It was meant to be a cinematic reunion of epic proportions—and it delivered, but not without a side of controversy. The trailer for Thug Life, Mani Ratnam’s much-anticipated gangster drama starring Kamal Haasan, is making all the right noise—and some unexpected ones too. While audiences were swept away by the visual grandeur, evocative soundtrack, and power-packed performances, a brief yet intimate scene featuring Kamal Haasan and actress Abhirami has ignited an intense age-gap discourse online.
Sparks Fly in a Second
Unveiled at a grand launch event in Chennai, Thug Life’s trailer rolled out in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi, promising a pan-India spectacle when it hits theatres on June 5, 2025. The film marks the return of Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam nearly four decades after their landmark collaboration in Nayakan, a film often regarded as a cornerstone in Indian cinematic history. Expectations were soaring—and for the most part, met. But a fleeting moment on screen stirred up strong feelings beyond just cinematic appreciation.
The scene that set the internet ablaze shows Abhirami resting her head on Kamal Haasan’s chest, followed by an intimate kiss. In another shot, the veteran actor suavely tells Trisha, “Madam, I’m your only Adam.” What was intended as narrative boldness has instead landed in the centre of a swirling social media debate—Is Indian cinema still holding double standards when it comes to age and romance?
Age, Intimacy, and Internet Outrage
The initial confusion among viewers about whether it was Trisha or Abhirami in the romantic scene only fuelled the fire. Once clarified that it was indeed Abhirami, who plays Kamal Haasan’s wife in the film, reactions poured in. While some netizens dismissed the backlash, calling it unwarranted obsession over a small scene, others condemned the age difference, nearly 30 years, as problematic and reflective of a broader cinematic trend.
“This is the problem with us… always picking out the kiss scenes instead of discussing the plot or performances,” wrote one user. In contrast, another commented, “Doing such scenes at his age with heroines who are half his age is not at all normal. Don’t normalize these things.” Still, there were others who took a more liberal stance, arguing that audiences should focus on the characters, not the actors' real-life identities, adding that the scene was aesthetically shot and narratively justified.
Interestingly, the debate has struck a deeper nerve among Telugu-speaking communities online, many of whom were quick to recall how their industry was previously slammed—often by Tamil users—for similar age-disparate casting. Actors like Chiranjeevi and Ravi Teja have been targets of such criticism. For some, the lack of equivalent outrage this time reeks of selective morality and regional bias.
Salman Khan Faced It Too
The issue isn’t new, nor is it limited to South Indian cinema. A similar question was recently posed to Bollywood star Salman Khan at a press event for Sikandar, where he was asked about being cast opposite Rashmika Mandanna. Salman had defended the pairing, implying that as long as the story demands it and it's performed convincingly, age shouldn’t be a roadblock in cinematic storytelling.
Kamal Haasan and the Thug Life team, however, have yet to address the controversy. Whether they respond remains to be seen, but the debate has already added another layer of complexity to the film’s build-up.
A Grand Saga of Power and Paradox
Beyond the uproar, Thug Life remains one of 2025’s most awaited films, not least because of its gripping storyline and powerhouse team. Kamal Haasan plays Rangaraya Sakthivel Naickar, a feared gangster who reemerges from presumed death to find himself at odds with his own kin. Actor Silambarasan TR appears as his protégé-turned-power player, creating a complex father-son-like bond that anchors the film’s emotional core. Kamal’s gritty voiceover opens the trailer, foreshadowing a tale of fractured loyalties and dangerous ambition.
The trailer also teases the slow unraveling of trust between the two leads, suggesting a collision course set against a backdrop of crime, betrayal, and legacy. With sweeping visuals and a thunderous score by A.R. Rahman, the film straddles generational conflict and personal reinvention with Mani Ratnam’s signature gravitas.
A Legacy in the Making
Co-written by Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam, Thug Life boasts an ensemble cast including Trisha, Sanya Malhotra, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, and Pankaj Tripathi. The film is produced by Raaj Kamal Films International, Madras Talkies, and Red Giant Movies—three production giants that underscore the film’s cinematic ambition.
Kamal Haasan took to social media to announce the trailer’s release and drum up excitement for the upcoming audio launch on May 24. Early reactions suggest the trailer has struck a chord, especially among fans who have longed to see Haasan and Ratnam together again.
With Thug Life, the duo is not only rewriting the gangster genre but also—unintentionally or not—reigniting questions that challenge how Indian cinema views age, intimacy, and the evolving lens of audience acceptance. Whether the debate will shape future casting decisions or remain a fleeting online storm is anyone’s guess. But one thing is certain— Thug Life has made its impact felt, and the story has only just begun.
Sparks Fly in a Second
Unveiled at a grand launch event in Chennai, Thug Life’s trailer rolled out in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi, promising a pan-India spectacle when it hits theatres on June 5, 2025. The film marks the return of Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam nearly four decades after their landmark collaboration in Nayakan, a film often regarded as a cornerstone in Indian cinematic history. Expectations were soaring—and for the most part, met. But a fleeting moment on screen stirred up strong feelings beyond just cinematic appreciation.
