The
edge-of-the-seat
action
is
interspersed
with
moments
of
intense,
raw
emotions
of
romance,
trust
and
betrayal,
and
keeps
you
entertained
and
waiting
for
the
next
big
reveal,
observes
Divya
Nair.
Master
storyteller
Mani
Ratnam
reunites
with
Kamal
Haasan
after
38
years
for
Thug
Life.
The
comeback
is
electrifying,
just
as
the
teaser
promised
fireworks.
The
title
‘Thug
Life‘
has
both
swag
and
substance.
At
the
trailer
launch
in
Mumbai,
the
director
aptly
described
it
as
‘an
emotional
drama
set
in
a
world
of
crime’.
As
the
film
opens,
Kamal
Haasan,
70,
stands
guarding
a
lush
green
field
and
laments:
‘This
is
a
game
between
death
and
me.’
That’s
how
we
are
introduced
to
Rangaraya
Sakthivel.
‘People
call
me
a
don,
thug
or
yakuza
(Japanese
for
mafia),’
he
describes
himself
while
narrating
his
story.
In
a
classic
move,
Kamal
retains
the
name
Sakthivel,
a
tribute
to
his
iconic
don
character
from
Nayakan.
Cut
to
1994.
Thug
Life
opens
with
a
police
encounter
in
Old
Delhi
orchestrated
by
Sadanand
(Mahesh
Manjrekar)
and
his
gang.
In
the
tussle
that
ensues,
Sakthivel’s
older
brother
Manikkam
(Nasser)
shoots
an
innocent
newspaper
vendor.
Out
of
remorse,
Sakthivel
adopts
the
vendor’s
son
Amaran
(STR
aka
Simbu),
who
would
later
plot
to
kill
him
and
take
on
his
empire.
In
the
first
half,
the
screenplay
and
storytelling
are
intense
and
gripping.
The
edge-of-seat
action
interspersed
with
moments
of
intense,
raw
emotions
of
romance,
trust,
and
betrayal,
keeps
you
entertained
and
waiting
for
the
next
big
reveal.
Kamal
is
charming
both
as
the
young
and
old
frontrunner,
but
his
monologues
about
educating
the
girl
child
and
protecting
his
loved
ones
get
tiring
beyond
a
point.
Enter
Simbu
as
Amaran
and
his
loyal
henchmen,
including
Kanjirappally
Pathros
(Joju
George)
whose
hunger
for
power
and
revenge
add
a
layer
of
simmering
conflict
and
betrayal.
Ashok
Selvan
is
impressive
as
the
investigating
officer,
perhaps
one
of
his
most
refined
performances
to
date.
As
for
the
controversial
lip
lock
scene,
you
have
to
watch
the
movie
to
understand
its
relevance.
Abhirami
delivers
a
compelling
performance
as
Sakthivel’s
wife
Jeeva.
Thug
Life
attempts
to
explore
the
depth
of
conflicting
emotions
against
a
morally
uptight
society,
and
succeeds
beautifully
in
parts,
thanks
to
Kamal
Haasan’s
versatility.
His
expressive,
deep
eyes
light
up
with
tenderness
and
mischief
when
he
sees
his
lover
and
pleads
guilty
when
he
confesses
to
his
wife.
The
same
eyes
equally
shoulder
the
burden
of
pain,
hurt
and
devastation
when
his
loved
ones
are
in
trouble.
AR
Rahman’s
music
score
is
scintillating.
Mani
Ratnam’s
signature
magic
is
missing
in
the
second
half,
which
drags
on
aimlessly,
taking
the
film
from
a
height
of
gripping
drama
to
a
meandering
and
unimpressive
climax.
Whether
you’d
enjoy
Thug
Life
really
depends
on
how
much
you’d
enjoy
watching
and
re-watching
Kamal
Haasan
defy
death
and
emerge
on
the
big
screen.
The
supporting
cast
is
brilliant
but
Mani
Ratnam’s
narrative
is
skewed
to
give
a
meatier
role
to
Kamal
while
others,
equally
talented,
have
to
make
do
with
lesser
purpose
and
screen
time.
Thug
Life
Review
Rediff
Rating:
