When two titans of Tamil cinema, #ManiRatnam and #KamalHaasan, reunite after 38 years since their iconic Nayakan (1987), expectations soar higher than a kite in a Chennai summer. Add Silambarasan TR, Trisha Krishnan, and AR Rahman’s pulsating score to the mix, and Thug Life (2025) promised to be a cinematic Molotov cocktail. Released on June 5, 2025, in IMAX, EPIQ, and standard formats, this gangster drama had all the ingredients for a genre-defining epic. So, why are fans and critics left feeling like they’ve been served a half-cooked biryani? Let’s dive into the gritty streets of Thug Life and unpack what makes it tick—and what makes it trip.
A Tale of Betrayal and Bullets
Set in the smoky underbelly of 1994 Old Delhi, Thug Life introduces us to Rangaraaya “Sakthi” Sakthivel (Kamal Haasan), a mafia kingpin with a heart as complex as his empire. Alongside his brother Manickam (Nassar), Sakthivel rules with an iron fist until a rival, Sadanand Yadav (Mahesh Manjrekar), betrays a truce with a police-orchestrated shootout. In the chaos, a newspaper delivery man is killed, leaving his children, Amaran and Chandra, orphaned. Guilt-ridden, Sakthivel adopts young Amaran (Silambarasan TR), raising him as a son and protégé. Fast-forward to 2016, and a failed assassination attempt on Sakthivel sparks suspicion—could Amaran, now a key player in the gang, be the traitor? What unfolds is a 163-minute saga of loyalty, revenge, and fractured family ties, wrapped in Mani Ratnam’s signature visual flair.
Why Fans Flocked to Thug Life
The buzz around Thug Life was electric, and it’s easy to see why. Here are five reasons fans packed theaters and are now streaming it on Netflix (since July 3, 2025):
The Mani-Kamal Magic: The reunion of Haasan and Ratnam after Nayakan was a nostalgic hook. Fans hoped for another soul-stirring gangster epic, and early reviews called it a “cult classic” for its goosebump-inducing moments.
Kamal Haasan’s Fiery Presence: Haasan, as Sakthivel, channels a weathered yet invincible anti-hero, reminiscent of a late-career Russell Crowe. His commanding performance is the film’s beating heart, even when the script falters.
Silambarasan’s Gritty Charm: STR’s Amaran brings raw energy, with fans praising his intense, massy vibe. Though his arc weakens in the second half, his presence keeps the action pulsing.
AR Rahman’s Musical Wizardry: From the catchy “Jinguchaa” to the soulful “Muththa Mazhai,” Rahman’s score elevates the film’s emotional stakes, even when the story doesn’t. Fans on X have called the music a “saving grace.”
Visual Grandeur: Ravi K. Chandran’s cinematography paints Delhi’s underworld in vivid hues, with sweeping shots and a polished color palette that scream Mani Ratnam’s aesthetic. It’s a visual feast, even if the narrative starves.
Where Thug Life Stumbles
Despite its star power and technical prowess, Thug Life has left audiences divided, earning a 2/5 rating from critics like Times of India and a 2.5/5 from 123telugu.com. Here’s why it didn’t live up to the hype:
A Predictable Plot: The second half unravels into a clichéd revenge saga, with critics slamming its “wafer-thin” storyline and lack of emotional depth. Unlike Nayakan’s layered tragedy, Thug Life feels like a generic potboiler.
Underdeveloped Characters: Amaran’s arc lacks emotional payoff, and Trisha’s role as Jeeva feels like an afterthought, leaving fans on X questioning, “Why was Trisha even here?” Other characters, like Abhirami’s, are reduced to pawns, diluting the film’s stakes.
Overreliance on Action: The film trades emotional beats for overstretched action sequences, like a car chase that “overstays its welcome.” Critics noted a shift to “action for action’s sake,” a far cry from Ratnam’s usual nuance.
Missed Emotional Highs: Mani Ratnam’s best films (Alaipayuthey, Guru) thrive on emotional crescendos, but Thug Life rushes key moments with exposition and montages. The pivotal interval twist falls flat due to missing groundwork.
Box Office Blues: Despite a ₹15.5 crore opening day, the film’s collections dropped 54% by day two, closing as Haasan’s lowest-grossing post-COVID film, missing the 100-crore mark globally. Its early Netflix release (just 28 days after theaters) reflects its lukewarm reception.
, called it “visually stunning but narratively uneven,” while @joemiky lamented, “I never thought I’d get this much disappointment.” Fans of Haasan and STR defend the film’s style and performances, but many echo the sentiment that it’s a “career nadir” for Ratnam, with one user quipping, “Just retire ffs.” The hashtag #ThugLife has been a battleground of love and frustration, with fans of Dulquer Salmaan and Jayam Ravi (who exited due to scheduling conflicts) celebrating their “smart” decision to dodge the project.
