HYDERABAD — Renowned filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj has made a promising transition from behind the camera to the front of it. His debut film as a lead actor, DC, opened to an encouraging response at the box office on Friday, buoyed by strong word-of-mouth and positive reviews from moviegoers.

Directed by action auteur Arun Matheswaran and produced by Kalanithi Maran’s Sun Pictures, the high-octane gritty drama co-stars Wamiqa Gabbi. Despite its intense themes and heavy action sequences, audience reception has remained overwhelmingly favorable through its initial theatrical shows.

Box Office Breakdown: Day 1 Numbers

According to initial tracking data from Sacnilk, DC netted ₹1.65 crore across India during its day-time and early evening shows. The film's gross collection stands at ₹1.95 crore, running across 1,601 screens nationwide.

  • Tamil Version: ₹1.14 crore net

  • Telugu Version: ₹0.51 crore net

With night and late-night show figures yet to be tallied, final first-day earnings are expected to climb higher.

Theatre Occupancy Trends

The film registered an overall national theater occupancy of 28.2% on Friday. The core Tamil belt drove the primary chunk of ticket sales, recording 32% occupancy, while the dubbed Telugu version saw a respectable 23% turnout.

A Gritty Modern Reimagining

In DC, Lokesh Kanagaraj portrays Devadas, a troubled man with a violent past who finds himself forced on the run after a police officer is killed. His predicament worsens when he gets tangled in a separate underground plot involving stolen weaponry.

As law enforcement closes in, Devadas crosses paths with Chandra (played by Wamiqa Gabbi). The duo forms an intricate bond while navigating life-threatening betrayals and brutal violence. The film draws loose thematic inspiration from the classic literary tale Devdas, transporting its core emotional conflict into a dark, action-fueled thriller.

Featuring an energetic soundtrack scored by Anirudh Ravichander, DC also stars Sanjana Krishnamoorthy, Thalaivasal Vijay, Kasthuri Raja, and Aadukalam Naren in supporting roles.