Latest news with #Sakthivel
IOL News
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Ambitious but flawed gangster drama
Movie review: Thug Life Cast: Kamal Hassan, Silambarasan, Trisha Krishnan, Aishweriya Lekshmi, Abhirami, Ashok Selvan and Nasser Director: Mani Ratnam Rating: 6/10 THUG Life carried blockbuster ambitions from its first announcement, reuniting cinematic legends after years apart. Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan share the screen again, as do Silambarasan with Trisha Krishnan, and Haasan with Abhirami. The pre-release hype promised a landmark gangster drama. Thug Life begins in Old Delhi in 1994 where we see two children caught in the cross-fire between the police and a local gang led by Rangaraaya "Manickam" Manickavel (played by Nasser) and his younger brother and co-leader Rangaraaya "Sakthi" Sakthivel (played by Hassan). In the chaos, Sakthivel finds a youngster, Amaran (Silambarasan), who has suffered the consequence of the gun fight. He takes in Amaran as his own once he finds out that the youngster has no one else and promises to help him find his younger sister. Years pass on and Amaran is now Sakthivel's closest confidant. On Sakthivel's directive, Amaran is left to lead the gang when the latter is sent to prison. Manickam, angered by this and instigated by other gang members, begins to manipulate the situation to create a wedge between Amaran and Sakthivel, eventually convincing Amaran to kill Sakthivel. Thug Life's flaw lies in conventional storytelling, poor character development and an inability of the movie to reach a high point. Furthermore, the movie seems disjointed and rushed. There is a bit of saving grace though some stand-out performances. Hassan owns his scenes, while Silambarasan is the standout performance in Thug Life, championing scenes even alongside the latter. All three actresses have limited screen time but make the most with their roles. Trisha as Indhrani does not drive the narrative compared to her recent roles. However, she delves into a character that not many actresses at her peak would not explore. On the flipside, Abhirami is firm and warm as Jeeva. Aishwariya Lekshmi dominates the female performances and her character should have been given more screen time, so does the character of Inspector Jaikumar played by Ashok Selvan. AR Rahman's album is one of the positives of Thug Life with Jinguchaa and Anju Vanna Poove saving the overall viewer experience. The movie is far from Ratnam's best movie. However, the film is sure to gain cult status at some stage. Watch this star-studded movie with zero expectations. Thug Life began screening on Netflix last week.
Economic Times
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Thug Life to Paramasivan Fathima: Latest Tamil OTT releases to watch this week on Netflix, JioHotstar, Sun NXT
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Thug Life (Netflix) Madras Matinee (Sun NXT and OTTplay) Good Wife (JioHotstar) Paramasivan Fathima (Aha Tamil) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Verdict (Sun NXT) Save Nalla Pasanga (Aha Tamil) As the weekend approaches, Tamil audiences can explore a range of new releases on OTT platforms, spanning thrillers, drama, romance, and supernatural horror. From big-banner films to grounded dramas and gripping courtroom narratives, this week's digital offerings cater to a wide array of preferences. Here's a roundup of the latest Tamil titles now streaming or arriving from July 3, Thug Life brings together two stalwarts of Tamil cinema—Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam. The story revolves around Sakthivel, a powerful mafia leader, and his protégé Amaran, portrayed by Silambarasan. Initially a devoted follower, Amaran begins to question Sakthivel's motives, sparking tension and betrayal. The ensemble cast also includes Trisha Krishnan and Joju George. Despite high expectations, the film did not fare well critically during its theatrical run, but it remains to be seen if it finds a second life from July 4, Madras Matinee takes a sharp turn from high-octane action to grounded storytelling. The film follows Kannan, an auto driver in Chennai, as his mundane life becomes the unlikely subject of a sci-fi writer. With Kaali Venkat and Sathyaraj in lead roles, the film sheds light on the understated challenges and emotional fabric of middle-class families. Roshini Haripriyan