Despite potential, Mani Ratnam's 'Thug Life' falls short of delivering emotional high | Movie Review

Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan, who created the Godfather-inspired cult classic 'Nayakan' in 1987, reuniting after 38 years for 'Thug Life' was enough to send ripples across the Indian film industry. The duo fuelled expectations further by naming Kamal Haasan’s character Sakthivel — a clear nod to Sakthivel "Velu" Naicker from 'Nayakan'.

However, the essence of the two films feels fundamentally different. While 'Nayakan' is deeply rooted despite being a gangster story, 'Thug Life' revolves around how Rangaraya Sakthivel responds to the threats arising from within his circle.

In some ways, the storyline echoes Mani Ratnam’s 'Chekka Chivantha Vaanam', but unlike 2018 movie, 'Thug Life' gets weighed down by predictability, especially in the second half, despite being structured as a revenge drama.

The film opens on a promising note with a moving tale centred on Amar (Simbu), a boy who loses his father in a cop-gangster shootout. Amar and his sister Chandra are separated during the chaos, and Sakthivel, partly responsible for the tragedy, sets out to reunite the siblings. Ravi K Chandran’s powerful visuals elevate these early moments.

Known for his distinct filmmaking and layered characterisation, which usually hold audience interest, Mani Ratnam struggles to maintain that consistency this time. The latter half, focused on gang politics and vengeance, falters in emotional depth.

Trisha plays Indrani, a woman rescued from prostitution by Sakthivel and portrayed as his love interest, although Sakthivel is still deeply in love with his wife Jeeva (Abhirami). While Trisha delivers a strong performance, her character feels like a narrative detour, diluting the impact of key arcs, especially that of Amar.

Kamal Haasan brings a certain playfulness to Sakthivel, and his chemistry with the rest of the cast works in the film’s favour. However, despite Kamal’s legacy of portraying compelling romantic leads, the relationships here, particularly the romantic ones, feel unconvincing.

Simbu, Joju George, Nassar, Ashok Selvan and Abhirami deliver competent performances. A R Rahman’s background score stands out in parts, and the song 'Sugar Baby' by Alexandra Joy is well-placed. The flashback numbers 'Vinveli Nayaga' and 'Vanna Poove' are soulful additions to the soundtrack.

Overall, 'Thug Life' carries the essence of an intense drama, but falls short of delivering the emotional high traditionally expected from Mani Ratnam's films.