Thug Life’ Box Office Day 4: Kamal Haasan's Mass Entertainer Earns ₹36.90 Crore But Trails Behind

 

Thug Life box office collection day 4: Kamal Haasan and Simbu in a still from the film.
Thug Life box office collection day 4: Kamal Haasan and Simbu in a still from the film.

The much-anticipated collaboration between veteran actor Kamal Haasan and legendary director Mani Ratnam, Thug Life, has completed its first weekend at the Indian box office. Despite a strong start and immense hype surrounding the film, the numbers have not quite lived up to the grand expectations. According to early estimates by Sacnilk, Thug Life has earned ₹36.90 crore in India within the first four days of its release.

Opening Day Buzz and Performance

Released on a Thursday, Thug Life opened with a promising ₹15.5 crore net collection, riding on the popularity of Kamal Haasan, the directorial reputation of Mani Ratnam, and the ensemble cast featuring Silambarasan TR and Trisha Krishnan. Given that this was Kamal and Mani’s first outing together since the iconic 1987 film Nayakan, expectations were sky-high.

However, what followed was a surprise dip. Friday saw a significant fall in collections with only ₹7.15 crore coming in—a nearly 50% drop. While most big films experience a slight dip after an initial high, this drop seemed steep for a film of Thug Life’s stature.

Weekend Collections: A Mixed Bag

The weekend numbers didn’t see a dramatic turnaround either. Saturday offered a slight uptick with ₹7.75 crore, and Sunday’s collections further declined to an estimated ₹6.50 crore. This brought the total domestic net collection to ₹36.90 crore by the end of day 4.

In contrast, Kamal Haasan’s last high-profile film Indian 2, directed by Shankar, had a more robust opening and managed to collect ₹62.15 crore in its first four days. Indian 2 had more staying power and benefited from strong word-of-mouth, which Thug Life seems to be struggling with.

Why Thug Life May Be Underperforming

Several factors may have contributed to the film’s lukewarm reception at the box office:

  • High Expectations: The team-up of Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam after decades raised the bar of expectation so high that any result short of a blockbuster feels underwhelming.

  • Language Row and Karnataka Ban: A controversy over linguistic issues led to a ban in Karnataka, one of the key markets for Tamil cinema. This undoubtedly dented its overall earnings.

  • Content and Reception: While the film has been praised for its visuals, performances, and background score, some sections of the audience have found the narrative a bit slow-paced and complex, which could have limited its mass appeal.

  • Competition and Release Timing: Releasing mid-week sometimes hampers the weekend momentum. Additionally, other regional and pan-Indian releases may have divided audience attention.

About the Film: Thug Life’s Gritty Tale

Thug Life presents Kamal Haasan in a gritty avatar as Shaktivel aka Shakti, a layered character navigating the grey shades of power, violence, and personal relationships. Silambarasan TR plays his adopted son Amar, adding a powerful emotional layer to the film’s dynamic.

The movie also boasts a stellar supporting cast including Abhirami, Ashok Selvan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Joju George, Ali Fazal, Sanya Malhotra, and Rohit Saraf. Mani Ratnam's direction, Ravi Varman's cinematography, and A.R. Rahman’s music together create a visually rich and sonically immersive experience.

Interestingly, Thug Life marks the first reunion of Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam since the critically acclaimed Nayakan, which is widely regarded as one of Indian cinema’s finest films. Naturally, the buzz around their return was intense.

Can Thug Life Bounce Back?

While the film’s first four days were decent, they are far from exceptional when compared to Mani Ratnam's previous successes like Ponniyin Selvan I and II, which earned ₹120.15 crore and ₹103.75 crore respectively in their opening weekends.

To regain momentum, Thug Life needs a strong weekday hold and positive word-of-mouth from audiences who appreciate layered storytelling and intense character arcs. If the makers can capitalize on the film’s strengths—its direction, performance, and technical finesse—there is still hope for a steady run at the box office.

However, it’s clear that Thug Life is facing an uphill battle in matching either the commercial success of Indian 2 or the box office glory of Mani Ratnam’s recent period dramas.

Final Thoughts

While Thug Life may not be setting the box office on fire, it remains a significant cinematic event for fans of Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam. Its underwhelming numbers serve as a reminder that even with star power and legacy collaborations, success is never guaranteed in cinema. What matters now is how the film sustains itself in the coming days, and whether audience appreciation can help turn the tide.

Whether you see it for Kamal’s gravitas, Silambarasan’s emotional arc, or Mani Ratnam’s signature storytelling, Thug Life is still worth watching—for its ambition, its visuals, and the legends behind it.


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