also plays a significant part in this layered premiering on July 4, Good Wife is a Tamil adaptation of the acclaimed American series. Priyamani stars as Tarunika, a woman pulled back into the legal profession when her husband faces serious allegations. Directed by Revathy, the six-part series blends courtroom proceedings with emotional complexity, as the protagonist balances her roles as a mother, wife, and those drawn to supernatural thrillers with a socio-political edge, Paramasivan Fathima begins streaming on July 4. The story is set in two fictional villages—Subramaniapuram and Yokopuram—locked in religious tensions. Childhood friends turned tragic figures, Paramasivan and Fathima, return as ghosts to avenge the wrongs that divided them. Directed by Esakki Karavannan, the film intertwines communal issues with horror and suspense, presenting a grim tale of vengeance and available for streaming since June 26, The Verdict stars Sruthi Hariharan as Namrutha, an Indian woman on trial in the United States for allegedly killing her wealthy friend. Varalaxmi Sarathkumar plays Maya, the defence attorney who uncovers hidden truths during the courtroom proceedings. Directed by Krishna Shankar, the film is noted for its tight screenplay and emotional depth, making it a strong pick for fans of legal from June 20, Save Nalla Pasanga offers a breezy yet emotionally grounded story of love and self-discovery. Directed by C. Sathish Charan, the series follows Kannan, a naive young man whose worldview is shaken when his crush gets engaged. With performances by Ajai Prasad, Anna Ador, and Vishnu, the show explores themes of modern relationships, identity, and growing up.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Thug Life to Paramasivan Fathima: Latest Tamil OTT releases to watch this week on Netflix, JioHotstar, Sun NXT
Thug Life (Netflix) Madras Matinee (Sun NXT and OTTplay) Good Wife (JioHotstar) Paramasivan Fathima (Aha Tamil) The Verdict (Sun NXT) Save Nalla Pasanga (Aha Tamil) As the weekend approaches, Tamil audiences can explore a range of new releases on OTT platforms, spanning thrillers, drama, romance, and supernatural horror. From big-banner films to grounded dramas and gripping courtroom narratives, this week's digital offerings cater to a wide array of preferences. Here's a roundup of the latest Tamil titles now streaming or arriving from July 3, Thug Life brings together two stalwarts of Tamil cinema—Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam. The story revolves around Sakthivel, a powerful mafia leader, and his protégé Amaran, portrayed by Silambarasan. Initially a devoted follower, Amaran begins to question Sakthivel's motives, sparking tension and betrayal. The ensemble cast also includes Trisha Krishnan and Joju George. Despite high expectations, the film did not fare well critically during its theatrical run, but it remains to be seen if it finds a second life from July 4, Madras Matinee takes a sharp turn from high-octane action to grounded storytelling. The film follows Kannan, an auto driver in Chennai, as his mundane life becomes the unlikely subject of a sci-fi writer. With Kaali Venkat and Sathyaraj in lead roles, the film sheds light on the understated challenges and emotional fabric of middle-class families. Roshini Haripriyan also plays a significant part in this layered premiering on July 4, Good Wife is a Tamil adaptation of the acclaimed American series. Priyamani stars as Tarunika, a woman pulled back into the legal profession when her husband faces serious allegations. Directed by Revathy, the six-part series blends courtroom proceedings with emotional complexity, as the protagonist balances her roles as a mother, wife, and those drawn to supernatural thrillers with a socio-political edge, Paramasivan Fathima begins streaming on July 4. The story is set in two fictional villages—Subramaniapuram and Yokopuram—locked in religious tensions. Childhood friends turned tragic figures, Paramasivan and Fathima, return as ghosts to avenge the wrongs that divided them. Directed by Esakki Karavannan, the film intertwines communal issues with horror and suspense, presenting a grim tale of vengeance and available for streaming since June 26, The Verdict stars Sruthi Hariharan as Namrutha, an Indian woman on trial in the United States for allegedly killing her wealthy friend. Varalaxmi Sarathkumar plays Maya, the defence attorney who uncovers hidden truths during the courtroom proceedings. Directed by Krishna Shankar, the film is noted for its tight screenplay and emotional depth, making it a strong pick for fans of legal from June 20, Save Nalla Pasanga offers a breezy yet emotionally grounded story of love and self-discovery. Directed by C. Sathish Charan, the series follows Kannan, a naive young man whose worldview is shaken when his crush gets engaged. With performances by Ajai Prasad, Anna Ador, and Vishnu, the show explores themes of modern relationships, identity, and growing up.