Thug Life Breaches Streaming Rules
Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam’s much-hyped film Thug Life is facing a penalty. The film broke the industry’s standard 8-week OTT window rule. National multiplex chains in North India have imposed a 25 lakh fine on the makers.
The producers opted for a 4-week theatrical-to-digital window after the film bombed at the box office. This shortened window allowed Thug Life to premiere early on Netflix, against norms followed by national chains.
As part of the penalty, the producers agreed to forgo their Hindi theatrical revenue.
Netflix Deal Renegotiated
Initially, Netflix acquired Thug Life’s digital rights for 130 crore. Due to the film’s poor performance, Netflix renegotiated the price. The final deal closed at 110 crore. The streaming giant also secured an early premiere clause.
This isn’t the first time Kamal’s team has broken OTT rules. His earlier film Indian 2 faced a similar issue.
Released on June 5, Thug Life failed to impress. Audiences and critics gave it lukewarm reviews. Within three weeks, the film was pulled from most theatres across India due to low footfalls.
Despite its star-studded cast featuring Silambarasan, Trisha Krishnan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, and Ali Fazal, the film struggled.
After the backlash, director Mani Ratnam addressed fans in a recent interview. He acknowledged that people expected another Nayakan-like classic.
“For those expecting another Nayakan from us, we are sorry,” Mani said. “We never wanted to go back. We aimed to do something new.”
He admitted that audience expectations clashed with their creative direction. Mani is now working on his next project, aiming to bounce back.
Also Read : Producer Dil Raju on Industry Realities, OTT Pressure, and Thammudu Release
Thug Life may not have Lived up to its promise, but the makers have taken the setback in stride and moving forward!
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