Hi movie lovers, are you ready? The release date teaser of the movie Thug Life, which stars Kamal Haasan and legendary director Mani Ratnam, is here! This 44-second teaser, released on November 7, 2024, on the occasion of Kamal Haasan's 70th birthday, has got Telugu fans excited. This action gangster drama is set to release in theaters on June 5, 2025, that is, during the Bakrid weekend! Fans in Hyderabad, Vijayawada, and Vizag are already waiting for tickets. Let me take you on a quick ride about this teaser and the movie, Padandi!
What's in the teaser? It's amazing!
If you watch this 44-second teaser, wow, goosebumps are guaranteed! The teaser starts with a car coming down a misty road, and Mani Ratnam's signature visuals are epic. Kamal Haasan is shown in two looks—one as a rugged warrior with a beard and a vengeance fire in his eyes; the other in a modern look with a clean shave. Simbu (Silambarasan TR) is also a highlight in the teaser—in one scene he is seen celebrating Holi, and in another he is seen making a fuss with a blood-soaked weapon. With the tagline "His Story, His Rules", the entire teaser is full of action, drama and emotion.
AR Rahman's background score gives life to the teaser, increasing the suspense with every frame. Kamal Haasan's character looks like Rangaraya Sakthivel Nayakkar, which seems to have a connection with the 1987 film Nayakkan. Fans are already discussing this link on social media.
Star cast, technical team—Adurs!
Thug Life is not just the Kamal Haasan-Maniratnam combo, but a star-studded team! Along with Kamal Haasan, there is a huge cast like Simbu, Trisha Krishnan, Ashok Selvan, Aishwarya Lakshmi, Joju George, Abhirami, Nasser, Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi, Sanya Malhotra, Rohit Saraf. Just looking at this cast, you can understand how grand the scale of the film is.
The technical team is also top-notch! AR Rahman's music, Ravi K. Chandran's cinematography, Sreekar Prasad's editing, unbridled action choreography—this is not just a film, it's a cinematic festival! The film is being jointly produced by Raj Kamal Films International, Madras Talkies, and Red Giant Movies.
Why is it special for Telugu fans?
Thug Life is being released in Tamil as well as Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada languages, which means you can fully enjoy it with Telugu dubbing in theaters like Prasad's, GVK One in Hyderabad, or PVR in Vijayawada. In the Telugu teaser, Kamal Haasan's dialogues and Simbu's action scenes connect well with our local touch. The film is being released during Bakrid Weekend (June 5-8), which means there is a chance that the theaters will be houseful with the long weekend advantage.
Why so much hype?
Thug Life is the film where Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam are working together after 37 years, that is, after the cult classic Nayakkan that came out in 1987! This combo is a treat for fans. The shooting of the film started in January 2024 and wrapped in September 2024, which means that Mani Ratnam worked at a fast pace. The digital rights were bought by Netflix for Rs. 149.7 crore, which is a record in the Tamil film industry! After the theatrical run, it will stream on Netflix on July 3 or July 10, 2025.
The teaser did not reveal much about the actual story of the film, but it hinted that it will be a gangster action drama and Kamal Haasan will be seen in a versatile role. The suspense is whether Simbu will be Kamal's disciple or will clash with him! Dulquer Salmaan and Jayam Ravi were previously in this project, but they were replaced by Simbu and Ashok Selvan.
Box office buzz is guaranteed!
Kamal Haasan's Vikram (2022) was released in June and collected Rs. 500 crores. Thug Life is also likely to repeat the same momentum with a June 5 release. Some reports said that it will release on April 10, 2025, but the makers have finalized June 5, probably to take advantage of the Bakrid holiday weekend. Since the film is a pan-India release, a grand opening is certain in Telugu states with Red Giant Movies distributing it.
Conclusion: Countdown to June 5 begins!
Looking at the Thug Life release date teaser, it is confirmed that this is a full paisa vasool movie for Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam fans! Action, drama, AR Rahman's music, grand visuals—all together make this film one of the biggest blockbusters of 2025. This movie theater experience will be a blast for Telugu fans, especially in IMAX and 3D screens. Mark your calendars for June 5, 2025, and don't miss Kamal Haasan's performance as Rangaraya Shakthivel Nayakkar!