Thug Life, marking the return of the Nayakan duo after nearly four decades, was released in theatres today. TFN reviews the latest BO release.
Story:
The film kicks off in 1994 Old Delhi with a police encounter set up by Sadanand (Mahesh Manjrekar) and his thugs. During the ensuing chaos, someone accidentally shoots an innocent newspaper vendor. Filled with sympathy, Rangaraya Sakthiraju (Kamal Haasan), already a gangster, adopts the vendor’s son, Amar, who will later betray him and attempt to lead a gang of his own. Amar is played by Simbu.
Analysis:
Mani Ratnam’s style and voice have always been unique. He has tried a variety of genres over decades, teaming up with some of the finest talents on repeat. With just AR Rahman, he has collaborated one-and-a-half dozen times. Thug Life was not a forced union with Kamal Haasan. It was a union forged purely for creative and organic reasons.
Kamal makes a dashing presence as both a swaggy gangster and a wounded ‘thug’ who gives back to his rivals. He plays his age and his dialogue delivery carries the gravitas of his troubled character. Simbu is outstanding despite getting to speak relatively less in this dialogue-driven narration. Trisha Krishnan and Abhirami, respectively, play a mistress and a wife. Aishwarya Lekshmi has an extended cameo, while Ashok Selvan is excellent in a scene where he narrates his past and lineage in brief. Joju George and Nassar don’t overstep their boundaries; their roles are more important than what the film’s trailer had indicated. Mahesh Manjrekar’s presence is understated in the scene where he has to beg someone while pretending to be authoritative. Sanya Malhotra (special appearance in the song Jinguchaa) is good.
AR Rahman’s songs have produced varying reactions, with his fans admiring his mastery over a variety of genres. If you can soak into the world of Thug Life, the songs will work like slow poison. Ravi K Chandran, who has collaborated with Mani Ratnam quite a few times previously (including for Yuva), delivers a thumbs-up output. A Sreekar Prasad’s editing is neat.
If you are a fan of gangster dramas that have emotions at their core, Thug Life will work for you. This is not just about random killings and gleeful massacres. The story involves a patriarch’s life journey, the emotions he feels, and the equations he has with a wide variety of characters of different shades. Unlike most textbook gangsters, he is not cold and boring. When he talks, there is wit. When he cries out, there is pain. When he cuts off the limbs of others, he is menacing.
Verdict:
Thug Life is a compelling and mature gangster drama that rises above typical genre fare. Anchored by powerful performances, particularly from Kamal Haasan and Simbu, and enriched by Mani Ratnam’s masterful direction, the film delves deep into the emotional landscape of its characters. Fans of character-driven narratives and sophisticated storytelling will like it.
