Thug Life box office collection day 2: Kamal Haasan's film struggles, earns Rs 7.50 cr amid controversy

Thug Life box office collection day 2: Kamal Haasan's film struggles, earns Rs 7.50 cr amid controversy

Kamal Haasan's much-anticipated action film Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam, is struggling to maintain momentum at the box office. After an underwhelming opening day collection of Rs 15.50 crore (India net), early estimates suggest that the film earned only around Rs 7.50 crore on its second day, bringing the total two-day collection to approximately Rs 23 crore.

The Day 2 drop of over 50% is concerning for the makers, especially given the film’s high-profile cast, acclaimed director, and strong pre-release buzz. With mixed to negative reviews and a lack of positive word-of-mouth, audience interest has clearly diminished. The steep decline in collections on Friday points to a challenging weekend ahead unless the film sees a sudden turnaround in footfalls on Saturday and Sunday.

This box office trajectory is reminiscent of recent Tamil releases like Retro starring Suriya, which also opened well but saw a massive decline over its first weekend and ended up being a commercial disappointment. Thug Life appears to be treading a similar path unless it picks up significantly during the weekend.

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Further complicating matters is the ongoing controversy involving Kamal Haasan. The film has been banned in Karnataka due to the actor's comment that “Kannada is born out of Tamil,” which sparked outrage. With Haasan refusing to issue an apology, the film has not released in Karnataka—a key market for Tamil films. A legal decision on the matter is expected on June 10, but the delay is already costing the film significant box office revenue.

On the streaming front, reports indicate that Thug Life will premiere on Netflix, following the usual four-week window observed by Tamil releases. If the theatrical run continues to underperform, the digital release—expected in early July—might offer the film a second chance to find its audience.

In summary, Thug Life faces an uphill battle at the box office. Despite the star power of Kamal Haasan and the directorial vision of Mani Ratnam, poor reviews, regional controversies, and a steep drop in collections may cut short its theatrical journey.