Thug Life (U/A)
05/Jun/2025 Action, Drama 2hrs 45mins

2.50

Thug Life talked the talk but the film never walked the walk.

Thug Life aspires to be a grand return but falls short of its potential. Despite moments of insight and ambition, the film feels emotionally distant and thematically scattered. It hints at depth but never fully commits, leaving behind a story that struggles to stay engaging or relatable.(more)

Source: MovieCrow, MovieCrow

2.00

Kamal Movie Falls Short of Expectations

ani Ratnam weaved a story where a gangster (Kamal), whose member, unknowingly shoots a paper man, but the whole film revolves around Kamal trying to reunite orphaned brother and sister who go different ways. Kind of redemption but it is too little to keep audience engaged.. Truly, Mani Ratnam missed...(more)

Source: BVS Prakash, Deccan Chronicle

2.00

Kamal Haasan's Film Definitely Needed More Life

Thug Life is only a film. It isn't a tough-as-nails and unstoppable crime lord, as thought by the screenwriters. So, it does not possess Sakthivel's regenerative power. Once the core of its central idea begins to wear thin as a result of being stretched to snapping point, not even Mani Ratnam's styl...(more)

Source: Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV Movies

2.50

Kamal Haasan's fiery performance aside, Mani Ratnam's gangster drama shoots blanks

As has been the case with many recent Mani Ratnam films, songs feature sparingly and yet it does somehow feel like it is Rahman who is doing all the heavy lifting in selling the emotions. Touted as one of the biggest Tamil films of the year, Thug Life boasts exquisite production design and striking ...(more)

Source: BHUVANESH CHANDAR, The Hindu

2.50

A star-studded letdown

Thug Life is a classic case of great potential gone unrealised. Despite the presence of legends like Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam, the film fails to engage, surprise, or emotionally move the audience. With no real novelty, weak character arcs, and an undercooked screenplay, it ends up being a tediou...(more)

Source: 123 Telugu, 123telugu.com

1.50

Kamal Haasan, Mani Ratnam's 'game of thrones' is a cinematic endurance test

Another major disappointment in Thug Life is Rahman�s music, especially the jarring and often senseless background score. At several points, the BGM feels so tonally off that it makes the viewers feel like they are watching a gangster spoof. While "Vinveli Nayaga" is good in its entirety, its fragme...(more)

Source: Anandu Suresh, Indian Express

3.00

Mani Ratnam's Magic Is Missing

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 d...(more)

Source: Naviya Nair, Rediff.com