For generations of film lovers, Mani Ratnam has been a synonym for soul-cream cinema. Their scenes became part of the pop culture lexicon, not only as a periodic story, but as emotional reference points. It is watching Surya walking away in ‘Dalapati’, or in ‘Alpuratha’, Karthik’s intense gaze, lived on Ratnam’s frame, after long credits rolled credits.
Therefore, when his latest film thugs failed to meet life expectations, it was not just a disappointment – it looked like a personal latdown for many people. Fans did not just criticize the film. They took them to social media for a collective moment of introspection, wondering if the master had lost his magic or if they, perhaps, pushed forward their once-a-time style.
Fans become indifferent, share the prestigious Mani Ratnam moments
The social media platform X (East Twitter) was flooded with tribute to Mani Ratnam’s earlier works. A user posted scenes from a landmark film Naikan (1987) starring Kamal Haasan, and wrote, “Look, how beautiful Maniratnam prepared his own Godfather in Bombay. This cinematic work can never be made again and this is the best gangster drama that is made in Indian cinema.
Forever naikan 🛐🔥
Absolute cinema!
Peak Mani Ratnam 🫡 pic.twitter.com/xqyw5zwwri– Anandu Vijayan (@anandu__vijayan) June 5, 2025
Another shared scene highlighting Kamal Haasan’s famous character Velu Nicker, “forever Nayakan. Needs Cinema! Peak Mani Ratnam.”
I was trying to disrepute Maniratnam, but suddenly remembering that he was the one who made Nayak, Thalapathi, Iruvar, Kannathil Muthetal, Alputayya.#thug Life pic.twitter.com/oy3ifh4pwy
– Dr. Chaplin Parivale (@Sirippu_Buddha) June 5, 2025
A fan posted a scene from Thalapati, where Prabhu stopped himself from slapping Rajinikanth, captioned it: “I was trying to disrepute Maniratnam, but suddenly remembering that he was he who made Nayakan, Thalapathi, Iruvar, Kannathil Muthl, Alputheyya.”
While there was a grand renovation between Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan, almost four decades since the thug life heroine, fans felt that the film did not live up to its emotional or cinematic promises. One user expressed it contrary to the moments of two different Mani Ratnam: “A film celebrated that day. A film celebrated it on its reconsideration. Thalapathy – Thalapathy – Mani Ratnam’s timeless classic meds to last forever.”
Others craved for the initial 2000s of the director, with the mention of Kannathil Mutitle and Guru in the early 2000s. With a poignant scene by Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, a fan said, “What happened to this goat Mani Ratnam nowadays.” Another analyzed the visual collapse of the gem in detail: “Kannathil Mutital climax when the major characters interact. The settings show that clouds. Finally it starts raining. What falls from it.”
About thug life
Kamal Haasan, Silambarson, Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lakshmi, Ashok Selvan, Jujo George, Nasar, Ali Fazal, Rohit Saraf, and Baburaj, Thug Life, were one of the most anticipated films of the year. It marked a much -awaited reunion between Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan.
However, the film failed to attack a raga evenly with critics and audiences. Despite the response, the conversation about Mani Ratnam’s legacy proves how deeply it is in the Indian cinematic memory – and why the disappointment is so fast.