Thug Life Review and Rating: Not So Thug After All

Thug Life was expected to be a major comeback for the iconic Nayakan combo – Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan. The film explores themes of betrayal, power, and revenge, with a story set in a gangster backdrop. But does it live up to the expectations? Let’s find out.

Story

The film revolves around Rangaraya Shaktiraju (Kamal Haasan), a feared gangster who raises Amar (Simbu) as his own. Over time, misunderstandings and power struggles tear them apart, turning close relationships into sources of conflict. The story follows how these cracks shape Shakti’s life and how he attempts to seek revenge after betrayal.

Performances

Kamal Haasan delivers a strong performance in the beginning. His screen presence is powerful, but the character loses depth as the film progresses. Simbu as Amar is underwhelming — his role is significant on paper but lacks impactful moments. Trisha appears in a brief role that adds little to the story. Nassar, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Joju George, and Ashok Selvan also appear in supporting roles, but none of them stand out due to poor character development.

Technical Aspects

Music: A.R. Rahman’s songs are average, except for “Achcha Vanne Poovvaa”, which works well. The background score is surprisingly dull for a film of this scale.
Cinematography: Ravi K. Chandran’s visuals are stunning and give the film a rich look throughout.
Editing: Sreekar Prasad’s editing is a major drawback. The film feels overly long and slow, especially in the second half.
Production: Raaj Kamal Films and Madras Talkies have delivered high production value, making the film visually impressive.

Analysis

While the setup is familiar, Mani Ratnam struggles to inject freshness or emotional depth. The film lacks emotional highs, gripping conflicts, or thrilling action. The first half feels flat and stretched, and even the second half, which should bring powerful moments, ends up lifeless. The revenge angle, which should have been the core strength, is handled with very little intensity or emotional connection. The train station fight is a rare highlight, but the rest of the sequences fail to impress.

Verdict

Thug Life is a big disappointment, especially coming from a legendary combination. Despite good visuals and a promising cast, the film fails to deliver due to weak writing, flat drama, and a lack of emotional impact. Except for Kamal Haasan’s initial performance and visual appeal, there’s little to recommend here.

Rating: ⭐ 1.75/5