Thug Life was supposed to be Kamal Haasan’s big return to form. A star-studded gangster drama, co-written by Haasan himself and directed by Mani Ratnam. It had all the ingredients of a major hit. But the film stumbled hard at the box office. Despite all the buzz before release, it failed to pull crowds, and within three weeks, it vanished from most theatres.
What made things worse was what came after.
Before its release, the makers had promised a 10-week exclusive theatrical window. That promise was broken. Thug Life landed on Netflix in less than four weeks, disappointing fans who had expected something grander. The move was seen as a quiet surrender to poor box office performance.
Now on OTT, the backlash hasn’t slowed down. In fact, it’s grown louder.
Social media is flooded with criticism about the writing, the pacing, and the overuse of style with little substance. Many are calling it one of Kamal Haasan’s most disappointing films in recent years, but Indian 2 still tops the list. Even loyal fans are openly voicing their frustration, saying the film simply didn’t live up to its hype.
The disappointment runs deep because the expectations were sky-high. When a film with such talent behind it falls flat, the reactions are bound to be intense.
Thug Life was meant to be a bold statement. But at the moment, it feels more like a cautionary tale of hype without heart, and promises that couldn’t be kept.
Disastrous movie of the decade is now streaming on @NetflixIndia
Those who missed watching it in theaters, miss it in OTT too ✌️#ThugLife pic.twitter.com/eeFs7Rq5SZ
— Abbishekh Raaja (@abbi0410) July 3, 2025
That meme came around indian 2 times
It's a disaster
Now thug life another disaster— Abilash – Inactive era (@inji__tea) July 3, 2025
Halfway into Thug Life pic.twitter.com/Q7mE38kiWp
— Space Lion (@human_afteraall) July 3, 2025
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