June 09, 2025: Mani Ratnam’s much-anticipated film Thug Life, marking his reunion with Kamal Haasan after 38 years since Nayakan, has garnered ₹73 crore globally in just four days, according to Sacnilk.com. Despite the excitement surrounding the film’s release on Thursday, audience reactions have been mixed.
In India, the film has earned ₹36.90 crore net and ₹43 crore gross in three days. The overseas collection stands at ₹30 crore, pushing the worldwide total to ₹73 crore. Thug Life saw a strong opening day with ₹15.5 crore but experienced a sharp dip on day two, collecting ₹7.15 crore. While its performance is notable, it still lags behind Kamal Haasan’s last release Indian 2, which raked in ₹113.55 crore globally within the first four days.
Also read: Khushi Kapoor, Vedang Raina’s Hand-Holding Moment at Sonam’s Bash Goes Viral! Watch
Directed by Mani Ratnam, Thug Life stars Kamal Haasan as a feared mafia kingpin seeking revenge after betrayal. The ensemble cast includes Silambarasan TR, Trisha Krishnan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Abhirami, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, and Rohit Saraf. Music is composed by AR Rahman, with cinematography by Ravi K Chandran and editing by A Sreekar Prasad.
The film stirred controversy ahead of its release when Kamal Haasan stated that the “Kannada language was born out of Tamil” during a promotional event. This comment led to backlash in Karnataka, where the film’s release was delayed. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) demanded an apology, citing ongoing discussions in the Karnataka High Court. Kamal later clarified that his statement was misunderstood and taken out of context.
Despite the political storm and fluctuating box office numbers, Thug Life remains a significant cinematic event, both for its iconic collaborations and its bold narrative.