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Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ali Fazal faces backlash for 'Thug Life', says he accepted role out of love for Mani Ratnam's vision
Ali Fazal debuted in Tamil cinema with Mani Ratnam's 'Thug Life', starring Kamal Haasan. Despite the film's poor box office performance and controversy over Haasan's Kannada remarks, Ali faced criticism for his small role. He accepted it out of admiration for Mani Ratnam and hopes to collaborate again in the future. Ali Fazal marked his entry into Tamil cinema by featuring in Mani Ratnam 's 'Thug Life', a film led by Kamal Haasan . Despite the high-profile cast, the movie struggled at the box office. In a recent conversation, Ali opened up about the criticism he received for his role in the project. Reason Behind Accepting the Role Talking to The Hollywood Reporter India, Ali discussed the criticism he faced for taking on a very small role in 'Thug Life'. He mentioned that he has not watched the film and explained that many people questioned his decision to be part of it. Ali said his choice was driven by his admiration for Mani Ratnam's vision. Although the movie did not perform well at the box office, he received messages from friends and fans wondering why he accepted the role. To them, he responded by saying it's okay. Positive Experience Despite Criticism The actor described his experience working on the film as very positive, mentioning that Mani and Kamal made him feel warmly welcomed. He acknowledged that he is aware of which scenes were included and which were left out, but he respects Ratnam's overall vision and understands the story underwent many changes during production. Ali considers the matter settled and has expressed a strong desire to work with Mani again in the future. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Resmed AirSense 11 with flat 20% off ResMed Buy Now Undo Film Release and Controversy Released on June 5, 'Thug Life' is a Tamil gangster drama that brought Kamal Haasan and director Mani Ratnam back together after their iconic 1987 film 'Nayakan'. However, the movie stirred controversy following Haasan's comments about the Kannada language, which led to its ban in Karnataka. The film struggled to live up to the legacy of 'Nayakan' and ultimately saw poor performance at the box office.


Time of India
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kamal Haasan confesses that ‘greed for money' stopped him from learning. Actor says could have ‘learned more'
Kamal Haasan , known for his unmatched versatility in Indian cinema , has worn many hats over his 65-year-long career—actor, writer, director, producer, choreographer, and even a trained makeup artist. But now, in a strikingly honest revelation, the iconic performer says there's something he stopped doing somewhere along the way: learning. In an interview with PTI, Haasan admitted that his avarice—his own word—for money got in the way of his thirst for knowledge. 'I like money. I want it to come to me,' he told PTI, explaining why he no longer sought out new mentors or teachers. 'Because of my work schedule, I stopped seeking more gurus. I think my avarice for money stopped me from learning. Otherwise, I would have learned more.' The 69-year-old legend reflected candidly on how fame and fortune can gradually distance artists from genuine growth. He explained that while cinema allows one to reach a vast audience, it also removes the artist from the direct experience of appreciation or critique. Over time, this disconnect can lead to arrogance, as feedback is filtered through media reports or fan interactions rather than real-time applause or honest criticism. The result, he suggested, is a skewed perception of success and a growing detachment from reality. According to Forbes, with a reported net worth of around Rs 150 crore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched Seeking Alpha Read More Undo Kamal Haasan's recent movie Thug Life Haasan is currently back on the big screen with Thug Life, a gritty gangster drama directed by his longtime collaborator Mani Ratnam . Their reunion has generated massive buzz, as fans remember their 1987 cult hit Nayakan. Produced by Raaj Kamal Films International and Madras Talkies, the film is Haasan's 234th as a lead actor and co-written by the man himself. The story follows Rangaraaya Sakthivel, a mafia kingpin in Delhi, betrayed by his own blood. With a power-packed cast including Silambarasan TR (STR), Trisha Krishnan, Joju George, and Aishwarya Lekshmi, Thug Life has received roaring praise, especially for STR's electrifying performance in the first half.


Hindustan Times
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
‘Promo has better story than whole film', say fans as Kamal Haasan, Simbu face off in Thug Life OTT release announcement
Mani Ratnam's Thug Life, starring Kamal Haasan and Simbu, is out on Netflix. The actors and the streamer launched a promotional video to tease the release of the movie on OTT. Fans reacted to the fun video clip, and surprisingly gave it a favourable review, even saying that the plot here is better than what was there in the actual movie. (Also read: Thug Life OTT release: Kamal Haasan, Mani Ratnam's film skips 8-week window, streams online a month after theatrical run) Kamal Haasan and Simbu in the promo for Thug Life. The video shows Kamal Haasan and Simbu sitting in front of a bunch of journalists as part of a media interaction. One of them says that the Jinguchaa dance was absolutely amazing, to which it is Simbu who says thank you, irking Kamal. A second journalist asks that the actor started off as a child artist and has been doing it so successfully for so many years. How was the experience? To this, again, it is Simbu who replies, 'It's an incredible experience.' Kamal looks at him again, faking a smile. When a third question is thrown at them asking who is the real 'thug' in real life, the two of them pause for a while. Then Simbu answers, 'I am the Thug.' Then he adds, to everyone's surprise: 'But the hero of all thugs is Sir!' Simbu asks him to strike a pose, which he agrees to do, and the promo ends with a montage of clips from the Mani Ratnam film. User reactions Reacting to the clip, a user commented: 'Promo was so better than the whole movie.' A second user said, 'this promo > the movie.' Another said, 'Vinveli Nayaga looks better here.' A comment read, 'This promo watching 10+ times, but watching this movie… umm I am not sure.' 'So much effort for the promo, why wasn't the same in the film?' asked a second user. Thug Life is Mani and Kamal's first film together after the 1987 cult classic Nayakan. The gangster drama revolves around him and his adopted son, Amaran, played by Silambarasan. Trisha Krishnan, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Ali Fazal, Abhirami, and others also star in it. The film was released amid huge controversy over Kamal's remarks on the Kannada language and was not released in Karnataka. The film also received mixed reviews from critics and fans.


