Three years after the blockbuster Vikram, Kamal Haasan returns with Thug Life. In between, he featured in Indian 2, which unfortunately turned out to be a washout. However, the film’s failure didn’t dent Kamal Haasan’s image—most of the criticism was directed at Shankar.
Thug Life marks a landmark reunion: Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam collaborating for the first time since the iconic Nayakan (1987). Naturally, expectations are high among fans and industry watchers.
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The film is set for release on June 5, 2025. In Tamil Nadu, pre-release bookings have reached approximately 5–6 crore—a decent number, but not in the league of Vikram or Ponniyin Selvan 1.
The figures are more comparable to mid-tier films like Retro and Amaran, which means the trailer, songs, and promotions have created only moderate hype.
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In Karnataka, the film has hit a political and cultural roadblock due to Kamal Haasan’s comments. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce demanded an apology, which Haasan has declined to offer. As a result, the matter has escalated to court, and the film has been officially banned in the state—potentially affecting box office collections.
In Kerala, the initial response has been quite ordinary. In the Telugu states, the film is being released by Sreshth Movies. The bookings in the Telugu states are also nothing to talk about, but there is hope.
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As with many recent releases, Thug Life is likely to depend heavily on reviews and word-of-mouth rather than a massive opening weekend to drive success. Mani Ratnam’s films have always been a risky bet, as some connect with the audience and some don’t.
Despite these early setbacks, there’s still significant promise. The Kamal–Mani Ratnam pairing alone gives the film weight.
If the content connects, Thug Life could evolve into a solid hit and reaffirm that quality storytelling and cinematic legacy still have the power to win, even with less pre-release hype and advance bookings.
