Thug Life OTT Release: How Much Did Makers Get From Digital Rights Anyway?

Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam's Thug Life didn't quite set the box office on fire. Despite the hype, the action-drama, which hit theatres on June 5, saw a surprisingly short run and was pulled from most screens by its third week. Now, all attention has shifted to its digital release-but not without some behind-the-scenes drama.

Breaking from the usual 8-week gap between theatrical and OTT premieres (a norm strictly followed in North India), Thug Life is jumping to Netflix in just four weeks.

The film is all set to drop on the platform on July 3, but this early move hasn't gone down well with multiplex chains. They've reportedly penalized the makers for skipping the agreed-upon timeline, forcing them to give up their share from the Hindi version's theatrical earnings.

Netflix had first agreed to give Rs 130 crore. Owing to not-so-great response, it reduced the price to Rs 90 crore. And the Rs 25 crore pentaly takes an overall loss of Rs 45 croreto the makers, as per the reports.

So, why the rush?

With the film underperforming in cinemas, Netflix renegotiated its original digital rights deal, slashing the initial offer. After some back-and-forth, both parties settled on a revised sum-but with the condition that Thug Life would hit OTT sooner than planned. This isn't the first time Kamal Haasan's team has broken the 8-week rule-Indian 2 faced a similar situation earlier.

Featuring a star-studded cast including Trisha, Simbu, Aishwarya Lekshmi, and Ali Fazal, Thug Life might not have won over audiences in theatres, but its OTT release could be its shot at redemption. Now, viewers can decide if the film deserves a second chance-from the comfort of their homes.