KH234 Titled Thug Life: Kamal Haasan And Mani Ratnam Reunite For A 'Yakuza' Film!

KH234 Title Announcement: Audiences have longed for the iconic director-actor pairing of Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan, and their wish is about to come true after a 36-year hiatus.

The duo's last collaboration was the legendary film 'Nayakan' in 1987, leaving an indelible mark on Indian cinema. Last year, the exciting announcement of their reunion sent shockwaves through the industry, and now it's official - the production of their new project has commenced.

KH234 Titled 'Thug Life'

Kamal Haasan, who was recently seen as the Vigilante Senapathy in the "Indian 2" teaser released on November 3, has now taken on another intense role in Mani Ratnam's "KH234," titled 'Thug Life.'

The title announcement video for 'Thug Life' features Kamal Haasan sporting long hair and rugged attire, further intensifying the intrigue surrounding the film. It's worth noting that tomorrow is Kamal Haasan's 69th birthday.

In the video, Kamal introduces himself, saying, "I am Rengaraya Sakthivel Nayakan, from Kayalpattu." As he addresses the camera, a menacing gang approaches rapidly, armed with lethal weapons. He goes on to express, "From the moment I was born, they predetermined my destiny as a criminal... a 'gonda'... Yakuza. In Japanese, 'Yakuza' means gangster." Following these words, Kamal removes his hood, unveiling a distinctive and rugged martial arts costume.

The ensuing scenes feature well choreographed action sequences executed by the AnbAriv duo and captured by the acclaimed cinematographer Ravi K. Chandran.

Is 'Thug Life' A Sequel or Prequel to 'Nayakan'?

Kamal Haasan's character at the end of the video once again says his name as 'Rengaraya Sakthivel Nayakan' and asks the audience to keep that name in mind. Now, social media is discussing the relevance of this name, and what comes to their mind when hearing the name is the name of Kamal Haasan's character in the movie "Nayakan": Sakthivel "Velu" Naicker/Nayakan. Now, netizens are doubting whether "Thug Life" will be a sequel or prequel to "Nayakan."

An extraordinary journey begins!
Presenting the title announcement video of #KH234 ✨

▶️https://t.co/UQQhFzKjlP @ikamalhaasan in #ThugLife
A #ManiRatnam film
An @arrahman musical@actor_jayamravi @trishtrashers @dulQuer @abhiramiact #Nasser @nasser_kameela #Mahendran…

— Madras Talkies (@MadrasTalkies_) November 6, 2023

Meanwhile, the production team also unveiled the cast of "Thug Life," which includes Dulquer Salmaan, Trisha, and Jayam Ravi in significant roles. AR Rahman has created the film's musical score, and Sreekar Prasad will handle the editing.

The production is a joint effort by Kamal Haasan, Mani Ratnam, G Mahendran, and Siva Anand, under the esteemed banners of Raj Kamal Films International and Madras Talkies. Additionally, Red Giant Movies has joined hands as production partners for this cinematic spectacle.

Simultaneously, Kamal Haasan has several other exciting projects on the horizon. These include Prabhas' much-anticipated pan-Indian film 'Kalki 2898 AD,' directed by Nag Ashwin; H Vinoth's film following 'Thunivu,' titled 'KH233'; and Shankar's highly awaited 'Indian 2.'