The Tamil film industry is witnessing a wave of excitement as the release of Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam and starring Kamal Haasan, draws closer. Scheduled for a grand theatrical release on June 5, 2025, the film has already sparked major interest with its outstanding pre-booking performance.

Thug Life marks the long-awaited reunion between Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam, bringing them back together after their legendary 1987 film Nayakan. The film boasts an ensemble cast featuring Silambarasan, Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi, Rohit Saraf, and Baburaj. Backed by a massive ₹300 crore budget, it stands as one of the costliest productions in Tamil cinema history.

Current pre-booking figures have crossed ₹50 crore, highlighting the massive buzz around the film. Early ticket sales have been phenomenal, with shows quickly selling out in major cities across India. This strong trend hints at a potential record-breaking opening day for Thug Life.

After its theatrical journey, Thug Life will make its digital debut on Netflix on August 7, 2025. The film will stream in five languages—Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi—making it widely accessible to audiences across India and abroad. Notably, this marks a rare eight-week theatrical window for a Tamil film before its OTT release.

With such strong early numbers, widespread distribution, and immense fan anticipation, Thug Life is expected to be a box office juggernaut. Analysts predict it could surpass ₹500 crore in global earnings. Despite the hype, Mani Ratnam has reiterated his focus on storytelling and authenticity, reminding the industry that meaningful cinema should always take precedence over pure commercial gain.