Thug Life’s Theatrical Failure Impacts OTT Plans

Thug Life, starring Kamal Haasan and directed by Mani Ratnam ended up as one of the biggest flops in Indian cinema, bringing major disappointment to the makers.

Despite recovering the investment through non-theatrical deals the film’s failure at the box office caused unexpected setbacks. Netflix had acquired the digital rights for Rs. 130 crores, with plans to stream it eight weeks after its theatrical release.

But due to poor collections, Netflix renegotiated the deal. The streaming date was moved up to just four weeks post-release, and the price was reduced by Rs. 20 crores.

As this clause was pre-agreed, the team had to accept the revised terms, resulting in a direct loss. Adding to the trouble Thug Life wasn’t released in Karnataka following controversial remarks by Kamal Haasan.

Despite their legendary status both Kamal and Mani Ratnam, who co-produced the film suffered financially and faced heavy criticism after the film’s failure.

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— Filmy Focus (@FilmyFocus) June 25, 2025