Kamal Haasan's Thug Life is streaming on OTT. Where to watch the gangster-drama

After years of anticipation and massive buzz, Thug Life — the much-hyped reunion of Kamal Haasan and director Mani Ratnam — failed to make the kind of impact fans had hoped for in theatres. Now, the gangster drama is on Netflix in five languages: Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi.

The film’s theatrical run led to a disappointing box office performance. But the makers are hoping the OTT release can spark renewed interest among viewers who missed it during its initial run. Interestingly, this early arrival on Netflix — just four weeks after its theatrical debut — came at a cost.

According to reports in 123Telugu, the streamer imposed a Rs 25 lakh penalty on the producers for shortening the usual eight-week window. The original digital rights deal, reportedly valued at Rs 135 crore, was ultimately scaled down by a staggering Rs 110 crore.

About Thug Life

Thug Life is a sprawling gangster saga starring Kamal Haasan as Rangaraaya Sakthivel Naicker — a mafia kingpin navigating betrayal, revenge, and legacy in the underworld of New Delhi. Co-written by Haasan and Ratnam, the film blends intense action, emotional drama, and political undertones with the filmmaker’s signature style. It boasts a powerhouse supporting cast including Silambarasan TR, Trisha Krishnan, Joju George, Ashok Selvan, Abhirami, and Aishwarya Lekshmi.

Set across decades, the story begins in 1994 with a violent gang war that separates two siblings and claims an innocent man’s life. One child, Amaran, is adopted by Sakthivel and raised within the folds of crime. But decades later, as alliances crumble and truths unravel, the adopted son turns into a threat — leading to a dangerous clash shaped by power, betrayal, and lost loyalties.

Backed by a score from AR Rahman and striking cinematography by Ravi K Chandran, the film was envisioned as a grand, emotional gangster epic. However, despite its scale and star-studded pedigree, Thug Life fell short of expectations on the big screen.

Now, with its arrival on Netflix, the film might find a second wind among streaming audiences — and possibly the appreciation it missed the first time around.