'Thug Life' box office collection pre-sales: Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan's film struggles to build momentum

'Thug Life' box office collection pre-sales: Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan's film struggles to build momentum Newspoint | 2025-06-05 00:39:08

Nearly four decades after their iconic gangster drama ' Nayakan ,' Kamal Haasan and director Mani Ratnam are teaming up once again for ' Thug Life ,' which is set for a grand release on June 5. The crime thriller, backed by A.R. Rahman ’s music, features an ensemble cast including Silambarasan TR , Trisha, Joju George, and others. However, early advance booking numbers show a modest response. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, 'Thug Life' has raked in around ₹5.69 crore in pre-sales so far across languages, with the Tamil version contributing ₹4.02 crore. Telugu and Hindi versions follow with ₹48 lakh and ₹19 lakh, respectively.
Advance sales trail behind the previous films of Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam.
The total expected gross from bookings, including blocked seats, stands at ₹12.5 crore for its opening day.

While respectable, the numbers are considerably lower than Kamal Haasan’s previous films. 'Indian 2,' directed by S. Shankar, recorded ₹17.9 crore in advance sales, while 'Vikram,' helmed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, saw ₹15.3 crore. Even Mani Ratnam’s own ' Ponniyin Selvan ' films surpassed current 'Thug Life' figures, with the first part collecting ₹18.95 crore and the second ₹13 crore in advance ticket sales.
Karnataka release held back amid controversy
One factor affecting the film’s box office reach is its hold in Karnataka. Due to a row that emerged after Kamal’s linguistic remarks at a Tamil Nadu event, the Karnataka release has been temporarily held back. While some organizations expressed concerns, the team has assured that it hopes for a peaceful resolution through dialogue.

Kamal's camp maintains that his statements were misunderstood and not intended to offend.
KFCC signals openness to talks.
In a positive development, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) has now expressed willingness to engage in discussions with the film’s team. A week has been sought to resolve the matter, while the Karnataka High Court has adjourned proceedings to June 10. This opens up a possible path for a broader theatrical rollout in the coming days.