Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- stylish
- irreverent
- politically charged
- action movie night
- Tamil cinema marathon
What critics said
Critics found the film stylish and energetic in places, especially praising Dhanush and its technical craft, but broadly viewed its competing gangster and political ambitions as overstuffed and uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Suruli's criminal rise is intertwined with immigrant communities, Eelam Tamil identity, and resistance to xenophobia.
The nomadic gangster seeks a place to call home while navigating competing loyalties in a foreign criminal world.
Dhanush's ultra-cool Suruli and James Cosmo's theatrical Peter Sprott anchor the film's massy gangster style.
The film juxtaposes the struggle of immigrants and refugees with stylish action, music, and colorful gangster set pieces.
Films like Jagame Thandhiram, and why
Petta
stylish gangster action, charismatic antihero, and themes of criminal power and belonging
Aaranya Kaandam
Tamil gangster spectacle blending irreverent attitude, violence, and underworld rivalries
The Traitor
immigrant identity, xenophobia, and politically charged crime drama with heightened style
Gangs of Wasseypur
larger-than-life criminal protagonist confronting organized violence and social exclusion
Movie Details
- Director
- Karthik Subbaraj
- Release Date
- 2021-06-18
- Runtime
- 158 min
- Rating
- 5.5 / 10 (56)
Cast
- Dhanush
- James Cosmo
- Joju George
- Kalaiyarasan
- Aishwarya Lekshmi
- Sharath Ravi
- Deepak Paramesh
- Sanchana Natarajan
- Vadivukarasi
- Muthukumar
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Jagame Thandhiram about?
- A flamboyant Tamil gangster is pulled into a transnational underworld where criminal ambition collides with immigrant solidarity and xenophobic violence.
- What is Jagame Thandhiram like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Jagame Thandhiram as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Jagame Thandhiram violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Jagame Thandhiram as brutal.
- What did critics think of Jagame Thandhiram?
- Critics found the film stylish and energetic in places, especially praising Dhanush and its technical craft, but broadly viewed its competing gangster and political ambitions as overstuffed and uneven.
- Which films are like Jagame Thandhiram?
- Films with a similar feel include Petta, Aaranya Kaandam, The Traitor, and Gangs of Wasseypur.
- How long is Jagame Thandhiram?
- Jagame Thandhiram runs 158 minutes.
- Where can I watch Jagame Thandhiram?
- In United States, Jagame Thandhiram streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
