Bengaluru, Jun 5 (Taaza Wire): Thug Life Movie Review
After all these years of waiting, director Mani Ratnam and the Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan have collaborated again in Thug life, yet the movie appears to be a case of “expectations vs reality.” Made with huge expectations and first-day first show releases all over India, the film is already eliciting mixed to adverse reactions, even from die-hard fans.
Plot & Premise
Against a raw gangster setting, Thug Life has betrayal, revenge, and redemption as its themes. Kamal Hassan is a dreaded gangster with Trisha Krishnan, Silambarasan TR, and Abhirami providing the eclectic support. Technical crew of the movie consists of industry legends such as AR Rahman (music), Ravi K Chandran (camera), and A Sreekar Prasad (editing).
Pic source X
Public Reaction: “Not Even 10% of Nayakan”
✅ Some Positives:
- A few fans defended the film, praising Kamal and STR’s performances.
- “Not as bad as reviews claim,” posted @sidhuwrites, who found value in the film’s conversational tone over action.
- Producer G Dhananjeyan called it a “mass & class entertainer” with standout visuals and strong acting.
#ThugLife review
— CINE TIMES 📽️ (@Cinetimess) June 5, 2025
Starts off promising, then completely falls flat
1st half mildly engaging but second half dragging
Weak storytelling, slow pace & no emotional impact.
ARR's music doesn’t work
Kamal shines; Simbu decent
Visually great , but nothing memorable
DISAPPOINTED pic.twitter.com/XazxlE2sWd
❌ Criticism Galore:
- Many early viewers have compared it unfavorably to Nayakan, calling it “torture” and “outdated.”
- X user @sureshbtweets wrote, “Thug Life is a torture… Mani Ratnam should retire before he becomes the next Ram Gopal Varma.”
- Several noted that the pacing is slow and the second half collapses entirely.
- The age-gap romance between Kamal Haasan and his co-stars triggered online backlash, with viewers calling it “a glorified midlife fantasy.”
#ThugLifeReview : ⭐️⭐️1/2…#ThugLife tries hard to look cool, but the story is painfully uninterested and feels like a rehash of every gangster film we have already seen… #KamalHaasan shines in his performance but again the same expressions what we have seen him in #Vikram… pic.twitter.com/zwwoYAmHJj
— Always Bollywood (@AlwaysBollywood) June 5, 2025
Box Office Report
Despite early buzz, Thug Life has underperformed in advance bookings:
- Only ₹4.93 crore in advance bookings by Wednesday 7 PM (₹12.32 crore with block seats).
- By comparison, Indian 2 and Vikram had far stronger openings.
- Karnataka ban due to Kamal Haasan’s controversial comments has impacted collections, with fans traveling to Hosur to catch the film.
OTT Release Update
Netflix is expected to premiere Thug Life in the first week of August 2025, making it accessible for audiences who missed the theatrical experience due to the regional ban or poor reviews.
Thug Life Movie Release Date, Cast, Plot, Trailer & OTT Details – Kamal Haasan’s Comeback with Mani Ratnam: Thug Life Movie Review: A Disappointing Reunion of Legends
Final Verdict
Thug Life might shine occasionally thanks to its production values and cast, but overall, it appears to be a misfire from two of Indian cinema’s biggest legends. While fans still flock to see Kamal Haasan in action, many walked away underwhelmed by the film’s execution.
Thug Life Movie Review: Quick Ratings Summary
| Aspect | Rating (out of 5) |
|---|---|
| Kamal Haasan’s Performance | 3.5 |
| Direction by Mani Ratnam | 2.0 |
| Storyline & Screenplay | 1.5 |
| Music by AR Rahman | 2.0 |
| Cinematography | 4.0 |
| Overall Experience | 2.5 |
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Socials
#ThugLife Review ⭐⭐⭐🌟 3.5/5 OUTSTANDING 🔥
— Global Box Office (@GBOU_Offl) June 5, 2025
BLOCKBUSTER RESPONSE EVERYWHERE 🔥🔥🔥
➤ A Mani Ratnam Film
➤ #SilambarasanTR The Real Hero Of the Movie
➤ What a Screen presence acting, dialogues 🔥🔥🔥 #ThugLifeFDFS #KamalHaasan #ThuglifeFromJune5 pic.twitter.com/96ogmCMCfq
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