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#ThugLifeDisaster: DMK Stooge Kamal Haasan’s Latest Flop Show Is Worse Than Indian 2

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About a year ago, part-time politician, DMK stooge and actor Kamal Haasan saw the release of his film Indian 2. That film, despite its big budget and pre-release hype, became the subject of relentless memes and ridicule across the country. It failed miserably at the box office and ended up inspiring a meme fest across the country.

One would imagine the actor learned his lesson. Apparently not.

On 5 June 2025, Kamal Haasan returned with Thug Life, directed by the once-celebrated Mani Ratnam. Released worldwide, the film promised grandeur, emotion, and a return to form. Instead, it has triggered déjà vu of the worst kind: yet another cinematic trainwreck.

Audience Reaction: From Hype To Horror

As Thug Life premiered today, the initial wave of reviews was nothing short of sharp, merciless, and downright humiliating.

Critics and audiences alike flooded social media timelines with words such as disappointment, routine, aimless, emotionless, and unimpressive. While the film’s musical score and stylish visuals received a faint nod, they were widely regarded as superficial glitz over a hollow core. Fans and reviewers were left baffled by how a film that promised so much could feel so soulless and uninspired.

Kamal apparently mentioned that the film will make one forget Nayagan. It was repeated by netizens online and it perfectly captured the collective mood of the audience: “Thug Life will make you forget Nayagan — just like Indian 2 made you forget Indian.”

This cruel comparison points to the film’s catastrophic failure to live up to its legacy and the crushing disappointment of Kamal Haasan’s loyal fan base.

Stars Wasted, Talent Squandered

Thug Life assembled a formidable cast featuring industry favorites like Simbu (STR), Trisha, Ashok Selvan, and Abirami. However, all the star power couldn’t save the film from being a universally panned disaster. Trisha’s much-anticipated role was dismissed by many as poorly written and meaningless, a wasted opportunity that failed to add any depth or relevance to the narrative. Simbu, despite delivering a decent performance, found himself trapped in a shallow, underwritten character whose presence felt more obligatory than impactful — especially in the sluggish second half where his character’s arc fell flat.

Even the film’s music, scored by the so-called legend AR Rahman, did little to redeem the overall experience. Fans and critics expressed deep disappointment, pointing out that Rahman’s compositions, usually a highlight of any Mani Ratnam film, felt disconnected and out of sync with the story. Not a single track managed to resonate or elevate the film’s mood, marking what many consider his weakest collaboration with Mani Ratnam to date.

Mani Ratnam’s Fall From Grace

Once hailed as a visionary director responsible for timeless classics such as Nayagan, Roja, and the recent Ponniyin Selvan, Mani Ratnam now finds himself accused of creative exhaustion and complacency. Critics argue that Thug Life recycles tired tropes from his earlier gangster dramas, resulting in a painfully predictable and uninspired saga. The film’s lazy writing and lifeless emotional beats betrayed the expectations set by Ratnam’s illustrious career.

A particularly scathing comment from a Tamil cinema enthusiast reflected the growing frustration: “Old man Mani Ratnam seriously needs a belt treatment. Enough with the lazy writing, lifeless emotions, and the same dragging, repetitive crap from his old films. Time to retire, sir. You’ve lost it.”

This brutal sentiment highlights how the revered director has fallen out of touch with contemporary audiences, unable to reinvent himself or keep pace with evolving cinematic storytelling.

What Went Wrong? Everything.

One online reviewer summed it up harshly: “#ThugLife ~ Turd Life 💩 Predictable gangster saga by Mani Ratnam with an outdated story by Kamal Haasan and an ineffective score by ARR. The only saving grace is the good de-aging effect in the opening sequences. The rest is a big blunder.”

Netizen Reactions

Let’s take a look at some netizen reactions:

Thug Life: A Bigger Disaster Than Indian 2

Thug Life isn’t just a commercial failure — it’s a cautionary tale illustrating the dangers of clinging to past glory. It shows what happens when aging stars and directors refuse to innovate, ignore audience expectations, and lean too heavily on political affiliations and nostalgia. The film’s downfall confirms that even the most hyped projects can be sunk by outdated storytelling and lack of creative spark.

Kamal probably knew the film would sink much faster than the Titanic and hence could have come up with ideas to create needless controversies that he executed – even that didn’t help him or the film.

If Indian 2 was a stumble, Thug Life is a catastrophic faceplant. Kamal Haasan’s career trajectory — much like his political fortunes — seems to be rapidly declining, with few signs of recovery on the horizon.

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