Chinmayi Sripada's live performance of "Muththa Mazhai" at the Thug Life audio launch on May 24, 2025, in Chennai, a song originally sung by Dhee in the Tamil version of the film, with Chinmayi performing the Telugu version and sparking discussions on vocal choices.
Chinmayi's performance drew significant attention due to her unofficial ban in Tamil cinema since 2018, following her allegations against lyricist Vairamuthu during the Me-Too movement, making her appearance a notable moment of potential comeback and industry politics.
Netizens praised Chinmayi’s rendition, with some, including singer Vishnu Ram, arguing it outshone Dhee’s original, fueling online debates about her exclusion and the influence of power dynamics in the Tamil film industry, as reported by Onmanorama on May 29, 2025.