THUG LIFE ; One of the most awaited films of the year, marks a historic reunion after 38 long years. Yes, Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam, the legends who gave us the cult classic Nayakan in 1987, are back together, this time for another intense gangster drama.

With just weeks to go for the release, fans are naturally drawing comparisons. But what’s different this time? “I think I’ve become a slightly more experienced actor now,” smiles Kamal Haasan, when asked what has changed in all these years. Speaking about the reunion, Kamal says, “We’ve both evolved. This is not the same Mani Ratnam who directed Nayakan, and I’m not the same actor who acted in it.

Even AR Rahman is not the same composer who scored Roja. And that’s a good thing. We’ve all grown, and that growth reflects in Thug Life.” The film’s teaser and trailer had fans buzzing with throwbacks – be it the character names like Sakthivel Velu Naicker from Nayakan and Rangaraaya Sakthivel Naicker in Thug Life, or the gangster setup, there are clear nods to the past. But Kamal is quick to clarify:

“Our intention was exactly the opposite, to make a film that doesn’t remind you of Nayakan. That’s what we’ve worked towards.” Interestingly, Kamal had earlier written a script called Thalaivan Irukkindran (also known as Amar Hai) and shared it with Mani Ratnam. Mani sir took it up, but the end result is far from what it started out as. “You won’t even be able to tell that Thug Life and that script were related. So many things changed. It’ll feel like a crossword puzzle for the audience – and that’s real collaboration,” Kamal says.

In today’s trend of mixing comedy and mass elements into even serious genres like crime, will Thug Life have such commercial detours? Kamal replies with a grin, “It’s not that Mani sir doesn’t understand humour – he does. But that’s not his space. He prefers a particular tone, and this film stays true to that.”


Kamal Haasan on AI: “Don’t fear it – understand it”!

Apart from cinema, Kamal Haasan continues to push boundaries in learning. Recently, he took up a course abroad to study Artificial Intelligence. “AI is much bigger than we think. I’m still learning and trying to understand it. Before diving in, we need to figure out what exactly we want to learn in AI. It’s already a part of our lives, and it’s here to stay. But we shouldn’t be afraid of it taking over us.”


Source : OTT Play
Image Credit : The Indian Express