Why CCV worked and Thug Life failed?

The similarities between Mani Ratnam's Chekha Chivantha Vaanam and his recent film, Thug Life has tickled the film buffs, as many have been drawing comparisons between both the films.

Arun Vijay, STR and Aravind Swamy

AR Rahman, having worked on both the films, elevated CCV with his background score unflinchingly till the end. Bhoomi Bhoomi and Sevanthu Pochu Nenju particularly stand out as the raw energy of the film, amped by STR, Arun Vijay and Aravindh Samy's screen presence, reaches its crescendo in multiple instances when the brothers lock horns.

The background scrore of Thug Life, in comparison, was a soft breeze on a humid night. It made little to no difference in elevating the characters nor the plot lines. Many criticized the jazz music that accompanies STR's character reveal in Thug Life.

Jothika and Aravind Samy

Thug Life and Chekka Chivantha Vaanam revolve around the drama of choices, dark shades of human nature, vile emotions and charming misogyny.

Aravindsamy and Kamal Hassan are seen having affairs in CCV and Thug Life, while doting on their wives on the side. This is a treacherous road to take with an actor like Kamal Hassan, whereas the audience accepted Aravind Samy playing a grey character. He anchored the role to its pulp as an uneducated thug with a side chick. Unlike Trisha, Aditi Rao Hydari is a modern woman in a friends-with-benefits relationship with no strings attached. Whereas, Kamal Hassan and Trisha struggled to establish themselves as Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers.

Jothika and Aditi Rao Hydari's face-off, is a demonstration of Jothika's pent-up frustration and Aditi rao's youthful nonchalance. The love triangle left no dirty character crumbs as the characters seemed believable. However, the audience watching Thug Life were in crosswords, unwilling to root for Rangaraya Sakthivel, a man who slips out in the dark while preaching righteousness in broad daylight.

Aditi Rao Hydari in CCV

The complex web of relationships in Chekka Chivantha Vaanam including the couple - Aravindsamy and Jothika, the brothers - Simbu, Aravindsamy and Arun Vijay and the friendship between Vijay Sethupathi and Aravind Samy reflected dark emotions with an unapologetic honesty. When Simbu is informed of the attack on his father in CCV, he asks na varanuma? The motives and the intentions of the characters unfurled slowly but steadily with every scene.

The action sequences of Chekka Chivantha Vaanam were punctuated with quiet turbulence, emotional upheavals and plot twists that piqued the curiosity of the audience. The biggest multistarrer pre-Ponniyin Selvan, managed to justify the presence of every artist. They played King, Queen, Bishop, Rook and Knight.

STR and Kamal Hassan in Thug Life

Kamal Hassan reigned supreme in Thug Life which made STR, Trisha, Abhirami, Ashok Selvan and Nasser play pawns with limited character depth and screen time. The audience remained mellow with occasional exuberance for exceptional dialogues in the first half.

Chekka Chivantha Vaanam a.k.a CCV saw the three brothers bond, fall apart and wage wars over the course of the film. Aravindsamy's deceptive insecurities, Arun Vijay's quiet confidence and STR's casual indifference made the film engaging as the audience were curious to see the characters' next move.

In comparison, Thug Life's storyline post interval is a dish too familiar for taste buds. There was no arc, no twists. The characters grew numb and stale near the end.

STR, Aravindsamy and Arun Vijay from CCV

Creating characters with complex wants and dropping them in a drama whirlwind is a skill mastered by the ace director, Mani Ratnam. The man who has delivered films that stood the test of time like Naayagan and Mouna Raagam, is forced to go back to his drawing board with Thug Life.

For reasons unknown, Chekka Chivantha Vaanam has made a comepack on Hotstar's Top 10 Tamil Watchlist.