# DC (film)
**DC** is a 2026 Indian Tamil-language romantic action drama directed by [Arun Matheswaran](https://www.edgepedia.org/arun-matheswaran), starring filmmaker [Lokesh Kanagaraj](https://www.edgepedia.org/lokesh-kanagaraj) in his acting debut as the gangster Devadas, opposite [Wamiqa Gabbi](https://www.edgepedia.org/wamiqa-gabbi) as Chandra. The title is an abbreviation of the two lead characters' names, Devadas and Chandra.[1](https://www.sunpictures.in/movies/dc/) • [2](https://www.hollywoodreporterindia.com/amp/story/features/insight/dc-arun-matheswaran-will-direct-lokesh-kanagaraj-and-wamiqa-gabbi-for-his-next) Produced by Kalanithi Maran under the Sun Pictures banner, the film was released in theaters on August 7, 2026, and, per the production team, collected over ₹1 billion (₹100 crore) worldwide within 15 days.[3](https://www.dtnext.in/entertainment/cinema/lokesh-kanagaraj-wamiqa-gabbi-starrer-dc-release-date-postponed-to-avoid-clash-with-jana-nayagan) • [4](https://www.dailythanthi.com/cinema/ott/lokesh-kanagarajs-dc-film-to-be-released-on-ott-where-and-when-can-we-watch-it)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Title meaning | "DC" stands for the lead characters Devadas and Chandra[2](https://www.hollywoodreporterindia.com/amp/story/features/insight/dc-arun-matheswaran-will-direct-lokesh-kanagaraj-and-wamiqa-gabbi-for-his-next) |
| Director and leads | Arun Matheswaran directs; Lokesh Kanagaraj (Devadas) and Wamiqa Gabbi (Chandra) star, with Sanjana Krishnamoorthy in a key role[1](https://www.sunpictures.in/movies/dc/) • [5](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2026/08/30/dc-tamil-movie-ott-release-date-out-lokesh-kanagaraj-wamiqa-gabbi.amp.html) |
| Release | 7 August 2026 in theaters, postponed from 31 July to avoid clashing with *Jana Nayagan*; certified A[3](https://www.dtnext.in/entertainment/cinema/lokesh-kanagaraj-wamiqa-gabbi-starrer-dc-release-date-postponed-to-avoid-clash-with-jana-nayagan) |
| Runtime and genre | 2 hours 30 minutes; action, crime, drama, romance, thriller; Tamil language[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dc) |
| Music and crew | Music by Anirudh Ravichander, cinematography by Mukesh G, editing by G K Prasanna[5](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2026/08/30/dc-tamil-movie-ott-release-date-out-lokesh-kanagaraj-wamiqa-gabbi.amp.html) |
| Box office | Over ₹1 billion (₹100 crore) worldwide within 15 days of release, per the production team[4](https://www.dailythanthi.com/cinema/ott/lokesh-kanagarajs-dc-film-to-be-released-on-ott-where-and-when-can-we-watch-it) |
| Streaming | Sun NXT from September 4, 2026 (Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam); SonyLIV from October 16, 2026 (Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam)[5](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2026/08/30/dc-tamil-movie-ott-release-date-out-lokesh-kanagaraj-wamiqa-gabbi.amp.html) • [7](https://boxofficex.in/article/dc-ott-release-sonyliv-lokesh-kanagaraj-five-languages) |
## Spoilers
### Premise and characters
The film follows Devadas, a gangster who robs weapons including police firearms with his associates and kills a police officer. Hiding in a lodge, he is arrested, and the police shoot and kill Sanjana, a singer who had befriended him. Escaping custody, he meets Chandra, a woman living in the sex trade, in an unexpected encounter; she eventually travels with him, and the rest of the story follows their struggles as he flees for his life.[4](https://www.dailythanthi.com/cinema/ott/lokesh-kanagarajs-dc-film-to-be-released-on-ott-where-and-when-can-we-watch-it) Promotional material describes the pair as rebels whose alliance demands bloodshed and tests loyalties in a world shaped by violence, betrayal, and survival.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dc) • [5](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2026/08/30/dc-tamil-movie-ott-release-date-out-lokesh-kanagaraj-wamiqa-gabbi.amp.html)
The story is a loose, action-heavy reworking of the Devdas story, and the pairing of Devadas and Chandra has been compared by viewers to [Bonnie and Clyde](https://www.edgepedia.org/bonnie-and-clyde); the title teaser itself ended with a still from the 1967 Hollywood film *Bonnie and Clyde*, suggesting the duo work together as criminals.[8](https://nowiretv.com/post/dc-lokesh-kanagaraj-story-cast-ott-release-reviews) • [2](https://www.hollywoodreporterindia.com/amp/story/features/insight/dc-arun-matheswaran-will-direct-lokesh-kanagaraj-and-wamiqa-gabbi-for-his-next)
