In an period the place cinema’s fortunes are made and damaged by word-of-mouth in mere hours, even legends aren’t resistant to the unforgiving nature of the field workplace. Tamil cinema’s titan, Kamal Haasan, has been using a rollercoaster of theatrical fortunes over the previous few years — with one colossal blockbuster and two extremely anticipated misfires. As his newest launch Thug Life accomplished its first week on the field workplace, it’s price dissecting how the veteran star’s latest movies have carried out, the numbers they’ve put up, and what these outcomes signify within the ever-evolving panorama of Indian cinema.The Rise: Vikram’s Phenomenal TriumphIt began with Lokesh Kanagaraj’s 2022 action-thriller Vikram — a gritty, genre-bending movie that not solely rejuvenated Kamal Haasan’s field workplace standing but in addition established a cinematic universe that followers lapped up.This was Haasan’s first movie after a 4 yr gap- his final being Vishwaroopam which was additionally embroiled in controversy. Vikram opened to roaring applause and sustained its momentum because of slick motion, a pulsating background rating by Anirudh, and sharp performances. The movie was a large blockbuster, grossing Rs 247.32 crore in India and Rs 414.43 crore worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Tamil movie of 2022 and one of many greatest hits of Haasan’s illustrious profession.Extra than simply its earnings, Vikram redefined Kamal’s model — from a cerebral, experimental icon to a mass-action hero who might pull within the Gen Z and millennial crowd with out alienating his loyal older viewers.The Middling Comply with-up: Indian 2’s Incomplete VictoryIn July 2024 got here Indian 2, the long-delayed sequel to Haasan’s 1996 traditional. Directed by Shankar, it introduced again the character of Senapathy, the vigilante freedom fighter, many years later. The movie noticed the sunshine of day, using on the goodwill of Vikram and through it’s manufacturing it was determined that the movie could be spilt into two components making it right into a trilogy.The movie opened decently, with a Rs 25.6 crore on day 1 in India and ended it’s week 1 run with Rs 70 crore assortment and lifelong assortment of Rs 81.32 crore . The collections started to dip publish 1 and was by no means in a position to get better. The movie fell in need of the towering expectations set by its predecessor and Vikram. Critics known as it overstuffed and sluggish in components, and audiences had been lukewarm about its rehashed themes.The movie did not reside as much as the model it carried — an issue more and more confronted by legacy sequels in in the present day’s fast-moving cinema tradition.The Misfire: Thug Life’s Stuttered DashIf Vikram was a triumph and Indian 2 a underperformer, Mani Ratnam’s Thug Life, launched on June 5, 2025, was an plain letdown.Touted as one of many greatest Tamil productions of the yr, Thug Life noticed Kamal Haasan crew up with Silambarasan (Simbu) in a stylized gangster drama. The movie opened with a Rs 15.5 crore home web on Day 1, exhibiting preliminary promise. However regardless of star energy and excessive expectations, it stumbled virtually instantly with day 8 accumulating solely Rs 1.15 crore. .By the top of Day 8, the movie’s India web stood at Rs 43.37 crore. The thrill light quickly, with multiplexes lowering reveals and single screens shifting focus to newer releases. Trade watchers consider a mix of combined evaluations, an incoherent screenplay, and lack of emotional join led to its early downfall.The Controversy: A Political Firestorm That Damage the NumbersAn sudden hurdle for Thug Life arrived within the type of a language controversy. In the course of the movie’s promotions, Kamal Haasan’s feedback suggesting that Kannada is derived from Tamil ignited outrage in Karnataka. The backlash was swift and extreme with the movie’s launch being blocked within the state.This value Thug Life essential income in one in all South India’s fastest-growing movie markets. Commerce analysts estimate that this boycott denied the movie at the very least Rs 6-8 crore over the week in extra home assortment, doubtlessly softening the blow of its underperformance.A Glimpse Into Kalki 2898 AD — However Not a GamechangerIt’s unimaginable to disregard the juggernaut that’s Kalki 2898 AD, which minted Rs 646.31 crore gross throughout languages. Whereas Kamal Haasan options within the movie as a mysterious antagonist named Supreme Yaskin, it’s solely a short look within the first half, meant to arrange a bigger function within the sequel.Therefore, whereas Kalki’s success provides to Haasan’s profession commercially, in a technical sense, it can’t be counted as a triumph anchored by him.The Verdict: A Star in TransitionKamal Haasan’s latest field workplace journey highlights the unpredictable nature of stardom in up to date Indian cinema. Whereas Vikram proved he nonetheless has the facility to ship record-breaking blockbusters, Indian 2 and Thug Life underline the significance of content material over nostalgia, regardless of how celebrated the star.Exterior components like controversies and piracy added to Thug Life’s woes, however essentially, it’s a reminder that the viewers in the present day calls for well-paced, emotionally charged, and narratively tight movies — not simply star-led spectacles.As Kamal preps for his expanded function in Kalki’s sequel and potential new initiatives, his field workplace graph stays a captivating case examine of how legends navigate the shifting sands of contemporary Indian cinema.