Thug Life (2025 film)

In 2016, Manickam’s daughter, Shanthi, dies by suicide after being cheated by Sadanand’s nephew, Ranvijay Yadav. In retaliation, Amaran captures Ranvijay, who Sakthivel kills. As a result, Sakthivel is imprisoned, leaving Amaran in charge of the empire. Later, Manickam and Amaran meet Sadanand, who proposes a peace deal again: he will enter politics, and Amaran can take over his business territories. Though initially displeased, Sakthivel eventually accepts the arrangement and is released from prison. Upon his return, he approves of his daughter Mangai’s relationship with Naaga, son of his henchman Sivaguru, and arranges their wedding. During the ceremony, he observes the shifting dynamics of his empire, with everyone now treating Amaran as the leader, concerning him as he thinks Amaran might overthrow him.

In 2016, Manickam’s daughter, Shanthi, dies by suicide after being cheated by Sadanand’s nephew, Ranvijay Yadav. In retaliation, Amaran captures Ranvijay, who Sakthivel kills. As a result, Sakthivel is imprisoned, leaving Amaran in charge of the empire. Later, Manickam and Amaran meet Sadanand, who proposes a peace deal again: he will enter politics, and Amaran can take over his business territories. Though initially displeased, Sakthivel eventually accepts the arrangement and is released from prison. Upon his return, he approves of his daughter Mangai’s relationship with Naaga, son of his henchman Sivaguru, and arranges their wedding. During the ceremony, he observes the shifting dynamics of his empire, with everyone now treating Amaran as the leader, concerning him as he thinks Amaran might overthrow him.

While traveling with his gang, Sakthivel narrowly survives an assassination attempt by henchmen of Deepak, Ranvijay's older brother, who swears to avenge his brother's death by finishing Sakthivel, despite Sadanand's reluctance due to their deal. After the incident, Sakthivel begins to suspect Amaran and eventually confronts him, deeply unsettling Amaran. Meanwhile, Manickam and others in the gang — Anburaj, Kahlua, and Pathrose — become wary of Sakthivel's constant suspicions of them and his interference in the gang's operations, and decide to overthrow him. They manipulate Amaran by falsely claiming that Sakthivel was responsible for his father's death during the 1994 shootout, convincing him to join their plot. Seeking peace, Sakthivel travels to [[Hilsa, Nepal|Hilsa]], [[Nepal]], (on the way to Mount Kailasha) with them, unaware that another assassination attempt awaits him. Amaran joins the conspirators and throws Sakthivel off a cliff, believing he has killed him. Upon returning, the gang declares Amaran as the new Sakthivel. However, it is revealed that Sakthivel has survived the fall, and heads towards a nearby monastery, narrowly escaping an avalanche.

While traveling with his gang, Sakthivel narrowly survives an assassination attempt by henchmen of Deepak, Ranvijay's older brother, who swears to avenge his brother's death by finishing Sakthivel, despite Sadanand's reluctance due to their deal. After the incident, Sakthivel begins to suspect Amaran and eventually confronts him, deeply unsettling Amaran. Meanwhile, Manickam and others in the gang — Anburaj, Kahlua, and Pathrose — become wary of Sakthivel's constant suspicions of them and his interference in the gang's operations, and decide to overthrow him. They manipulate Amaran by falsely claiming that Sakthivel was responsible for his father's death during the 1994 shootout, convincing him to join their plot. Seeking peace, Sakthivel travels to [[Hilsa, Nepal|Hilsa]], [[Nepal]] (on the way to [[Mount Kailash]]) with them, unaware that another assassination attempt awaits him. Amaran joins the conspirators and throws Sakthivel off a cliff, believing he has killed him. Upon returning, the gang declares Amaran as the new Sakthivel. However, it is revealed that Sakthivel has survived the fall, and heads towards a nearby monastery, narrowly escaping an avalanche.

