Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan's much-anticipated film, 'Thug Life,' released in theaters on June 6th. The gangster drama had generated significant expectations among audiences and trade analysts, but its initial three-day box office collection has fallen short of these anticipations.
Thug Life Day 3 Collection: Since its announcement, 'Thug Life' has been a source of considerable excitement and curiosity among viewers. Audiences had eagerly awaited a project uniting superstar Kamal Haasan and veteran director Mani Ratnam, and 'Thug Life' fulfilled this long-held desire. However, the film was embroiled in controversies even before its release, impacting its promotion and audience anticipation.
Strong Opening Day, Followed by Disappointing Decline
'Thug Life' opened bly on its first day, grossing ₹15.5 crore, surpassing the opening day collection of Kamal Haasan's previous film, 'Indian 2.' However, the film's earnings drastically dropped to ₹7.50 crore on the second day and remained stagnant at ₹7.50 crore on the third day (Saturday). This resulted in a cumulative three-day collection of ₹30.15 crore.
While the film witnessed robust occupancy in Tamil Nadu and Kerala on the first day, the audience turnout in the Hindi and Telugu markets remained significantly low. On Saturday, the Tamil version registered an occupancy of 39.12%, with ber performances in Chennai (73.75%) and Pondicherry (65.50%). Conversely, the occupancy rates were a disappointing 8.92% in the Hindi belt and 14.07% in the Telugu market.
Kannada Controversy Costs a Crucial Market
A statement made by Kamal Haasan during a promotional event regarding the Kannada language sparked significant controversy. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce bly protested, leading to the film's release being stalled in Karnataka. The lack of an apology from Kamal Haasan resulted in the film's continued absence from the Karnataka market. Sources suggest this has caused a loss of ₹35-40 crore to the film's overall potential earnings.
The story of 'Thug Life' revolves around Rangaraya Sakthivel (Kamal Haasan), a mafia don who adopts a child, Amaran (Silambarasan TR). Years later, an assassination attempt on Sakthivel leads him to suspect his adopted son's involvement. The film features a b ensemble cast including Trisha Krishnan, Sanya Malhotra, Joju George, Ali Fazal, Mahesh Manjrekar, Nassar, and Aishwarya Lakshmi. However, this impressive cast failed to draw audiences, particularly in the Hindi and Telugu markets.
'Housefull 5' Poses a Significant Challenge
A major setback for 'Thug Life' was the simultaneous release of Akshay Kumar's 'Housefull 5.' 'Housefull 5' grossed ₹23 crore on its opening day alone, equaling 'Thug Life's total two-day collection (₹23 crore). The 'Housefull' franchise enjoys a b fan base, and its light-hearted entertainment appealed more to audiences.
In the Hindi market, 'Thug Life' earned a mere ₹65 lakh on the first day and ₹25-30 lakh on the second, indicating a complete failure to connect with the Hindi audience. Trade analysts predict that the Hindi version will not even reach the ₹5 crore mark.
Underperformance Compared to Previous Films
Compared to Kamal Haasan's previous films, 'Thug Life' has significantly underperformed.
- 'Vikram' (2022) earned ₹60 crore in two days.
- 'Indian 2' (2024) earned ₹44 crore in two days.
- Mani Ratnam's previous film, 'Ponniyin Selvan: Part 2,' earned ₹50.2 crore in two days.
In contrast, 'Thug Life' stalled at ₹30.15 crore, clearly indicating that neither the film's content nor its promotional campaign succeeded in attracting a substantial theater audience.
