Shruti Haasan’s Emotional Tribute in ‘Thug Life’ Wins Hearts: Sings for Kamal in A.R. Rahman’s Hit Soundtrack

“Thug Life,” a film from the Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam collaboration, was released in theaters on June 5th, featuring music by A.R. Rahman. The film’s soundtrack has deeply resonated with audiences, with songs like “Muthu Mazhai,” “Vinveli Nayaga,” and “Anju Vannap Poove” becoming fan favorites.

“Vinveli Nayaga” was sung by Shruti Haasan, who impressed everyone, including her father Kamal Haasan, by performing the song live during the audio launch. Speaking about the experience in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Shruti expressed how meaningful the song was to her and how overwhelming the audience response has been.

“I’ve been singing for a long time and people have enjoyed my work, but the reception to this song has been extraordinary,” she said. “Even those who usually don’t like me reached out to comment on this track. It was a very emotional moment for me as a daughter to sing for my father.”

She revealed that though A.R. Rahman initially asked her to sing the song, she felt it was beyond her vocal range and declined. Later, after feeling regret upon seeing the teaser, she was offered another chance and joyfully recorded it. While the final version was recorded remotely—with Rahman in Chennai and Shruti in Mumbai—the effort involved multiple collaborations and resulted in a heartfelt track.

“Working with Rahman sir feels like working with a family member,” Shruti mentioned, acknowledging the team effort behind creating such an emotional song.