Kamal Haasan is an Indian film legend. He remains a huge person in cinema even after six decades. Her latest film directed by Mani Ratnam, Thug Life bombed the box office. Now streaming on Netflix, the film’s initial digital release has upset many. here’s why.
Kamal Haasan released a thug life on OTT in just 4 weeks of dramatic release after promising 8 weeks
Kamal Haasan proudly announced that the thug life would stick to an eight -week dramatic window before killing Netflix. He called it a “practical” step to support Kollywood by giving it enough time to theaters to earn revenue. It was to set an example in the Tamil film industry, where the four -week window is common. However, the thug life landed on Netflix exactly four weeks after June 5, 2025, breaking the dramatic release, breaking the promise of Kamal. The manufacturers paid a fine of Rs 30 lakh in national multiplex series like Pvrinox and Cinepolis to settle the issue. This highlights a double standard about how Bollywood and Kollywood films are treated.
The thug life became a tank at the box office, forcing the producers to release the film early on digital.
The film starring Silambarson and Trisha Krishnan was highly anticipated due to the reunion of Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam after Nayakan. Despite the discussion, it earned only Rs 93 crore worldwide. Negative reviews criticized its weak screenplay and pacing, causing the collection to fall rapidly after an early day of Rs 36 crore. By the third week, most theaters pulled the film. This poor performance pushed the manufacturers to release the Netflix early, expecting recovery of damage.
Netflix initially gave importance to the digital rights of thug life for Rs 130 crore, but after the box office failure, the deal was converted to Rs 110 crore. The initial OTT release disappointed those who would change the film how Collywood approaches streaming platforms.
Multiplex chain has shown her scenes prejudice towards Bollywood filmmakers
Multiplex chain implements an interval of eight weeks to Hindi films to protect dramatic earnings regardless of the success or failure of the film. Bollywood producers face rigorous rules, rarely allowing initial digital release with chains, even for flops. Conversely, the makers of the thug life faced only a nominal fine, showing more flexibility to show Kollywood films. It raises questions about fairness in industries.
The initial OTT release gave Thug Jeevan a chance to reach Kamal’s global fan. However, it weakens its initial stand to prioritize theaters. Some people call this move practical citing the failure of the film, while others believe that it disturbs the dramatic ecosystem of Kollywood.
This is a red warning when Kamal Haasan surrenders to demands from big star streaming platforms
This is not the first time that Kamal’s team has broken the eight -week rule. His earlier film Indian 2 also suggested a pattern to Oat. The decision reflects the increasing impact of streaming platforms on Collywood, where box office flops pushed producers to prioritize digital revenue on dramatic commitments. This change challenges the traditional model of the industry, as OTT platforms provide a safety net but reduce theater footfall. For Kamal, an experienced who advocated cinema seems to be like a surrender to market pressures, with fans and theater owners question the future of Kollywood.
What do you think about the early digital release of the thug life? Stay for Pinkvilla for more updates on Kamal Haasan and thugs.
Also read: Thug Life Oat Release: Kamal Haasan’s gangster saga makes online debut after running the box office online in less than 8 weeks.
