Thug Life Movie Review | Anupama Chopra | THR India

In this movie review, Anupama Chopra from The Hollywood Reporter India examines the highly anticipated reunion of Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan in "Thug Life," their first collaboration since the landmark "Nayakan" 38 years ago. While Anupama praises the captivating first half that establishes a compelling father-son narrative through Rangaraya Shakti Nayakar (Kamal Haasan) and his foster son Amaran (Silambarasan), she critiques how the film derails after the interval with rushed plot developments and implausible turns. She highlights the stellar performances, particularly Kamal Haasan's nuanced portrayal of a ruthless yet vulnerable gangster, and the film's exploration of complex family dynamics within a criminal empire.

Despite acknowledging the technical brilliance of A.R. Rahman's sumptuous soundtrack and Ravi Chandran's lyrical cinematography, Anupama points out significant screenplay issues that let the characters down, especially the underutilized women including Abhirami's Jaya and Trisha's Indrani. She discusses how the film's writing wobbles badly in the second half, with logic exiting the frame and emotions taking a backseat to action. While recommending viewers watch "Thug Life" for the craftsmanship of these masters at work, she warns that the sparks never ignite into the glorious fire one might expect from such a prestigious collaboration.