Much-awaited reunion of Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam, named Thug Life, released on June 5, 2025. Although hopes were high, the first-day performance of the movie left people with a conflicting impression, as seen both in reviews and at the box office.
Stunning Visuals, Underwhelming Story
Thug Life has been lauded for its lavish visuals and smooth action choreography characteristics of Mani Ratnam’s direction. Yet critics and fans are lamenting the disappointing story and screenplay, which appear to fail. Even with powerful performances by Kamal Haasan, Trisha, and Silambarasan TR, the story cannot engage emotionally with audiences.
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Day 1 Collections Dominated by Tamil Nadu
On the day of its release, the film earned about ₹18 crore from India, with Tamil Nadu adding a whopping ₹14 crore due to strong footfalls in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Chengalpet. North India and the Telugu states trailed behind, with only ₹3 crore coming in together, while Kerala chipped in with approximately ₹1 crore.
A significant loss came from Karnataka, where the movie could not be released because it angered people over Kamal Haasan’s remarks on the Kannada language. This probably cost the movie an estimated ₹2–3 crore at the box office.
Also Read: Thug Life Movie Review : A stylish film starring Kamal Haasan but with a weak story
Falling Short of Expectations
Thug Life’s first-day numbers are much lower compared to Kamal Haasan’s current blockbusters—Vikram (₹33 crore) and Indian 2 (₹30 crore). This disappointing beginning may adversely affect its long-term box office potential, even as all the excitement is built around the association of Mani with Kamal.
Although the film is said to have earned back its budget from non-theatrical sources, it would have to earn ₹250 crore worldwide to be said to be a hit. Looking at the poor opening and mixed reception, the future does not look bright.
