Kamal Haasan’s much-anticipated Tamil crime drama Thug Life opened to a solid box office performance on Day 1, collecting an impressive ₹17 crore (nett) across India, despite the film not releasing in Karnataka. According to early estimates from trade tracker Sacnilk, the film drew large audiences in Tamil Nadu and other states where it released in Hindi, Telugu, and Malayalam versions.
Directed by the legendary Mani Ratnam, Thug Life marks the reunion of Haasan and Ratnam after nearly four decades since their iconic 1987 film Nayakan. The buzz surrounding the film and the nostalgia factor have contributed significantly to its robust start.
However, the film’s release in Karnataka was stalled due to a controversy surrounding Kamal Haasan’s recent remark stating that “Kannada was born out of Tamil,” which sparked protests and led to the cancellation of its screening in the state.
Strong Occupancy in Tamil Nadu
On June 5, the film recorded an average Tamil occupancy of 52.06%. Morning shows opened strong at 50.66%, dipped slightly in the afternoon to 50.35%, but picked up in the evening and peaked at 62.07% during night shows.
Several Tamil Nadu cities reported high turnout. Pondicherry topped the chart with 70.25% occupancy, closely followed by Chennai at 69.25% and Trichy at 65.75%, indicating strong regional support for the film.
A Cinematic Reunion Steeped in Friendship
During a promotional event in Mumbai, both Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam reminisced about their decades-long friendship and creative journey.
Ratnam fondly recalled Haasan’s passion even during the early days of Sadma and said, “Before I even got into filmmaking, he was already paving the way. I feel lucky to have interacted with someone like him so early in my career.”
Haasan, in turn, emphasized that their bond was built on shared love for cinema. “We were friends before collaborators. We talked only cinema, no gossip. That’s where it all began,” he said.
Stellar Cast and Powerful Production
Thug Life boasts a star-studded cast, including Trisha Krishnan, Silambarasan TR, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ravi Mohan, and Rohit Saraf. The film is jointly produced by Raaj Kamal Films International, Madras Talkies, and Red Giant Movies, helmed by Udhayanidhi Stalin.
As anticipation grows for the film’s performance in the coming days, trade analysts are watching closely to see if Thug Life can maintain its momentum and expand to other regions, including a potential release in Karnataka if the controversy subsides.
Sources By Agencies
