The Tamil film ‘Thug Life’, directed by Mani Ratnam and starring Kamal Haasan, has had a sluggish start at the domestic box office, failing to cross the Rs 30-crore mark in its first three days. Despite high expectations, the film earned Rs 15.5 crore on opening day but saw a sharp 53.87% drop on Day 2, collecting just Rs 7.15 crore. Day 3 offered a slight improvement with Rs 7.5 crore, but overall momentum remains weak, likely due to lukewarm word-of-mouth.
Industry tracker Sacnilk.com noted that the Tamil version’s highest occupancy was on Day 3 evening shows, with a footfall of 39.12%, showing some stabilization but not a significant recovery.
Globally, ‘Thug Life’ has grossed around Rs 60-65 crore by Day 3, a far cry from Mani Ratnam’s earlier blockbusters like ‘Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 & 2’, which earned Rs 300-400 crore worldwide.
Critics, including India Today, praised the film’s initial portrayal of the complex world of thugs—trust, jealousy, betrayal—but felt the narrative didn’t sustain its impact throughout. The review highlighted that while the first half had compelling gangster drama, the overall story lacked the depth and intensity expected from a truly great gangster film.
The film’s strong ensemble cast also includes Trisha Krishnan, Silambarasan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Joju George, and Ali Fazal, but even their presence hasn’t significantly boosted box office traction so far.
In summary, despite its star power and acclaimed director, ‘Thug Life’ is facing a tough challenge in turning early interest into lasting box office success.