## Production
The project was announced with the title DC in late 2025, marking the first time Lokesh Kanagaraj, until then known as the director of *Kaithi*, *[Master](https://www.edgepedia.org/master-2021-film)*, *Vikram*, *Leo*, and *Coolie*, appeared in front of the camera as a lead actor.[9](https://cineulagam.com/article/lokesh-kanagaraj-as-hero-film-titled-dc-1762005426) • [10](https://www.dtnext.in/entertainment/cinema/lokesh-kanagaraj-finishes-filming-for-dc-his-acting-debut) The Hollywood Reporter India noted that Kanagaraj has often spoken of his love for DC movies over the [Marvel Cinematic Universe](https://www.edgepedia.org/marvel-cinematic-universe).[2](https://www.hollywoodreporterindia.com/amp/story/features/insight/dc-arun-matheswaran-will-direct-lokesh-kanagaraj-and-wamiqa-gabbi-for-his-next)
**Filming and preparation.** Shooting was completed by April 27, 2026, which the production house marked with a cake-cutting celebration on social media. Kanagaraj underwent martial arts training in Thailand for the film after finishing direction of *Coolie*, which stars [Rajinikanth](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajinikanth).[10](https://www.dtnext.in/entertainment/cinema/lokesh-kanagaraj-finishes-filming-for-dc-his-acting-debut) Dialogues were written by Arun Matheswaran and Franklin Jacob, with additional screenplay by Arun Ranjan; art direction is by Kannan S.[10](https://www.dtnext.in/entertainment/cinema/lokesh-kanagaraj-finishes-filming-for-dc-his-acting-debut)
**Promotion.** The team announced on May 13, 2026 that the trailer would release on May 15 at 6 pm, and the trailer was also screened at the Cannes Film Festival in France on that date.[11](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/cinema-news/2026/May/13/announcement-of-the-trailer-for-the-dc-film-starring-lokesh-kanagaraj) The official trailer, published on YouTube on May 15, 2026, drew over 21.5 million views.[12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kntxizQIFI) [Dharma Productions](https://www.edgepedia.org/dharma-productions) handled distribution of the film across the Hindi-speaking markets of [North India](https://www.edgepedia.org/north-india).[13](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/south-cinema/dc-trailer-out-lokesh-kanagarajs-acting-debut-to-release-on-august-7-dharma-productions-to-distribute-film-in-north-india/)
## Release and box office
The film was initially slated for July 31, 2026, but Sun Pictures postponed it to August 7 after the release date of *Jana Nayagan*, starring Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and actor Joseph Vijay, was set for July 23; the move avoided a box office clash. The film was certified A, meaning adults only.[3](https://www.dtnext.in/entertainment/cinema/lokesh-kanagaraj-wamiqa-gabbi-starrer-dc-release-date-postponed-to-avoid-clash-with-jana-nayagan)
**Commercial performance.** The production team officially announced that the film collected more than ₹1 billion (₹100 crore) worldwide within 15 days of its August 7 release, joining the ₹100-crore club of [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema).[4](https://www.dailythanthi.com/cinema/ott/lokesh-kanagarajs-dc-film-to-be-released-on-ott-where-and-when-can-we-watch-it) Cinematographer Mukesh G said in an interview that DC became the first A-rated Tamil film starring a debut actor to gross over ₹1 billion (₹100 crore) worldwide, and that its performance was especially strong in the Telugu-speaking markets and Kerala; he had personally expected only about ₹650 million (₹65 crore).[14](https://www.hollywoodreporterindia.com/features/insight/can-an-action-movie-be-shot-entirely-on-handhelds-dc-dop-mukesh-g-breaks-down-the-lokesh-kanagaraj-action-film) Trade tracker figures compiled by FilmiBeat put the worldwide total at ₹938.4 million (₹93.84 crore), with ₹625.3 million (₹62.53 crore) net in India and ₹218.5 million (₹21.85 crore) overseas.