The much anticipated Thug Life released today. It brings together the Nayagan combination after 36 years. The film falls flat despite its star-studded cast and legendary crew. The film’s first half is sluggish and lacks grip, while the second half offers nothing new, sticking to the overused revenge drama formula.
Even with the powerhouse combination of Mani Ratnam’s direction, AR Rahman’s music, and performances from Kamal Haasan and Silambarasan TR, the screenplay remains uninspired and lifeless. The overall experience feels underwhelming, especially given the legacy of the Nayagan combo, making this a major letdown.
Technically, the film boasts excellence, Ravi K Chandran’s cinematography stands out with visually striking frames, and there are moments where the craft shines. However, these high production values can’t mask the film’s core issue: a dull and predictable story coupled with flat narration. AR Rahman’s music lacks the emotional depth expected, and pivotal characters like Trisha’s feel underwritten and ineffective. Despite a large ensemble cast like Abhiramai, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nasser, Ali, most actors are wasted in the weak storyline
Kamal Haasan and Simbu deliver strong performances, but even they can’t save this ambitious project from feeling like a messy gangster drama.
