Thug Life Disappoints: Kamal's Movie Fails to Pack-a-Punch

Kamal Haasan delivers a convincing performance as an aging gangster, showcasing his enduring screen presence. Mani Ratnam, as always, brings his technical mastery to the table—pleasing visuals, stylized storytelling, and crisp cinematography. However, the emotional conflict and central drama feel undercooked, lacking both novelty and narrative depth. The clash Kamal faces from familiar characters doesn’t bring anything fresh to the table, and the plot of his rise from the ashes to seek revenge is all too familiar.

Still, Thug Life remains a Kamal Haasan show through and through. He shoulders the film, navigating a series of challenges to complete his final mission. Silambarasan shows promise but is underutilized, while Ashok Selvan leaves a mark with his portrayal of a tough cop. A.R. Rahman’s background score and a couple of songs elevate the cinematic experience.

The film opens with a dramatic meeting between Kamal’s gang and that of Mahesh Manjrekar, leading to a police ambush and ensuing gunfight. Amid the chaos, a child is orphaned after his father is gunned down. Kamal adopts the boy, who grows up to be Silambarasan—a loyal aide and almost a younger brother. His rise triggers tension within the gang, especially with Nasser's character, leading to internal conflicts. Kamal is eventually betrayed and thrown off a cliff. The rest of the film unravels from this turning point, building toward a predictable but action-packed climax.

Interestingly, Kamal Haasan seems increasingly focused on box office success, opting for high-octane action roles in Vikram, Indian 2, and now Thug Life. While his versatility is legendary, fans of his more nuanced past performances may feel he’s playing it safe. Trisha surprises with arguably the boldest role of her career as a sex worker turned lover, while Silambarasan contributes meaningfully despite limited screen time. Nasser and Abhirami perform adequately but are given little to work with.

At its core, Thug Life is a redemption tale where a gangster’s associate accidentally kills an innocent man, setting Kamal on a mission to reunite two orphaned siblings. While the idea holds promise, the execution is lackluster. Mani Ratnam, who has given us cinematic gems from Roja to Ponniyin Selvan, seems to have misfired with this vigilante-style drama that never quite takes off.

Despite its shortcomings, Thug Life offers moments of brilliance—mainly thanks to Kamal Haasan’s towering performance and Rahman’s music. But as a whole, it misses the mark and feels more like a missed opportunity than a memorable masterpiece.