Box Office: 'Thug Life' underwhelms; trails behind several biggies with just 17 cr on Day 1

Kamal Haasan’s much-anticipated film Thug Life recorded a moderate opening on its release day, earning ?17 crore at the Indian box office. The film saw the strongest response in Tamil-speaking regions, while performance in other languages remained limited. You can read our review here.

Tamil screenings contributed the largest portion to the opening collection, while Telugu viewership offered a smaller boost. The Hindi version saw minimal traction at the box office. According to figures from Sacnilk, Tamil-language shows drew the highest footfall, especially during evening and night slots. In contrast, the Hindi-language version struggled to gain momentum, with minimal viewer turnout throughout the day.

Occupancy levels across regions reflected this divide. While Tamil showings reached over 50 per cent occupancy by the end of the day, the Hindi shows remained in single digits. Telugu screens hovered in the lower 20 per cent range, indicating a lukewarm reception. These early numbers reflect a film finding selective resonance rather than broad appeal.

Thug Life was released following the underwhelming reception of Indian 2, which had a stronger opening of ?25.6 crore but faced criticism for its storytelling. Comparatively, Thug Life has started on a slower note, possibly impacted by early reviews and mixed audience response.

The film, directed by Mani Ratnam, features a story set in a criminal underworld. It explores the journey of Sakthivel and Manickam, who intervene in a violent police encounter and must deal with the aftermath. The narrative includes themes of loyalty, risk, and family, centered around a pivotal incident involving a young boy.

The cast includes prominent actors from multiple industries, offering a wide mix of talent. Despite the ensemble, initial viewer reactions and box office performance have not matched the film’s pre-release expectations.

With the weekend ahead, the film may still have an opportunity to expand its reach. Whether Thug Life picks up momentum or continues to face resistance will depend on word-of-mouth and how different regions respond in the coming days.