'Thug Life' may arrive on Netflix on this date
29 Jun 2025

The much-anticipated collaboration between director Mani Ratnam and actor Kamal Haasan, Thug Life, is set to make its digital debut on Netflix on July 4, per OTTPlay.

The film, which also stars Silambarasan, Trisha Krishnan, Joju George, Nassar, and Ali Fazal, had a theatrical release on June 5.

Despite the hype surrounding it, the film was a massive box office failure.

'Thug Life' will arrive sooner than planned
OTT release

The film's digital rights were acquired by Netflix even before its theatrical release.

The initial deal with Netflix was for an eight-week window, but this has since been renegotiated due to its box office failure.

The Thug Life team is reportedly receiving a significantly reduced amount from Netflix, dropping from ₹130cr to ₹110cr.

Additionally, they have been fined ₹25L by the National Multiplex Association for not adhering to their original plan.

Ban lifted, but film still not released in Karnataka
Distribution hurdles

The movie was eclipsed in controversy after Haasan said Kannada was "born out of Tamil," prompting a ban on the movie in Karnataka.

Despite the ban being lifted after Haasan won his case in the Supreme Court, Thug Life wasn't released in Karnataka.

The state's distributor refused to release the film weeks later, citing its box office failure as a reason for not having any return on investment.

Despite star power, 'Thug Life' failed to impress audiences
Critical reception

Thug Life, a mafia tale featuring Haasan as an aging gangster Rangaraya Saktivel seeking revenge against those who wronged him, was widely criticized for its predictable and clichéd storyline.

The film's writing credits are jointly held by Ratnam and Haasan, both of whom also served as producers.

Despite the star-studded cast and high expectations, the film failed to resonate with audiences.