Two years later, Sakthivel returns to Delhi, cold, calculated, and vengeful, having learnt [[martial arts]] from Nepali monks to aid in his quest. He learns that his wife, Jeeva, has suffered traumatic memory loss due to the hysteria of learning about his supposed death and the subsequent manhandling by Manickam. Sakthivel then travels to [[Tiruchendur]], where Jeeva and Mangai now live, and gets distraught upon seeing his wife in a pitiable condition — to the point that she is unable to remember who he is — prompting him to avenge his betrayers. He then proceeds to eliminate them one by one: he kills Anburaj by pushing his head against a helicopter's rotors, Manickam by shooting him and pushing him off a bridge, and Pathrose by pushing him in front of a running train. Only Amaran and Kahlua remain; Kahlua surrenders to Sakthivel and acts as his spy to track Amaran. However, Amaran soon discovers this and kills him. Sakthivel later contacts Indrani, his mistress, who is now with Amaran in a one-sided relationship. However, Deepak kills her in a controlled bomb blast made for Amaran, devastating both Sakthivel and Amaran. Whilst trying to save her, Sakthivel is injured when a ceiling collapses on him. He is rescued by Inspector Jai Royappa and taken to his house.

Two years later, Sakthivel returns to Delhi, cold, calculated, and vengeful, having learnt martial arts from Nepali monks to aid in his quest. He learns that his wife, Jeeva, has suffered traumatic memory loss due to the hysteria of learning about his supposed death and the subsequent manhandling by Manickam. Sakthivel then travels to [[Tiruchendur]], where Jeeva and Mangai now live, and gets distraught upon seeing his wife in a pitiable condition — to the point that she is unable to remember who he is — prompting him to avenge his betrayers. He then proceeds to eliminate them one by one: he kills Anburaj by pushing his head against a helicopter's rotors, Manickam by shooting him and pushing him off a bridge, and Pathrose by pushing him in front of a running train. Only Amaran and Kahlua remain; Kahlua surrenders to Sakthivel and acts as his spy to track Amaran. However, Amaran soon discovers this and kills him. Sakthivel later contacts Indrani, his mistress, who is now with Amaran in a one-sided relationship. However, Deepak kills her in a controlled bomb blast made for Amaran, devastating both Sakthivel and Amaran. Whilst trying to save her, Sakthivel is injured when a ceiling collapses on him. He is rescued by Inspector Jai Royappa and taken to his house.

During his recovery, Sakthivel is treated by Dr. Anna, who is revealed to be Amaran’s long-lost sister, Chandra — the one separated during the 1994 shootout. Sakthivel summons Amaran to the location of the original shootout. There, the two engage in a one-on-one fight. As the battle ends, Sakthivel convinces Amaran that he was not responsible for his father's death, making Amaran realize his mistake, while Chandra arrives at the scene with Jai after having learnt of her long-lost brother's whereabouts from Sakthivel. Just when Amaran and Chandra are about to reunite as siblings, Deepak intervenes and fires a shot at Amaran. Sakthivel shields him, but the bullet fatally wounds him. Sakthivel kills Deepak and tries to revive Amaran, but he dies from his injuries, leaving both Sakthivel and Chandra devastated. Sakthivel later reflects on how death has haunted him throughout his life — taking his mother during childbirth, his elder brother through betrayal, and now Amaran, who was like a son to him.

During his recovery, Sakthivel is treated by Dr. Anna, who is revealed to be Amaran’s long-lost sister, Chandra — the one separated during the 1994 shootout. Sakthivel summons Amaran to the location of the original shootout. There, the two engage in a one-on-one fight. As the battle ends, Sakthivel convinces Amaran that he was not responsible for his father's death, making Amaran realize his mistake, while Chandra arrives at the scene with Jai after having learnt of her long-lost brother's whereabouts from Sakthivel. Just when Amaran and Chandra are about to reunite as siblings, Deepak intervenes and fires a shot at Amaran. Sakthivel shields him, but the bullet fatally wounds Amaran. Sakthivel kills Deepak and tries to revive Amaran, but he dies from his injuries, leaving both Sakthivel and Chandra devastated. Sakthivel later reflects on how death has haunted him throughout his life — taking his mother during childbirth, his elder brother through betrayal, and now Amaran, who was like a son to him.

Years later, Sakthivel, now a farmer, and having given up his gangster life, lives with Jeeva, Mangai, and others peacefully in a village with their young grandson, also named Sakthivel. The film ends with Jeeva fondly calling her grandson "Dei Sakthivel", the same affectionate term she once used for the elder Sakthivel.

Years later, Sakthivel, now a farmer, and having given up his gangster life, lives with Jeeva (who still does not recognise him), Mangai, and others peacefully in a village with their young grandson, also named Sakthivel. The film ends with Jeeva fondly calling her grandson "Dei Sakthivel" (Hey Sakthivel), the same affectionate term she once used for the elder Sakthivel.

== Cast ==

== Cast ==