After ten days in theatres, Kamal Haasan Thug Life box office collection controversy continues to unfold as the film struggles to reach Rs 50 crore in India, hampered by ongoing challenges, including a ban in Karnataka. Directed by Mani Ratnam and starring Silambarasan, the gangster drama launched with strong numbers, but disappointing reviews and negative word-of-mouth have rapidly eroded its financial momentum.
Early Strong Earnings Followed by Sharp Decline
Thug Life initially collected over Rs 20 crore across India during its first two days. However, in the following days, box office revenue saw a steep drop. As reported by Sacnilk, after the fifth day, the movie managed to earn just over Rs 1 crore. By the end of its first week, total earnings stood at Rs 44 crore, but by the start of the second week, the film‘s daily income had fallen below Rs 1 crore. On its second weekend, Thug Life brought in a mere Rs 1.8 crore, highlighting the extent of its loss in momentum.
Karnataka Ban Continues Amid Political Backlash
The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Karnataka government, requesting an update concerning the film‘s uninterrupted release in the state, but the authorities have yet to respond. Until then, a state-wide ban remains in effect due to Kamal Haasan’s remarks regarding the Kannada language. Regional leaders and the Karnataka Film Chamber have demanded that Kamal Haasan retract his comments and issue an apology. However, the actor has refrained from doing so, stating,
said out of genuine affection for the legendary Rajkumar’s family, especially Shivarajkumar, has been misunderstood and taken out of context.
—Kamal Haasan, Actor. The ban continues to suppress the film’s collection nationwide.
Reunion of Industry Icons and Mixed Reviews
This film marks the reunion of actor-director duo Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam after 38 years. The ensemble cast includes Silambarasan, Trisha, Joju George, Abhirami, Ashok Selvan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Nassar, Bagavathi Perumal, Mahesh Manjrekar, Tanikella Bharani, Vadivukkarasi, Chinni Jayanth, Vaiyapuri, Baburaj, Ali Fazal, Rohit Saraf, Arjun Chidambaram, Chetan, and Rajashri Deshpande. The technical team features Ravi K Chandran as cinematographer, AR Rahman as music director, Sreekar Prasad as editor, and Anbariv handling action direction.
Critical opinions have been divided, contributing to the film‘s box office woes. Our review stated,
The film is a fascinating exploration of the life of an ageing gangster coming to terms with his frailties, and dealing with the same with sardonic wit and insatiable lust. But then, suddenly, Thug Life wants to become a revenge drama fuelled by age-old reasons for betrayal that makes you wonder… Is this really the Mani Ratnam-Kamal Haasan film we were waiting for?
Uncertain Road Ahead for Thug Life
With the Karnataka ban imposing a significant obstacle, concerns about the Kamal Haasan Thug Life box office collection controversy are intensifying, as the film nears Rs 50 crore but fails to inspire optimism. Key figures such as Mahesh Manjrekar, Trisha, Nassar, Silambarasan, and music composer AR Rahman stand out amid ongoing fallout and growing disappointment. The resolution of the Supreme Court notice and whether Kamal Haasan’s stance will change remain critical factors that could influence the film’s fate in the coming days.
