Thug Life Box Office Day 1: Kamal Haasan Film Opens At Rs 17 Cr Despite Karnataka Ban
The film, which marks the iconic reunion of Haasan and Ratnam decades after Nayakan, was caught in a political storm ahead of its release.
Kamal Haasan's much-anticipated Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam, made a strong start at the box office, collecting Rs 17 crore on its opening day despite not being released in Karnataka due to an ongoing language controversy.
The film, which marks the iconic reunion of Haasan and Ratnam decades after Nayakan, was caught in a political storm ahead of its release. Haasan's remark during a promotional event – 'Kannada was born out of Tamil" – sparked outrage across Karnataka, leading the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce to halt the film's release in the state. The actor, however, refused to apologise, asserting that his comments were misunderstood. As a result, the film lost an estimated Rs 35–40 crore in potential earnings, as reported by The Hindu.
Despite this setback, Thug Life saw a promising 48.72% Tamil occupancy on Thursday, according to Sacnilk. Morning and afternoon shows clocked above 50% occupancy, while evening shows dipped slightly to 45.15%. With an extended weekend ahead, the film is expected to maintain momentum and possibly expand its earnings in the coming days.
Starring Kamal Haasan in the lead, the film also features a powerhouse cast including Trisha, Silambarasan TR, Joju George, Ashok Selvan, Nasser, and Abhirami. AR Rahman's music and Ravi K Chandran's cinematography, along with editing by A Sreekar Prasad, contribute to the film's technical finesse.
An excerpt from News18's review praised Haasan's performance: 'Kamal is in towering form. There's a stunning late-film sequence where Sakthivel, under heavy sedatives, is forced into combat. He fights, he smirks, he bleeds—and yet never fully wakes. It's Haasan telling us, with quiet swagger, that he can act circles around others in his sleep." Silambarasan TR, playing Amar, was also lauded for bringing both emotional depth and strength to a role that stood tall even next to Haasan's formidable presence.
First Published:
June 06, 2025, 01:42 IST
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