Actors Silambarasan TR and Kamal Haasan during the promotion of ‘Thug Life’ movie. File
| Photo Credit: S. Shivaraj

The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday (June 4, 2025) granted permission to the makers of ace filmmaker Mani Ratnam’s Thug Life, starring Kamal Haasan, to host special shows at 9 a.m. only on the day of its release, Thursday, June 5. This comes in response to a formal request made by Raaj Kamal Films International, Kamal’s production banner backing the film.

Accepting the request, the government has allowed the makers to screen a total of five shows on the day of the release, with the first show starting at 9 a.m. on Thursday and the last show ending at 2 a.m. on Friday.

The news comes just as the film is embroiled in a controversy following Kamal’s controversial “Kannada is born out of Tamil” remark at the film’s audio launch. Refusing to tender an apology for his statement, despite a suggestion on the same by the High Court of Karnataka, Kamal has postponed the release of Thug Life in Karnataka.

Also Read: As Kamal decides against Thug Life release in Karnataka, trade analysts expect 7% loss in total gross revenue

Thug Life is one of the biggest Tamil films of the year. It reunites Kamal and Mani Ratnam after the iconic Nayakan (1987). With music scored by A.R. Rahman, the gangster drama also stars Silambarasan T.R. in a pivotal role alongside Trisha, Nasser, Joju George, Abhirami, Ashok Selvan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Sanya Malhotra and Ali Fazal among others.

Thug Life is produced by Kamal Haasan’s Raaj Kamal Films International and Mani Ratnam’s Madras Talkies. The movie will be distributed by Red Giant Movies.