Thug Life Hits ₹3.25 Crore on Day 5: Kamal Haasan’s Mani Ratnam Reunion Faces Box Office Reality

Introduction: A Much-Awaited Reunion

When Kamal Haasan joined forces again with director Mani Ratnam, nearly four decades after their iconic film Nayakan, the excitement was palpable. Thug Life, released on 5 June 2025, promised a stellar blend of talent, with an ensemble cast including Silambarasan, Trisha, Aishwarya Lekshmi, and a powerhouse technical crew led by A. R. Rahman and Ravi K. Chandran.

Day 1 to Day 5: Box Office Rollercoaster

Day 1 (5 June)

A thrilling opening with ₹15.5 crore net in India––an impressive debut thanks largely to the Tamil version, which delivered ₹13.35 crore. Dubbed versions added ₹1.5 crore (Telugu) and ₹0.65 crore (Hindi).

Day 2–4

The buzz tapered off:

Day 2: ₹7.15 crore

Day 3: ₹7.75 crore

Day 4: ₹6.5 crore.

Day 5 (First Monday)

Day 5 is the star of this discussion—it earned ₹3.25 crore from its Tamil version. Some industry trackers (e.g., Sacnilk) report a total Monday collection of ₹3.62 crore, including Telugu (₹29 lakh) and Hindi (₹8 lakh).

What Day 5 Reveals: A Deep Dive

Subdued Momentum

A drop from ₹6.5 crore (Day 4) to ₹3.25 crore reflects nearly a 50% fall—a concern after a strong opening weekend. In Tamil Nadu, occupancy hovered around 18%, with fluctuating early and late shows .

Comparisons with Peers

Contrast this with Housefull 5, which earned ₹13.76 crore on the same day, despite poor reviews—a sign of better positioning and appeal. Also, Vikram and Indian 2 held strong at ₹15.8 cr and ₹3 cr on their first Mondays, making Thug Life look modest in comparison

Performance Context: Is It a Success?

Cumulative Figures

By Day 5, total nett stands at approximately ₹40–40.5 crore. With a production budget estimated between ₹200–300 crore, the film still faces a steep climb to profitability.

Why the Dip?

Critics highlighted issues with the screenplay and pacing, calling preliminary reviews “mixed to negative” . On top of that, a ban in Karnataka due to a controversy around Kamal Haasan’s remark on Kannada language further restricted its regional reach.

Future Outlook: What Lies Ahead?

Weekday Survival & Weekend Bounce

If weekdays continue declining, the film might struggle to bounce back. Thug Life needs strong footfalls on Day 6–7 to salvage total numbers, akin to Ponniyin Selvan or Good Bad Ugly in Tamil markets.

OTT Considerations

There are whispers of an early release on Netflix, possibly within a month—shorter than the initially planned eight-week window. This could help stem theatrical losses.

Balancing Promise and Reality

Thug Life began with a bang, fueled by star power and anticipation, but Day 5’s ₹3.25 crore signals a sharp drop in momentum. Though total collections of ~₹40 crore are respectable, they fall well short of the high budget. Sustaining through weekdays and capitalizing on second-weekend interest is vital. Otherwise, the film may transition to OTT early, marking a strategic pivot rather than a cinematic triumph.