‘Thug Life’ director Mani Ratnam on why Tamil cinema hasn’t crossed Rs 1000 crore: “Are we making films just to earn big money?”

Visionary filmmaker Mani Ratnam has opened up on why Tamil cinema is yet to deliver a Rs 1000 crore box office blockbuster.


In a recent interview with YouTube channel Gobinath, the ‘Thug Life’ director reflected on the increasing obsession with box office numbers and its impact on the industry’s creative spirit.

‘It’s about good films, not just high collections’

When asked why Tamil cinema hasn’t reached the Rs 1000 crore benchmark like some big-ticket Hindi or pan-Indian films, Mani Ratnam offered a thoughtful response. “Are we making films solely to chase big box office returns, or are we trying to create something authentic and, at least to some extent, a truly good film?” he asked, adding that earlier, the conversation was about whether a movie was good, bad, or average — but now the focus is heavily on box office collections.



The director acknowledged concerns that such commercial pressures could stifle creativity and said he hopes this won’t happen in the future.
‘Thug Life’: Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan’s high-stakes gangster saga

Mani Ratnam’s upcoming gangster action film ‘Thug Life’ is slated to release on June 5, 2025. The much-anticipated film stars Kamal Haasan and Silambarasan TR in the lead roles as father and foster son, weaving a gritty tale of power, betrayal, and vengeance.

Plot and cast

The story follows Rangaraaya Sakthivel Naicker (Kamal Haasan), an aging gangster presumed dead, whose disappearance elevates his adopted son Amaran (Silambarasan) to the head of the mafia. But Sakthivel’s return triggers a deadly game to reclaim his legacy and confront the tangled destinies of father and son.

‘Thug Life’ boasts an ensemble cast featuring Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, and Pankaj Tripathi.

Meanwhile, Mani Ratnam’s previous outing was the epic drama movie ‘Ponniyin Selvan 2’. The movie starred Karthi, Ravi Mohan, Vikram, Aishwarya Rai, Sobhita Dhulipala, Aishwarya Lekshmi and many others in pivotal roles.