News18
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Thug Life OTT Release: When And Where To Watch Kamal Haasan, Mani Ratnam's Film
Last Updated: The film, released on June 5, marks the reunion of Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan nearly four decades after their 1987 collaboration, Nayakan. Thug Life, the Kamal Haasan starrer gangster drama film, failed to impress the fans at the box office. Helmed by the renowned director Mani Ratnam, the film did an overall business of Rs 48 crore across all languages in India, as per Following a disappointing run at the theatres, the film has now arrived on the digital platform, and fans can watch it from the comfort of their home. Here's everything you need to know about Thug Life's digital release: The film is now streaming on the OTT giant Netflix in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam languages. Sharing a poster of the film on Instagram, the streamer wrote in the caption, 'It is a battle between Death and Rangaraya Sakthivel, want to see who wins the game? Watch Thug Life, now on Netflix in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix India (@netflix_in) The film, released on June 5, marks the reunion of Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan nearly four decades after their 1987 collaboration, Nayakan. Thug Life, co-produced by Raaj Kamal Films International and Madras Talkies, follows Rangaraya Sakthivel Naickar (Haasan), a crime lord, seeking revenge for betrayals within his own gang, including his brother and adopted son, Amaran (played by Silambarasan). The film also explores themes of mistrust, power struggles, and Sakthivel's complex relationship with an influencer, Indrani (played by Trisha Krishnan). Co-written by Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam, the film also features an ensemble cast including Trisha Krishnan, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nasser, Abhirami and Aishwarya Lekshmi in pivotal roles. Music maestro A.R. Rahman has composed the music of the film. One of the major reasons behind Thug Life's box office failure could be a call to boycott the project in light of recent remarks made by Kamal Haasan. During a promotional event for the film, Haasan had remarked that 'Kannada is born out of Tamil," which didn't go well with the pro-Kannada groups. Also, previously, the film received criticism for intimate moments with 70-year-old Haasan and 42-year-old Krishnan in the trailer. Up next, Kamal Haasan will be seen in the sci-fi action thriller, Kalki 2898 AD Part 2, along with Deepika Padukone, Prabhas and Amitabh Bachchan. Helmed by Nag Ashwin, the film is expected to go on floors in December this year. First Published:


The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Thug Life': Kamal Haasan-Mani Ratnam film drops on OTT after 28-day theatrical run
Thug Life, starring Kamal Haasan and directed by Mani Ratnam, has arrived on the OTT space after its 28-day theatrical run. The gangster drama, which hit the screens on June 05, 2025, failed to create magic at the box office. Produced by Kamal Haasan's Raaj Kamal Films International and Mani Ratnam's Madras Talkies, Thug Life is currently streaming on Netflix. The Tamil film also stars Silambarasan T R, Nasser, Trisha, Joju George and Ashok Selvan. Thug Life opened to negative reviews from critics. Fans were disappointed that the Kamal Haasan-Mani Ratnam combinaion couldn't recreate the magic of Nayakan (1987), the first collaboration between the two artists. The movie is about an ageing gangster who has to protect his family when a power struggle tears through his clan, and enemies return seeking vengeance. The Hindu review of the film said, 'It doesn't help that the film fails to add more to its archaic fight-for-the-throne conflict at the centre of the film. Subplots and layers seem added purely for convenience, like a character that returns in the climax to serve a meagre purpose. You also feel bad for Silambarasan since Amar never comes into his own or grows beyond what the plot requires him to do. A lion's share of the screen space is given to Kamal, and the veteran aces his role as an ageing man fighting the God of Death — be it in the more tender moments like the aforementioned scene with Abhirami, or the many face-offs he has on rooftops and cliffs. But is he really feeling the weight of his actions or questioning his morality as the Sakthivel Naicker we once knew? The verdict is still out.' Thug Life missed its release in Karnataka due to a controversy. During a promotional event, Kamal Haasan said that 'Kannada language is born from Tamil', leading to widespread opposition in the State. ALSO READ:'Thug Life' release in Karnataka: Unending 'litany of hurt sentiments' cannot choke free speech in films, says Supreme Court The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) expressed its non-cooperation with the film until an apology from the actor. The makers of Thug Life moved court for a smooth release of the movie. Despite a favourable response from the Supreme Court, Thug Life had no takers in Karnataka as it failed to meet expectations at the box office.