Thug Life is a new Indian gangster movie directed by Mani Ratnam and starring Kamal Haasan. Fans were excited because Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan are working together after many years. Their last movie together was Nayakan, which was a big success. People expected Thug Life to be powerful and emotional.
But after its release, reviews were mixed. Some people liked Kamal Haasan’s performance. Others said the story was old and slow. The movie had a big budget and looked grand, but many said the story did not connect emotionally. Some fans loved the visuals and acting, but others were disappointed by the second half and climax.
This review will tell you about the story, acting, direction, music, and technical points of the film. If you like gangster dramas, this may interest you. But if you are expecting a fresh story, it might not impress you much.
Release
Thug Life was released in cinemas on 5 June 2025. It came out in five languages: Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada. The film had a lot of buzz before its release. The trailer showed stylish action, big sets, and powerful music.
The movie opened well in Tamil Nadu and Telugu states. But in other parts of India, the response was not strong. Some regions even delayed the release. After the first few days, box office collections started to drop. It earned a good amount on the first day but could not hold the same level in the next few days.
The movie might release early on OTT because of the weak box office. It was expected to stay in theatres for eight weeks, but now it may come online within four weeks.
Story
The story is about a gangster named Rangaraya Sakthivel, played by Kamal Haasan. He is a big don in New Delhi. In his younger days, he saves two orphan kids during a riot. One is a boy named Amaran, the other is his sister. In the chaos, the sister goes missing.
Years later, Amaran grows up and becomes a powerful gangster under Rangaraya. But problems start when Rangaraya’s brother and others create misunderstandings. Amaran feels betrayed and becomes angry. He decides to go against Rangaraya.
The movie shows how their relationship changes from love to hatred. It talks about loyalty, revenge, betrayal, and emotions between a father figure and a son-like gangster. There are also scenes of gang fights, politics, and emotional drama.
The story has many old-style gangster movie elements. There are no surprises or fresh ideas. Some parts are emotional, but the second half feels slow.
Acting
Kamal Haasan plays the role of Rangaraya Sakthivel. His performance is strong, and his screen presence is excellent. He speaks with power and shows emotion through his eyes and voice. Fans will enjoy watching him.
Silambarasan TR plays Amaran. His performance is also powerful. He shows anger, sadness, and energy well. His character is strong in the first half. Many people praised his acting.
Trisha plays an important role, but her character is not very deep. She does well in emotional scenes, but her role is small. Aishwarya Lekshmi, Joju George, Ashok Selvan, and others also appear in supporting roles. They all do fine but are not given enough screen time.
The acting by the whole cast is good, but the story does not use their talent fully.
Direction
Mani Ratnam is one of the most famous directors in Indian cinema. He is known for emotional stories and strong visuals. In Thug Life, his direction is stylish and grand. The first half of the movie is engaging. The world of gangsters is shown well.
But in the second half, the direction feels weak. The screenplay becomes slow. The story goes in a predictable direction. The emotional bond between characters is not built deeply. Viewers feel that something is missing.
The movie has some good moments, but overall it lacks the impact of Mani Ratnam’s best films. It looks nice but does not touch the heart as expected.
Critical Response
Critics gave mixed to negative reviews. Many praised the acting and visuals but said the story was weak. Some reviewers said the movie is stylish but boring in parts. Others felt it was a big letdown after so much hype.
Audience reviews were also divided. Some people said they liked the action, acting, and music. Others said they were bored after the interval. Social media had mixed comments. Some fans called it a slow film. Others appreciated the performances.
Overall, people felt the movie was average. It had good parts but also many dull moments.
Plus Points
Kamal Haasan and Silambarasan TR give great performances
The visuals and camera work are beautiful
The music by A. R. Rahman is emotional and powerful
The first half is engaging and builds excitement
The direction in some scenes is stylish and detailed
Minus Points
The story is old and predictable
The second half is slow and boring in many parts
The emotional scenes lack depth
Trisha’s role is not strong
The climax is not powerful enough
Technical Department
The camera work is done by Ravi K. Chandran. The visuals are sharp and rich. The colors, lighting, and frames look cinematic. The production design is grand. Sets and locations show the gangster world in a believable way.
The editing is done by Sreekar Prasad. The first half is edited well. But the second half feels long. Some scenes could have been cut to make the movie tighter.
The sound design is decent. The background music supports the mood of each scene. The action scenes are loud and stylish.
Overall, the technical side of the movie is strong. It looks and sounds like a big film.
Music Review
A. R. Rahman gives the music for Thug Life. His background score is strong. It adds emotion and tension to the story. Two songs were released before the movie – "Jinguchaa" and "Sugar Baby". Both songs became popular.
The background music works well during action scenes and emotional moments. The songs are placed nicely in the movie. Fans of Rahman will enjoy the music even if they don’t love the film.
Verdict
Thug Life is a film that looks great but feels weak in story. It has strong acting by Kamal Haasan and Silambarasan TR. The first half is promising. But the second half loses energy. The story becomes slow, and the emotions feel flat.
The movie is made on a big scale. It has good music, nice visuals, and stylish direction. But the screenplay is not strong. Fans of gangster movies may like some parts. But people who expect a fresh or deep story may feel disappointed.
If you are a fan of Kamal Haasan or Mani Ratnam, you can watch it once for the performances. But do not expect a classic like Nayakan.
