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 controversyOne 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.
