Thug Life Review
There is something wild about watching a Mani Ratnam film open with a full-blown 90s-style gangster shootout in the heart of Old Delhi. No slow burn, no emotional build-up — just straight into the chaos. Thug Life wastes no time dropping us into the action, and for a while, it is genuinely thrilling. Kamal Haasan, playing Rangaraya, walks through bullets like he has done this in another lifetime — and maybe he has. The opening act sets the tone: stylish, violent, and full of promise.
Within the first 30 minutes, it seems like Mani Ratnam has mapped everything out — every character introduced with purpose, every scene leading to something. But as the film inches toward the second half, that grip loosens. Not all characters stay true to the direction they were heading in, and the climax doesn’t land as cleanly as you’d expect from a filmmaker of this level.
The Mountain Moment and Where It All Slips
Up to the interval, the film rides high on Kamal’s larger-than-life presence. There’s even a moment where he’s thrown off a mountain and just… gets up. It’s entertaining, no doubt. But it also kills the tension. If your lead can’t be harmed, what’s left to fear? From here, the stakes feel low, and you start noticing the gaps more clearly.
Silambarasan enters through a completely unnecessary chase sequence that exists only to show off his arrival. It’s loud, long, and oddly pointless. But amid this, Rohit Saraf shines. He may be part of a forced plot device, but he brings actual energy and conviction. Among so many veterans, it is impressive how much he holds your attention — even in a scene that was brutal.
Characters That Click… Until They Don’t
The character played by Trisha starts off well. She feels grounded, her arc promises emotional depth. But by the end, her track gets stretched into a justification for an extra-marital affair that doesn’t add any real value. It’s neither bold nor relevant — it just sits there, slowing things down.
On the other hand, Ali Fazal is a complete surprise — until he isn’t. His screen time is so limited and underutilised that you can’t help but wonder why he was even brought in. He plays it like Guddu Bhaiya accidentally wandered into Mani Ratnam’s set, which is fun for a minute, but the excitement fades fast.
What Saves It?
Without question, Kamal Haasan saves the day. You can feel that Mani Ratnam put everything into his character — dialogues, screen time, action, and even survival privileges. It gets to a point where it’s almost funny: people are dropping left and right, but Kamal? Still standing, still smirking. It works only because Kamal pulls it off. Anyone else and it would’ve fallen flat.
Rahman’s background score, surprisingly, doesn’t leave a mark. It’s just there — functional, but forgettable. The one exception is Jingi Cha, which sticks. The beat, the vibe, and Sanya Malhotra’s cameo come together to give you a rare high point in the second half.
What Could’ve Been a Classic, Settles for Loud and Uneven
Thug Life had everything going for it — massive cast, legendary director, AR Rahman, and a killer setup. But it doesn’t fully deliver. The first half promises a gripping crime saga, but the second half stretches into predictable drama with low emotional payoff. The film wants to be both massy and deep, but never finds the right balance.
Kamal Haasan is the reason to watch. He walks through this film like he’s too good for everyone else, and maybe he is. But once the shock value wears off and the film leans into melodrama, even he can’t stop it from dragging.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
