Nearly 40 years after redefining Indian cinema with “Nayakan”, the iconic actor-director pairing returns with “Thug Life”, a visceral new chapter in their storied collaboration.
Add AR Rahman to the mix and it becomes nothing short of a “holy trinity” of Kollywood. With Kamal in front of the camera, Ratnam behind it, and Rahman weaving a score that promises both fire and soul, “Thug Life” is shaping up to be one of the most explosive Tamil films of the decade.
Speaking at an exclusive media event in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, the 69-year-old screen icon, known for blockbusters like “Indian”, “Vikram” and “Anbe Sivam”, opened up about working with Ratnam again.
“We are not the same actor and director since we first worked together,” he said candidly. “We have both evolved in our own craft.”
This evolution is at the heart of “Thug Life”, co-written by both the actor and director. Details on the movie are scarce, but here’s what is known.
“Thug Life” plunges viewers into a brutal underworld ruled by two brothers, Sakthivel and Manickam. When one of them rescues a young boy, cracks begin to form: suspicion turns into betrayal, and an attempt on Sakthivel’s life sets off a storm.
What follows is not just revenge, but the unravelling of brotherhood – and the burning down of a kingdom they once built.
The movie also features a stacked cast, with powerhouse performers Silambarasan, Trisha, Joju George, and Aishwarya Lekshmi, among others.
Kamal describes Sakthivel as someone pushed to the very edge – something the veteran actor said he “knows intimately”.
“I don’t have to play this; I am a man who has been pushed to the edge many times. If you look over my life, you will see the hills and valleys. This is something I am familiar with.”
While he didn’t mention specifics, it’s worth noting that Kamal is also a politician. In addition, he has reportedly come under fire in India for comments made in the process of promoting the film.
In any case, “Thug Life” is already being hailed as a spiritual successor to 1987’s “Nayakan” – not in plot, but in power, pathos, and political resonance. Sakthivel isn’t just a gangster – he’s a man reborn through betrayal, who rises as both myth and menace.
With a gritty setting and moral ambiguity at its core, the film appears to echo “Nayakan” with its themes of fractured loyalties and blurred justice – only built for a new era.
Asked what it means to “fight back” in a time of shifting moral codes, Kamal offered a striking metaphor. “I fight very hard, it is more dangerous than a warrior with a sword. This man doesn’t have to go back home: the battlefield is his home. He will live there – win or die,” he told FMT Lifestyle.
Later in the day, Kamal made an appearance at MyTown Cheras for a fan meet-and-greet with actress Trisha – and the scene was pure chaos. A roaring crowd surged through the mall, hoping to catch a glimpse of the screen legend.
Cheers, camera flashes and chants filled the air as he and Trisha waved to the sea of fans, many of whom had waited hours for the moment.
For now, the real plot of “Thug Life” largely remains wrapped in mystery. But if these teasers are anything to go by, Kamal’s latest role won’t just entertain – it may well burn its way into Tamil cinematic history.
‘Thug Life’ will be released in cinemas nationwide on Thursday.