Keeping up with the changing times is the secret to enjoying relevance, but does it go against Mani Ratnam’s ways of representing the best of classic? Well, the viewers need not worry for long as Ratnam’s freshest directorial Thug Life is on the way, featuring none other than superstar Kamal Haasan.
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A new direction? Haasan in Thug Life
Taking the reins from his role as Sakthivel Naicker from Nayakan, Haasan makes a return in the form of Rangaraya Sakthivel Naicker. But will that be the end of all references? Many popular names in Bollywood are also anticipated in the 2025 release, with the likes of Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi and even Rohit Saraf joining the ensemble. The budget for Thug Life is at an all time high with filming locations across Siberia to Jaisalmer, also featuring a big scale sequence shot behind the Red Fort in New Delhi.
The movie arrives at a pivotal moment in Kamal Haasan’s career. Haasan’s evolution as an actor allows him to bring a distinct gravitas to the character, reflecting both the struggles and triumphs inherent in navigating a life of crime, as observed in the film’s teaser released earlier this year.
Moreover, the film represents a broader contextual frame in which it was created; the Indian film industry has recently seen a resurgence of interest in narratives centered around crime, further elevating the significance of Thug Life. Following the success of Nayakan, this film will require Haasan, a co-writer of the script with Ratnam, to delve deeper into his character’s complexities.
New Expectations?
And if that wasn’t impressive enough, Ratnam has also got maestro A.R. Rahman on board, with Thug life marking his eighteenth collaboration with the director.
The word across town of a dappankuthu featuring Haasan and Silambarasan has been making the rounds and honestly? The standard is only reaching for the sky.
For actor Ali Fazal, it has been nothing short of a learning experience. Partnering with Ratnam, the Mirzapur star described the whole deal in an interview with IANS, “It has been an absolute honour to work under Mani Ratnam sir’s visionary direction. The opportunity to share the screen with icons like Kamal Hassan sir and the rest of this extraordinary cast is something I’ll cherish forever.”
“The last two months have been transformative for me as an actor – learning Tamil, immersing myself in a new cinematic culture, and pushing my creative boundaries.”
Ending Thoughts
With a worldwide theatre release scheduled on 5 June 2025, Thug Life is one of 2025’s most anticipated films. As Haasan’s 234th film as a lead actor, we bet there are only good things to look out for!
For more articles on 2025’s most awaited films, read here.
