Thug Life is a 2025 Indian Tamil-language gangster action drama film directed by Mani Ratnam, who co-wrote the script with Kamal Haasan. Produced by Raaj Kamal Films International and Madras Talkies, the film stars Haasan, alongside Silambarasan, Trisha Krishnan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Abhirami, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nassar, Mahesh Manjrekar, Ali Fazal, Sanjana Krishnamoorthy and Tanikella Bharani. It marks the reunion of Haasan and Ratnam after their previous collaboration, Nayakan (1987). The film follows Rangaraaya Sakthivel, a feared mafia kingpin in New Delhi, who seeks redemption and revenge after being betrayed by his brother, Rangaraaya Manickam, and the one he raised, Amaran.

Plot

In 1994, in Old Delhi, gang leader Sadanand Yadav meets with rival kingpins Rangaraaya "Manickam" Manickavel and his younger brother and co-leader Rangaraaya "Sakthi" Sakthivel to discuss a truce between them after years of rivalry. However, unbeknownst to Manickam and Sakthivel, Sadanand later invalidates the truce by orchestrating a shootout involving the Delhi Police. The ensuing tussle results in the death of a newspaper delivery man caught in the crossfire when he is unknowingly shot by Manickam, leaving his children, Amaran and Chandra, separated. Sakthivel believes Amaran shielded him during the chaos. Moved by the incident after learning that Amaran's father was the newspaper delivery man, Sakthivel adopts him and raises him as his own son, while promising Amaran that he will find Chandra.