Thug Life Review: 5 Thoughts We Have On Mani Ratnam, Kamal Haasan’s Action Drama Film!
Thug Life starring Kamal Haasan, Silambarasan TR, and more is currently running in theatres!
Iconic duo Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan teaming up after decades created a massive buzz for Thug Life. The film revolves around gang leader Sakthivel, who rescues young Amar from a brutal fight and raises him. However, after many years, their bond turns sour due to a misunderstanding. Following this, an intense showdown takes place between the two of them. Well, the film has been watched, and here are our 5 thoughts on it. So, read on!
1. A Story That Doesn’t Come Together
It throws in everything like gang fights, family drama, romance, and betrayal without actually tying them together. The characters are half-baked, and the plot is painfully predictable. It leans heavily on outdated and tired clichés. Female characters like Trisha Krishnan and more are underutilised. The film jumps from one scene to another without any smooth link, which left me disconnected and bored. It’s just a dull, messy story that failed to grab my attention.
2. Pacing That Drags On
The film is nearly three hours long, and it feels like it. The first half tries to set up the story slowly, and it feels like it’s building to something big. But, nope, it’s a letdown. The second half is just as sluggish. At moments, I even committed the sin of using my phone and just wanting it to wrap up. Mani Ratnam’s films are known to run smoothly, but this one stumbles.
3. Music That Misses The Mark
A.R. Rahman’s music is usually a highlight in films, and it always gets stuck in your head. But here, the songs feel off. The songs pop up randomly and don’t match the mood. Even during action sequences, the background music didn’t add any thrill or impact.
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4. Neither Entertaining Nor Emotionally Connecting
You know it’s a good film when it makes you feel certain kinds of emotions or at least entertains you. But Thug Life felt flat. The bonding between Sakthivel and Amar felt hollow, and the romance with Indrani felt forced and awkward. Even the action scenes weren’t interesting enough to keep me hooked.
5. Uncomfortable Parts
Sakthivel, a gang leader, is a flawed character whose charm hides his choices. He cheats on his wife with Indrani, and the story shows it as sweet with soft scenes. His wife stays quiet, and the film makes this seem okay, which feels wrong and old-fashioned. These parts bothered me, and I cannot ignore it. I mean, it’s 2025; why are we still excusing problematic themes on screen?
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In conclusion, with a stellar cast like Kamal Haasan, Silambarasan TR, Trisha Krishnan, etc., and a legendary director, Thug Life felt like a golden opportunity that was missed. For the unversed, the film hit the theatres on June 5.
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First Published: June 05, 2025 4:06 PM
