DC Box Office Collection: Did Lokesh Kanagaraj Starrer DC Beat CM Vijay's Jana Nayagan In Kerala?

Lokesh Kanagaraj’s acting debut, DC, directed by Arun Matheswaran, has achieved a notable milestone, emerging as one of the highest-grossing Tamil films in Kerala in 2026. The action entertainer has maintained growth in the state and has now moved ahead of Vijay’s Jana Nayagan in Kerala collections. The achievement is noteworthy given the contrasting release timelines of the two films. While Jana Nayagan benefited from Thalapathy Vijay’s immense popularity in Kerala, DC has steadily built its audience through positive word of mouth and appreciation for its performances, direction and technical aspects.

DC Surpasses Jana Nayagan In Kerala

DC has collected around Rs 16.45 crore from the Kerala box office in its first 10 days, moving ahead of Jana Nayagan, which stands at approximately Rs 16.36 crore in the state. The Arun Matheswaran directorial entered its 11th day in theatres on August 17 after completing its second weekend. The achievement is important as DC has managed to overtake a Vijay-starrer in Kerala despite having a relatively different market value. The film has also succeed to get a good run across other territories and has already recovered its production cost.

According to available state-wise figures on Sancnilk, Jana Nayagan had collected around Rs 15.40 crore gross in Kerala through Day 9, while DC had reached Rs 16.73 crore gross. The overall numbers indicates that DC has moved ahead of Jana Nayagan in the state.

Interestingly, DC’s Kerala success comes in the wake of Lokesh Kanagaraj’s earlier collaborations with Vijay. The filmmaker and actor previously joined forces for Master (2021) and Leo (2023), with both films emerging as massive commercial successes, making fans root for their collaboration.

DC Eyes Higher Position Among 2026 Tamil Films

DC has also established its position among the highest-grossing Tamil films of 2026. The film has also surpassed Parasakthi, Youth and Blast to enter the top five. It currently trails Vishwanath And Sons, which has recorded an India net collection of Rs 58.15 crore after its opening weekend.

If DC maintains its current pace, it could overtake Vishwanath And Sons soon and climb further up the rankings. The film would then be positioned behind Jana Nayagan and Karuppu among the year’s top Tamil grossers.

Its Kerala run could become particularly important as theatres prepare for the upcoming Onam releases. Films Khalifa and Bethlehem Kudumba Unit are expected to command screens from August 20, potentially reducing the number of shows available for earlier releases.