Here’s What To Expect From Thug Life

‘Expect
an
emotional
dramatic
film
with
action.’
‘Expect
a
world
within
the
crime
world.’

 

It’s
a
big
week
for

Mani
Ratnam.

The
film-maker
celebrates
his
birthday
on
June
2,
and
just
three
days
later,
his
hugely-anticipated
film
with
Kamal
Haasan,

Thug
Life,
will
release
in
theatres.

The
duo
re-unite
38
years
after
their
iconic
film

Nayakan,
but
Mani
Ratnam
doesn’t
feel
the
pressure.

“The
best
part
about
filmmaking
is
that
you
have
so
many
problems
in
front
of
you,
you
don’t
have
time
to
worry
about
other
pressure,”
Mani
Ratnam
tells

Subhash
K
Jha.

How
does
it
feel
to
reunite
with
Kamal
Haasan
after
38
years?
How
has
your
dynamics
changed?

When
I
first
met
Kamal
Haasan,
when
I
was
getting
into
this
industry,
he
was
a
very
big
star
and
had
a
20-year
lead.

But
he
was
open
to
meeting
people
like
me
and
just
chatting
about
films,
stories
and
music.

He
always
had
his
doors
open
for
newcomers.

So
you
approached
Kamal
Haasan
for

Nayakan
as
a
relative
newcomer?

When
we
did

Nayakan,
he
trusted
me
even
though
I
was
very
early
in
my
career.

It
was
a
very
exciting
experience.

That
has
not
changed
with

Thug
Life.

He
is
a
dream
to
work
with.

He
brings
so
much
to
the
table
when
he
comes
on
set.

It
is
not
just
his
performance
but
much
more.
He
brings
in
a
sense
of
authenticity
to
the
scenes.

Why
did
the
two
of
you
take
so
long
to
come
together
again?
What
made

Thug
Life
the
project
worth
the
reunion?

We
had
met
quite
a
few
times
and
discussed
several
projects
but
somehow,
they
did
not
materialise.
Either
he
was
in
the
midst
of
other
projects
or
I
was
tied
up.

The
loss
was
mine.

I
realised
that
when
I
worked
with
him
again
on

Thug
Life.

You
were
obviously
a
different
filmmaker
when
you
made

Nayakan.
What
would
you
change
in
the
film
if
you
had
to
make
it
now?

I
would
change
nothing.

Or
I
would
change
a
lot
of
things.

I
don’t
know.
It
is
such
a
hypothetical
question.

The
expectations
from
the
two
of
you
together
are
huge.
Does
that
bother
you?

The
best
part
about
filmmaking
is
that
you
have
so
many
problems
in
front
of
you,
you
don’t
have
time
to
worry
about
other
pressures.

The
focus
is
on
doing
this
as
best
that
you
can.

What
should
fans
of
Mani
Ratnam
and
Kamal
Haasan
expect
from

Thug
Life?

Expect
an
emotional
dramatic
film
with
action.

Expect
a
world
within
the
crime
world.

The
big
screen
experience
seems
to
have
suffered
an
irreversible
erosion.
What
are
the
factors
that
would
attract
movie-goers
to

Thug
Life?

There
is
a
definite
magic
that
a
big
screen
experience
and
collective
viewing
brings.
That
is
what
we
filmmakers
aim
for.

Between

Nayakan
and

Thug
Life,
which
work
better
showcases
your
combined
genius
with
Kamal
Haasan?

Hopefully,
both.