Thugs review: An engaging prison-break drama with impressive performances

In her latest film Thugs, director Brinda tells a grim, intense story about a bunch of prisoners looking to break out of a heavily-guarded prison.

The story is set in Nagercoil in south Tamil Nadu where a young boy Sethu (Hridhu Haroon) gets sentenced to life imprisonment for trying to loot ₹1.75 crore from his boss Annachi (PL Thenappan).

Annachi is no angel and Sethu, who works as Annachi’s accountant, has his reasons for indulging in the crime.

One part of the story deals with the circumstances that made Sethu a convict, while another part deals with how Sethu, along with a group of other inmates inside the prison, plans to escape from the high-security facility.

What works and what doesn’t?

To Brinda’s credit, certain parts of Thugs are exceptionally well-made. However, there are those other parts that drag the intensity down and make it a monotonous, illogical and dull affair.

The portions where actors Bobby Simha and Munishkanth appear are the highlights.

Further, the film has an exceptional climax where the convicts are shown backing one another.

On the technical front, Sam CS delivers a brilliant background score to make Thugs stand out.

His music, along with Priyesh Gurusamy’s spectacular visuals, play a big part in raising the stature of Brindha’s film.

Coming to lapses, Thugs has quite a few of them and they are pretty evident.

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Take, for instance, the sequence where the convicts are shown digging a tunnel. It does not require a genius to know that the biggest challenge facing those looking to dig a tunnel in a prison is disposing of the debris!

Films in the same genre made until now have shown how prisoners find ingenious ways to get rid of the soil they displace. However, the director makes no effort to address this crucial issue!

Also, the tunnel, created in a short span, seems to have enough space for more than one individual to comfortably crawl through. There is so much space that there is even a fight sequence inside the tunnel!

Charming performances

Hridhu Haroon, who makes his debut as an actor, does a reasonably good job as Sethu. He scores handsomely in fights and romantic sequences.

But he looks too relaxed and settled in sequences that demand a bit of anxiety and restlessness to be showcased. Also, the actor can dance like a dream.

Sadly though, his dance number is screened as the end credits song.

Also Read: Director Veerabhadram Chowdary interview

Anaswara Rajan, who plays a speech-impaired person, makes quite an impact as the girl who wins the heart of Sethu. Blessed with expressive eyes, she exudes charm and grace all through the movie, making her a delight to watch.

National Award winner Bobby Simha delivers a commanding performance as Durai, a convict serving a life term with dignity and conscience.

Munishkanth, who plays convict Marudhu, does a neat job as well. His jokes provide the only relief in what otherwise is a grim tale.

RK Suresh impresses as Arockia Doss, the ruthless cop heading the prison facility. So does PL Thenappan who plays Annachi.

Final take

To sum up, Thugs may not be a sensational masterpiece but certainly does have its moments and is worth a watch!

Here’s a small glimpse from Thugs – A Prison Break Action Thriller!
Watch Here – https://t.co/1Xof4CzSTo

A @BrindhaGopal1 Master Film 📽️
A @SamCSmusic Musical🎵@hridhuharoon @actorsimha @jiostudios @SonyMusicSouth @studio9_suresh#ThugsFromToday#KumariMavattathinThugs pic.twitter.com/sOSO2ss3g7

— Brindha Gopal (@BrindhaGopal1) February 24, 2023

(Views expressed are personal.)