for the ages. Set in Delhi’s gritty underworld, this Tamil action drama has some killer moments and slick visuals, but a tired script and a dragged-out second half make it a bit of a letdown despite the starry cast.
Plot:
The story follows Rangaraya Sakthivel Naicker (Kamal Haasan), a big-shot Delhi gangster. Back in ’94, a shootout tied to his rival Sadanand (Mahesh Manjrekar) leaves a kid, Amaran (Silambarasan TR), orphaned. Feeling guilty, Sakthivel takes Amaran under his wing, raising him like a son with his wife Jeeva (Abhirami). Fast-forward, Sakthivel lands in jail after a revenge killing, and Amaran steps up to run the show. But betrayals and power plays kick in, leading to a mentor-vs-protégé showdown. It’s all about loyalty and revenge, but it feels like stuff we’ve seen before.
Analysis:
Thug Life starts off strong, with a moody, action-packed first half that pulls you into Sakthivel’s world. The interval twist is a banger, and the vibe screams vintage Mani Ratnam. But the second half? It’s like the air goes out of the tires. The script, cooked up by Ratnam and Haasan, leans too hard on Nayakan vibes without bringing anything new to the table. Subplots, like Trisha’s character, go nowhere, and the emotional stuff—family, betrayal—feels flat. At 163 minutes, it drags with too many monologues and action bits that overstay their welcome. Compared to Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan, this one’s a bit of a miss.
Performances:
Kamal Haasan’s Sakthivel is the heart of the film—he’s intense, layered, and owns every scene, especially a wild car chase with Silambarasan and a quiet beach moment with Abhirami. But some of his long speeches get tiring. Silambarasan TR is electric as Amaran, lighting up the first half, though his role fizzles out later, leaving you wanting more. Abhirami’s Jeeva brings some real heart in her small role, and Nassar’s solid as Manickam but doesn’t get enough screen time. Trisha’s Indrani feels like a total add-on—X fans are straight-up calling her role “pointless.” Ashok Selvan and Joju George shine in smaller parts, but Ali Fazal and Aishwarya Lekshmi are stuck with barely-there characters.
Technical Aspects:
Ravi K. Chandran’s cinematography is straight-up gorgeous—Delhi’s dark streets and a black-and-white flashback look unreal, especially in IMAX. The action scenes, thanks to Anbariv’s choreography, pop off. A.R. Rahman’s score has its moments but doesn’t hit the highs of his Ratnam classics; some tracks feel off, and X chatter agrees the music’s a bit meh. Sreekar Prasad’s editing could’ve been sharper—the second half needed a serious trim. Sharmishta Roy’s production design nails the gritty vibe, keeping things real.
Verdict:
Thug Life has the makings of a banger—Mani Ratnam, Kamal Haasan, a dope cast—but it trips over a recycled script and a sluggish second half. Haasan and Silambarasan deliver, and the visuals are worth seeing on the big screen, but it’s no Nayakan. It’s a decent one-time watch for fans, but don’t expect a game-changer. Rating: 2.5/5