Thug Life Review: Kamal Haasan’s Film Sparks Controversy — But Is It Actually Worth Watching?
Thug Life Review: Kamal Haasan’s latest film Thug Life is set for its nationwide release on Thursday, June 5, with one major exception — Karnataka. Due to an ongoing controversy, the film will not be released in the state. However, according to industry experts, this regional setback might not significantly affect the film’s performance.
Thug Life Movie Review — A Pre-Release Perspective
Thug Life Review? Before the controversy, Thug Life had minimal buzz among audiences. Now, it’s one of the most talked-about films of 2025, thanks to the publicity generated by the legal row. While an official Thug Life review from audiences will only emerge post-release, the pre-release response suggests that the film may gain more than it loses.
According to trade analyst Girish Wankhede, the loss from not releasing in Karnataka — estimated at Rs 7–12 crore — is offset by the marketing value the controversy has generated. “The whole world now knows this is a Kamal Haasan film, directed by Mani Ratnam and scored by AR Rahman. That level of organic awareness is priceless,” he said.
Thug Life Advance Bookings Show Strong Momentum
Despite the regional ban, Thug Life has already recorded Rs 65 lakh in Hindi advance bookings. Across all languages, total pre-sales have crossed Rs 10 crore, with numbers expected to rise further.
Cinema distributor Raj Bansal noted, “The film is seeing strong traction in North India as well, which isn’t traditionally Kamal Haasan’s strongest market. That’s a promising sign.”
Thug Life Controversy as Promotion
Big-budget Indian films often allocate Rs 30–50 crore solely for promotions — money spent without guaranteed returns. In this case, the producers of Thug Life might have inadvertently received a free marketing campaign, albeit at the cost of a regional release.
What’s notable is that the controversy has not just boosted curiosity — it’s also created strong name recall. From being under the radar, Thug Life is now at the center of conversations across social media and news platforms.
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