Thug Life Movie Review: The Mani Ratnam–Kamal Haasan combo returns after decades, minus the magic

The plot begins with a stylish shootout where Shaktivel (Kamal Haasan), a crime lord, escapes a police ambush and saves a young boy named Amar (Silambarasan TR). He takes him under his wing, and the two build a loyal bond. Things take a darker turn when Shaktivel’s niece takes her own life after an unwanted pregnancy—he kills the man responsible and goes to prison. Before leaving, he names Amar his successor, a move that angers his brother Manikkam (Nassar). By the time Shaktivel is out, the world has changed. Amar is no longer loyal, thanks to Manikkam’s manipulations, and before long, Shaktivel is betrayed and left for dead in snowy Nepal. But of course, he survives—rescued by Buddhist monks, no less—and returns two years later to reclaim what he lost. On paper, it sounds like a meaty story, but on screen, it’s all over the place.

Inconsistencies and convenient storytelling

The film actually opens strong. The black-and-white palette lends it a certain edge. But that early energy fades fast, and the writing becomes increasingly clunky. There's a scene early on where Shaktivel promises Amar that he’ll help him reunite with his long-lost sister Chandra—but then the film forgets about it completely, until suddenly she’s back in the picture like it’s no big deal.

Shaktivel casually declares his promise fulfilled, and you’re left wondering—when did that even happen? There are plenty of such strange shortcuts. Key characters are introduced and then vanish without consequence. Mahesh Manjrekar, who’s set up as a major antagonist, disappears midway. Ali Fazal pops up much later for a revenge arc that feels tacked on. The transitions are jarring, and the storytelling never settles.

Kamal Hassan packs a punch

Kamal Haasan, to his credit, holds the film together as much as he can. There’s a raw, grounded power to his performance—he knows this world, and he brings heft to it. Silambarasan TR, who plays Amar, is solid too. The dynamic between the two actors is perhaps the only thing that feels emotionally real. There’s genuine tension and warmth in their scenes. But beyond them, the film barely gives anyone else a chance.

Trisha and Abhirami are wasted. Nassar has little to do. Fazal and Manjrekar are reduced to placeholders for conflict. The only consistent highlight, oddly enough, is Ravi K. Chandran’s cinematography. The visuals are stunning, even when the writing doesn’t back them up. You’ll find yourself admiring the frames more than the scenes they’re part of.

A film that looks grand but feels hollow

In the end, ‘Thug Life’ feels like a film unsure of itself. It wants to be big and important, but it keeps tripping over its own feet. There’s conflict after conflict, but none of them hit hard. The emotional arcs are undercooked. Even the action sequences, despite being slickly shot, lack tension. At one point, Trisha’s character—supposedly Shaktivel’s mistress—ends up living with Amar, and the film doesn’t bother explaining why. It’s that sort of inconsistency that keeps piling up. The first half holds some intrigue, but the second is all over the place.

You can sense Mani Ratnam trying to balance his instinct for character-driven drama with the demands of commercial storytelling—and it just doesn’t work this time. What ‘Thug Life’ ends up being is a bloated, well-shot, and ultimately disappointing film that squanders the promise of its iconic collaboration. It doesn’t lack ambition—it just lacks focus. There are flashes of the Mani Ratnam we all admire, and Kamal Haasan gives it his all, but none of it quite comes together. It’s a film that keeps looking for its centre, for some emotional or narrative anchor, but never quite finds it. For fans of Ratnam or Haasan, there’s still curiosity value—but that’s about it.

Cast: Kamal Haasan, Silambarasan TR, Nassar, Trisha Krishnan, Ali Fazal, Mahesh Manjrekar, and Abhirami

Director: Mani Ratnam

Rating: 2.5/5

(‘Thug Life’ is running in theatres)