Veteran filmmaker Mani Ratnam has found himself at the center of online chatter after the second single from his upcoming film Thug Life was announced as ‘Sugar Baby’. Featuring actress Trisha Krishnan, the announcement dropped Monday, accompanied by a poster of her draped in a white saree, showered with money — a look that added fuel to the online confusion.
The music, composed by A.R. Rahman, is set to release on May 21, followed by the film’s audio launch on May 24, as confirmed by producers Raaj Kamal Films International.
But the title ‘Sugar Baby’ — a term often associated with financially dependent romantic dynamics — raised eyebrows among fans and netizens, who found it jarring for a Mani Ratnam film. Comments on social media ranged from playful memes to outright criticism, with users posting reactions like, “Are you okay Mani?”, and “Is this really Mani’s film?”
Some questioned whether the song was an “item number,” while others joked that the veteran director was trying to “fit in with the kids.” The first single’s title, Jingucha, was also mocked, with many doubting the tone and direction of the film based on the music choices.
Despite the backlash, the film boasts a star-studded cast including Kamal Haasan, Silambarasan TR, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Sanya Malhotra, Joju George, Pankaj Tripathi, and more. Thug Life is set for a June 5 theatrical release.
Whether this new Gen Z-influenced style will resonate with audiences or prove divisive remains to be seen. But one thing is certain — Thug Life has everyone talking.
