Thug Life movie review: Directed by Mani Ratnam, ‘Thug Life’, starring Kamal Haasan and Silambarasan, is a gangster drama with emotional beats. While the film had a great set-up pre-interval, it falls into a deep pit in the second half and there is no turning back – even for a legend like Mani Ratnam.
“You saved me from death. From now on, you and me are one,” says Kamal Haasan in one of the most strikingly shot scenes from Mani Ratnam’s ‘Thug Life’. The dialogue, albeit simple, has a profound touch to it. As the story progresses, you realise he meant what he said. Kamal Haasan’s Rangaraya Sakthivel and Silambarasan’s Amar are indeed one. But, what causes a rift between them in this world of thugs? Mani Ratnam’s ‘Thug Life’ aims to present a full-blown gangster drama rooted in this very question.
Rangaraya Sakthivel (Kamal Haasan) is a gangster in New Delhi and has a bunch of trusted aides, all recruited and raised by Manikkam (Nasser). An encounter leads to the death of a local newspaper vendor. Sakthivel, who is deeply disturbed to see the newspaper vendor’s son, Amar, takes him and raises him as his own son (Silambarasan) along with his wife Jeeva (Abhirami).
Several years later, Sakthivel and Amar lead a comfortable life as gangsters, taking on Sadanand Bhai and other local issues.
Sakthivel, a gangster with a good heart, ends up serving two years in prison after an untoward incident involving Manikkam’s family. He names Amar as his successor, who will take care of things in his absence. Upon his return, Sakthivel finds that while people still salute him, they now follow Amar’s lead.
The rest of ’Thug Life’ is about the change in power dynamics, the struggle to remain the numero uno and avenge a loved one’s death.
Director Mani Ratnam’s ‘Thug Life’ chronicles the story of thugs – one filled with trust, mistrust, jealousy, greed, betrayal, backstabbing and what not! While the film did justice in offering a glimpse into the lives of these thugs, it wasn’t long-standing in the larger scheme of things. What makes for a truly great gangster story? It’s not just the violent clashes between rival gangs – it’s the high-stakes drama that cuts through it all. The first half of ‘Thug Life’ had all of it.
Be it the camaraderie between Sakthivel and Amar, Buck’s small-yet-solid grey-shaded character, Manikkam’s jealousy or Pathros (Joju George)’s yearning – each character had their own arc, making the set-up promising. You know this gang is not going to stick together. It’s in the details that make them betray the other. ‘Thug Life’ showcases that and keeps it engaging pre-interval. The face-off scenes give you adrenaline, but the film lives up to the expectations only till that.
When the second half begins, you are ‘re-introduced’ to Rangaraya Sakthivel, Mani Ratnam’s screenplay falls into a deep pit, and drags us with him. The problem? There is no way back! The second half follows the most generic tropes to resolve the high stakes set in the first half. The emotional core with which the film begins – showcasing Sakthivel’s promise to Amar – is completely lost as the film takes random detours.
