India, June 5 -- Fresh from the audio launch controversy that sparked outrage across Karnataka, Thug Life, the much-anticipated gangster drama directed by Mani Ratnam, has finally landed in cinemas. Co-written by Kamal Haasan himself, the film marks a massive collaboration between two titans of Tamil cinema - but early reactions suggest that the cinematic reunion hasn't quite lived up to its towering expectations.

Set against a gritty backdrop, Thug Life tells the tale of mafia kingpin Sakthivel (Kamal Haasan) and his brother Manickam, who rescue a young boy named Amaran during a police shootout. As the boy grows into a man under their tutelage, the family is shattered by an attempted assassination, leading Sakthivel on a violent quest f...