Thug Life Makers Fined ₹25 Lakh for Early OTT Release

Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam’s Thug Life was one of the most awaited films of the year, bringing together two legends after decades. However, the film has not found the success many expected. Despite the hype, Thug Life struggled to make an impact in theatres and couldn’t sustain its run beyond the early weeks.

The film, which was expected to cross major box office milestones, didn’t even touch the 100-crore mark worldwide. Its performance in the Hindi market was particularly disappointing, with the film earning a very low theatrical response and failing to attract audiences across North India. Reports suggest the Hindi version couldn’t even collect ₹2 crore nett — a clear sign that the film struggled to connect with audiences outside its core markets.

Adding to the producers’ challenges, the film is now set to premiere on Netflix just four weeks after its release. This is against the industry’s standard practice, especially in North India, where an eight-week window between theatrical and OTT release is usually followed. Due to this breach, multiplex chains have reportedly imposed a fine of ₹25 lakh on the makers. The producers will also be letting go of their remaining Hindi theatrical share to settle the issue.

The early OTT release decision seems to have been made to recover losses after the film’s underwhelming theatre run. It is also reported that the initial digital rights deal, which was struck at a higher valuation, was later renegotiated at a lower price because of the film’s poor performance.

Thug Life, featuring Kamal Haasan as a gangster and Silambarasan as his adopted son, had all the right elements on paper — big stars, an acclaimed director, and high expectations. At the end of the day, Thug Life is a reminder that even the biggest names cannot guarantee success if the content doesn’t connect. Today’s audience, whether in cities or small towns, is clearly looking for engaging stories above everything else.