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Thug Life' OTT release: Kamal Haasan's starrer makes its OTT debut in multiple languages; find out where to watch
Picture Credit: Facebook After a disappointing theatrical release, the massive star-studded Kamal Haasan 's action-packed gangster drama 'Thug Life' has finally made its digital debut. The Mani Ratnam directorial, which hit the big screens on June 5 amid massive expectations, is now streaming on OTT. The film is now streaming on Netflix in five languages—Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam—from July 2. — Netflix_INSouth (@Netflix_INSouth) Despite the film's initial hype, 'Thug Life' came out as a disaster after failing to pull box office numbers. Initially, the makers had announced that the movie wouldn't arrive on digital platforms before completing an eight-week theatrical window. However, in a change of plans, 'Thug Life' arrived on OTT just under a month after its release. Netflix India officially confirmed the streaming release with a post on X (formerly Twitter): "Ithu Rangaraya Sakthivel-kum yamanukum nadakura poti. Watch Thug Life, now on Netflix in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam." 'Thug Life' is the story of Rangaraaya Sakthivel , a notorious gangster played by Kamal Haasan. During a violent shootout with a rival gang, Sakthivel saves and subsequently adopts a young orphan named Amaran, mistaking him for the boy who protected him during the crossfire. Years later, as Sakthivel returns from prison, he is faced with a dramatically changed world, one where Amaran has risen in influence and begun to be seen as his successor. The plot takes a dark turn as Amaran, now an adult, falls prey to manipulations and plots Sakthivel's assassination. The movie also features Silambarasan TR , Trisha Krishnan , Aishwarya Lekshmi, Nassar, Rohit Saraf , Joju George, and Mahesh Manjrekar. The music has been composed by Oscar winner AR Rahman. 'Thug Life' is the second collaboration between Kamal Haasan and director Mani Ratnam after the 1987 film 'Nayakan.' The film opened to mixed to negative reviews due to its pacing and weak storyline, which also led to a poor box office run. While it may not have made the desired impact in theaters, its OTT release gives the film a second life and perhaps a better chance to reach its intended audience.
The Hindu
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
PM MITRA textile park in Virudhunagar to boost TN's textile capability
The Virudhunagar PM MITRA Park, encompassing 1,052 acres, which got Central government's approval of ₹1,900 crore, is set to become a world-class hub for technical textiles and an integrated manufacturing hub, said A. Sakthivel, vice-chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), in a press release on Wednesday. The park will include a 15 million litres a day (MLD) Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) Common Effluent Treatment Plant, a 10,000-bed workers' dormitory, and over 1.3 million sq. ft. of ready-to-use infrastructure. The park is projected to attract investments worth ₹10,000 crore and generate employment for over one lakh people by 2026. This facility will significantly boost Tamil Nadu's competitiveness, particularly in the areas of value-added, sustainable, and export-oriented apparel manufacturing. The AEPC will support the successful implementation of the PM MITRA initiative, with plug and play manufacturing facilities, in close collaboration with both, the Central and State governments, Mr. Sakthivel said. The Central government's announcement is a transformative step towards reinforcing the country's leadership in the global textile sector. The State government's continuous engagement and sustained efforts have culminated in this achievement for the State's textile sector, he added.
