Legendary combo reunite to deliver a tedious gangster drama
Thug Life Movie Review: When the duo who delivered the iconic Nayakan reunite after three decades, our basic expectation is a memorable moviegoing experience. But with Thug Life, both Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan deliver one of their weakest efforts, making us wonder what they saw in this beaten-to-death storyline to get back together again. The film is a collection of gangster movie clichés – gang rivalry, betrayal, jealousy and vengeance – strung together with a plot that revolves around a fearless, respected and seemingly immortal gangster (Kamal Haasan) and his relationship with the boy (Silambarasan TR) whose life he accidentally ruins and chooses to raise as his family. Despite familiar arcs, the leisurely paced first half manages to hold our interest, at least with the anticipation that there must be something deeper coming soon. But soon, with uninspired writing and weak characterisation, Thug Life becomes a slog.