The scene that set the internet ablaze shows Abhirami resting her head on Kamal Haasan’s chest, followed by an intimate kiss. In another shot, the veteran actor suavely tells Trisha, “Madam, I’m your only Adam.” What was intended as narrative boldness has instead landed in the centre of a swirling social media debate—Is Indian cinema still holding double standards when it comes to age and romance?
Age, Intimacy, and Internet Outrage
The initial confusion among viewers about whether it was Trisha or Abhirami in the romantic scene only fuelled the fire. Once clarified that it was indeed Abhirami, who plays Kamal Haasan’s wife in the film, reactions poured in. While some netizens dismissed the backlash, calling it unwarranted obsession over a small scene, others condemned the age difference, nearly 30 years, as problematic and reflective of a broader cinematic trend.
“This is the problem with us… always picking out the kiss scenes instead of discussing the plot or performances,” wrote one user. In contrast, another commented, “Doing such scenes at his age with heroines who are half his age is not at all normal. Don’t normalize these things.” Still, there were others who took a more liberal stance, arguing that audiences should focus on the characters, not the actors' real-life identities, adding that the scene was aesthetically shot and narratively justified.
42-year-old Trisha and 70-year-old Kamal Hasan, an age gap of 28 years, from the upcoming Tamil film "Thug Life". https://t.co/R6to4x6fFK pic.twitter.com/oIot7ubFu0
— Nevermind (@meeru_ento18) May 17, 2025
Interestingly, the debate has struck a deeper nerve among Telugu-speaking communities online, many of whom were quick to recall how their industry was previously slammed—often by Tamil users—for similar age-disparate casting. Actors like Chiranjeevi and Ravi Teja have been targets of such criticism. For some, the lack of equivalent outrage this time reeks of selective morality and regional bias.
Salman Khan Faced It Too
The issue isn’t new, nor is it limited to South Indian cinema. A similar question was recently posed to Bollywood star Salman Khan at a press event for Sikandar, where he was asked about being cast opposite Rashmika Mandanna. Salman had defended the pairing, implying that as long as the story demands it and it's performed convincingly, age shouldn’t be a roadblock in cinematic storytelling.
Kamal Haasan and the Thug Life team, however, have yet to address the controversy. Whether they respond remains to be seen, but the debate has already added another layer of complexity to the film’s build-up.
#WATCH | Mumbai: On the 31-year age gap between him and upcoming film 'Sikandar' co-star Rashmika Mandanna, actor Salman Khan says, "They say there is a 31-year difference between the heroine and me. If the heroine and her father don't have any problem, then why do you have a… pic.twitter.com/qNBIFLNmrH
— ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2025
A Grand Saga of Power and Paradox
Beyond the uproar, Thug Life remains one of 2025’s most awaited films, not least because of its gripping storyline and powerhouse team. Kamal Haasan plays Rangaraya Sakthivel Naickar, a feared gangster who reemerges from presumed death to find himself at odds with his own kin. Actor Silambarasan TR appears as his protégé-turned-power player, creating a complex father-son-like bond that anchors the film’s emotional core. Kamal’s gritty voiceover opens the trailer, foreshadowing a tale of fractured loyalties and dangerous ambition.
The trailer also teases the slow unraveling of trust between the two leads, suggesting a collision course set against a backdrop of crime, betrayal, and legacy. With sweeping visuals and a thunderous score by A.R. Rahman, the film straddles generational conflict and personal reinvention with Mani Ratnam’s signature gravitas.
When everyone was expecting STR - Trisha romance, thalaivan came out of syllabus 😂 #Thuglife pic.twitter.com/3J4BwOzmkP
— Haroon (@__harry19) May 17, 2025
A Legacy in the Making
Co-written by Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam, Thug Life boasts an ensemble cast including Trisha, Sanya Malhotra, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, and Pankaj Tripathi. The film is produced by Raaj Kamal Films International, Madras Talkies, and Red Giant Movies—three production giants that underscore the film’s cinematic ambition.
Kamal Haasan took to social media to announce the trailer’s release and drum up excitement for the upcoming audio launch on May 24. Early reactions suggest the trailer has struck a chord, especially among fans who have longed to see Haasan and Ratnam together again.
#ThuglifeTrailer Out Now
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) May 17, 2025
WATCH NOW - https://t.co/ELllM2r0Yr #Thugfluencers#ThuglifeAudioLaunch from May 24#Thuglife#ThuglifeFromJune5 #KamalHaasan #SilambarasanTR #IMAX
A #ManiRatnam Film
An @arrahman Musical@ikamalhaasan @SilambarasanTR_ #Mahendran @bagapath… pic.twitter.com/nXSzK6WyFJ
With Thug Life, the duo is not only rewriting the gangster genre but also—unintentionally or not—reigniting questions that challenge how Indian cinema views age, intimacy, and the evolving lens of audience acceptance. Whether the debate will shape future casting decisions or remain a fleeting online storm is anyone’s guess. But one thing is certain— Thug Life has made its impact felt, and the story has only just begun.
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