Thug Life Review: A Noble Aspiration, A Tedious Execution

Thug Life is currently showing at the cinemas. What is the film all about? Is it worth a watch? Let’s find out.

Telugu Funda’s reveal of the basic plot:

In the sultry haze of 1994 Old Delhi, the tale ignites with a gritty police ambush orchestrated by the ruthless Sadanand (Mahesh Manjrekar) and his pack of cutthroats. Amid the bedlam of gunfire and shadows, a stray bullet claims the life of an unwitting newspaper vendor, his dreams snuffed out in the dust. Enter Rangaraya Sakthiraju (Kamal Haasan), a gangster cloaked in enigma, whose heart, stirred by a flicker of compassion, opens to embrace the vendor’s orphaned son, Amar (who grows up to be Simbu). Yet, fate weaves a treacherous thread—Amar will one day turn Judas, scheming to seize the underworld’s crown for himself.

Telugu Funda’s take on the Performances:

1. Kamal Haasan‘s portrayal as a gangster is competent but doesn’t fully elevate the role beyond what is expected. His age-appropriate acting is solid, yet the impact feels somewhat restrained, lacking a standout edge.
2. Simbu: He is not exceptional. That said, this film has him in one of the finely-acted parts. His character should have been adequately fleshed out.
3. The women: From Trisha Krishnan to Abhirami, from Aishwarya Lekshmi to others, all of them get serviceable parts.
4. The bad guys: Mahesh Manjrekar and others are so generic that they feel like they are not inhabiting a Mani Ratnam movie.
5. Others: Between Nasser and Joju George, the former is better. The latter’s role gets drowned out. Ashok Selvan’s part won’t work unless you are familiar with his previous works. For that matter, most of the secondary performances don’t make an impact because they are unfamiliar to the Telugu audience.

Telugu Funda’s take on the Technical Output:

1. Music: AR Rahman‘s songs are a rehash of his previous works. The background music is better than it was in some of his previous works like Chhaava.
2. Cinematography: Ravi K Chandran’s output is excellent.
3. Production Values: Some locations are hurried through. The scenes following the fatal injuries suffered by Kamal Haasan’s character should have been mounted on a bigger scale. The costumes feel right for the Delhi backdrop. The production design is apt.

Telugu Funda’s Analysis:

Thug Life is a difficult film to review, but an easy film to judge in a word. The judgment is this: it is boring. But is it trashy like Indian 2 was? No. Mani Ratnam’s films since Kadal in 2013 have been halfway here and halfway there. Every single film he has made since then has been received with polarizing reactions. One can also include Raavan to the list.

The film’s aspiration for sophistication, refined aesthetics, high production value, and artistic merit is half-hearted. Through its emotions, it tries to evoke strong feelings, connect with the audience on a deeper level, and have a compelling narrative with relatable characters. But the results are poor. The film aims for broad appeal, catering to popular tastes, often involving commercial elements like action, humor, or melodrama that, sadly, don’t resonate with a large audience.

Some of the obvious shortfalls are these: An overlong second half, ambiguous dialogues which make little sense if you are not totally involved, and predictability. The action sequences lack the kind of rawness that Lokesh Kanagaraj’s movies have aced in recent years.

Telugu Funda’s Verdict:

Thug Life struggles to connect, offering a visually appealing but ultimately bland gangster saga. While not a disaster, its half-hearted execution, predictable plot, and unengaging performances make it a largely forgettable cinematic experience. Give it a miss unless you are a die-hard fan of the cast or crew and have time to spare.

Rating: 2

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