My dream is for our cinema to rival Hollywood and Chinese cinema – Kamal Haasan

Superstar Kamal Haasan, who last mesmerized audiences with his powerful performance in the 2022 action film Vikram, is once again making headlines with his upcoming film Thug Life. This marks his 234th film, and what makes it even more special is his reunion with renowned director Mani Ratnam after over three decades.

Ahead of the release, Kamal Haasan shared insights in an interview where he talked about the film’s title, critics, and reuniting with Mani Ratnam. Here’s what the superstar had to say:

Your film is titled Thug Life. In your view, what does the word "thug" signify, and how does this title relate to the story or message of the film?

Nowadays, people associate “thug” with someone witty or sharp, forgetting its true meaning. Our film Thug Life is about urban criminals who are, in essence, thugs—but ones who display their cunningness. The story dives into the depth of such characters. We didn’t aim to outdo past films, but we made sure the audience gets something new. I believe, over these 36 years, we’ve helped push cinema forward.

What specific aspects did you focus on while preparing for this film, and how did that help on set? Also, what was your experience like working with the legendary Mani Ratnam again?

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Our team had incredible talent—cinematographers, art directors, makeup artists, and focus pullers—who elevated my performance. Mani and I rehearse extensively before shooting to save time on set. For example, we had a scene with Trisha in a car with children that was to be shot in Paris. We rehearsed it in Chennai. That way, we knew exactly what to do on set. The cameras were fixed, the full unit wasn’t even present, but thanks to the rehearsals, we executed the scene perfectly. This only happens when a team works in sync.

You've said that cinema is a language that transcends borders. How is that philosophy reflected in your films?

Cinema is like music—it has no language. Just as George Harrison understood Ravi Shankar, cinema too can speak to everyone. It shouldn’t be confined to small boundaries. With Thug Life, we chose a story that could connect with a global audience. My dream is for our cinema to compete with Hollywood and Chinese cinema. I want international artists to come to Delhi and praise our work.

You have fans around the world, but from your perspective, who has been your toughest critic? How has their feedback impacted your work?

My harshest critic was my mother, then my sister. But my biggest fan is me. I watch each of my films at least 50 times and enjoy them. If the audience likes my work, they’ll praise it. If the story is weak, even a great actor can’t save it. That’s not just my fault. I accept my flaws and try to do better in the next film.

As an experienced actor, how do you view the future of Indian cinema? Do you think we’ve been slow to adopt new technology, and where do we stand now?

It’s true—this industry often only chases box office numbers, not audience satisfaction. We should give people what they truly want. Truffaut and Godard changed French cinema because they understood audience needs. I want the new generation to break the old molds of filmmaking. My dream is to surpass Hollywood and Chinese cinema. For that, we must adopt new technologies and think 50 years ahead, not stay 10 years behind.

When you look back at your journey, which achievements are you most proud of? Is there a character or film you’d like to revisit?

No, I’m done with my old films. Many of the directors who made those classics are no longer around, so recreating them as they were is impossible. If we ever remake those stories, it must be with a fresh perspective. The audience is changing—we must change with them. Clinging to past successes is not the way forward.

What message would you like to give the audience for Thug Life?

Thug Life releases on 5th June, and I request my fans to go watch it and bring their friends too. We’ve worked very hard, and we are extremely excited.

Thug Life, starring Kamal Haasan, also features a stellar ensemble including Silambarasan TR, Trisha, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Ali Fazal, Sanya Malhotra, Joju George, and Nassar. The film is set to release in theatres on 5th June 2025.

 BY:- Priyanka Yadav

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