[15](https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/dc/box-office.html) Following the success, producer [Kalanithi Maran](https://www.edgepedia.org/kalanithi-maran) presented new BMW cars to Kanagaraj, Matheswaran, and composer [Anirudh Ravichander](https://www.edgepedia.org/anirudh-ravichander).[16](https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/dc.html)
## Reception
Critical takes varied. Rotten Tomatoes' synopsis aggregation includes the view that the film does nothing innovative with the familiar anti-hero revenge concept, alongside the observation that a dark, gritty, violent film does not necessarily have to look wholly unpleasant.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dc)
## Streaming
After the theatrical run, DC premiered on Sun NXT on September 4, 2026, in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam.[5](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2026/08/30/dc-tamil-movie-ott-release-date-out-lokesh-kanagaraj-wamiqa-gabbi.amp.html) It later began streaming on SonyLIV on October 16, 2026, expanding to five languages: Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.[7](https://boxofficex.in/article/dc-ott-release-sonyliv-lokesh-kanagaraj-five-languages)
## References
1. [DC – Sun Pictures](https://www.sunpictures.in/movies/dc/)
2. ['DC': Arun Matheswaran Will Direct Lokesh Kanagaraj and Wamiqa Gabbi In His Next, The Hollywood Reporter India](https://www.hollywoodreporterindia.com/amp/story/features/insight/dc-arun-matheswaran-will-direct-lokesh-kanagaraj-and-wamiqa-gabbi-for-his-next)
3. [Lokesh Kanagaraj, Wamiqa Gabbi-starrer 'DC' release date postponed to avoid clash with Jana Nayagan, DT Next](https://www.dtnext.in/entertainment/cinema/lokesh-kanagaraj-wamiqa-gabbi-starrer-dc-release-date-postponed-to-avoid-clash-with-jana-nayagan)
4. [Lokesh Kanagaraj's "DC" film to be released on OTT, Daily Thanthi](https://www.dailythanthi.com/cinema/ott/lokesh-kanagarajs-dc-film-to-be-released-on-ott-where-and-when-can-we-watch-it)
5. [Lokesh Kanagaraj, Wamiqa Gabbi's 'DC' gets OTT release date, Onmanorama](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2026/08/30/dc-tamil-movie-ott-release-date-out-lokesh-kanagaraj-wamiqa-gabbi.amp.html)
6. [DC | Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dc)
7. [DC OTT Release on SonyLIV: Date, Cast & Languages, BoxOfficeX](https://boxofficex.in/article/dc-ott-release-sonyliv-lokesh-kanagaraj-five-languages)
8. [DC: Story, Cast, OTT Release & Reviews of Lokesh Kanagaraj's Debut, NoWireTV](https://nowiretv.com/post/dc-lokesh-kanagaraj-story-cast-ott-release-reviews)
9. [லோகேஷ் கனகராஜ் ஹீரோவாகும் படத்தின் டைட்டில்.. டீஸர் உடன் இதோ, Cine Ulagam](https://cineulagam.com/article/lokesh-kanagaraj-as-hero-film-titled-dc-1762005426)
10. [Lokesh Kanagaraj finishes filming for DC, his acting debut, DT Next](https://www.dtnext.in/entertainment/cinema/lokesh-kanagaraj-finishes-filming-for-dc-his-acting-debut)
11. [லோகேஷ் கனகராஜ் நாயகனாகும் டிசி பட டிரைலர் அறிவிப்பு!, Dinamani](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/cinema-news/2026/May/13/announcement-of-the-trailer-for-the-dc-film-starring-lokesh-kanagaraj)
12. [DC - Official Trailer, YouTube (Sun Pictures)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kntxizQIFI)
13. [DC trailer out: Lokesh Kanagaraj's acting debut to release on August 7; Dharma Productions to distribute film in North India, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/south-cinema/dc-trailer-out-lokesh-kanagarajs-acting-debut-to-release-on-august-7-dharma-productions-to-distribute-film-in-north-india/)
14. [Can an Action Movie Be Shot Entirely on Handheld? Inside the Visual Rules of Arun Matheswaran's DC, The Hollywood Reporter India](https://www.hollywoodreporterindia.com/features/insight/can-an-action-movie-be-shot-entirely-on-handhelds-dc-dop-mukesh-g-breaks-down-the-lokesh-kanagaraj-action-film)
15. [DC Box Office Collection, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/dc/box-office.html)
16. [DC Movie: Release Date, Cast, Story, Ott, Trailer, Photos, Videos, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/dc.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Tamil films of the 2020s › Tamil films of 2026 and upcoming*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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