Record-smashing TV rights deal for Thug Life

Without even a trailer out, Thug Life has already rewritten the rules. Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam’s long-awaited reunion, nearly four decades after Nayakan, is shaping up to be more than just a cinematic moment.

It’s turning into a business juggernaut. The satellite rights for the film have now been snapped up by Vijay TV for a massive Rs 60 crore, a record-setting figure that has shaken up Tamil television circles.

This TV deal comes right after Netflix grabbed the OTT rights for an estimated Rs 150 crore, the highest for any Kamal Haasan film to date. The fact that such numbers are being thrown around without a trailer or even a full cast promo shows the sheer weight of expectation around this gangster drama. AR Rahman is handling the music, and the ensemble cast includes Simbu, Trisha, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Sanya Malhotra, and more.

Set for a grand pan-India release on June 5, Thug Life is riding not only on nostalgia but also on the confidence of big-ticket buyers who see massive potential in its theatrical and digital runs. The film is jointly produced by Raaj Kamal Films International, Madras Talkies, and Red Giant Movies.