Netflix re-negotiates Thug Life OTT deal
Thug Life, a Tamil gangster drama from director Mani Ratnam and starring Kamal Haasan and Silambarasan TR, didn't land well in theaters. The story follows a crime boss who raises an orphan, only for the kid to become his rival. Despite a star-studded cast including Trisha Krishnan and Aishwarya Lekshmi, the film struggled to connect with audiences.
How the original deal was structured
Netflix originally grabbed streaming rights for ₹130 crore, but after poor ticket sales and reviews, they're renegotiating—possibly cutting the deal by 20-25%. The OTT release is also being fast-tracked: instead of waiting eight weeks post-theatrical run, it could drop online in just four.
How box office results shape streaming decisions
Streaming platforms now react quickly to box office results. Thug Life's underperformance means less money for producers and an earlier streaming debut—showing how much theatrical buzz (or lack of it) shapes what you see online.