Mahesh Babu praises DC as 'original and outstanding'; Arun Matheswaran responds
Synopsis
Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu called DC 'original and outstanding' on X, prompting a grateful response from director Arun Matheswaran. The cross-industry endorsement spotlights DC's breakout success — a gangster film that doubles as Lokesh Kanakaraj's acting debut, built on a chance conversation at a party and martial arts training in Thailand.
Key Takeaways
Mahesh Babu praised Tamil film DC on X , calling it 'an original and outstanding film.' Director Arun Matheswaran and music composer Anirudh Ravichander publicly thanked Mahesh Babu for his appreciation.
DC marks the acting debut of director Lokesh Kanakaraj , who plays a character named Devadas .
Lokesh Kanakaraj underwent martial arts training in Thailand to prepare for the role.
The film also stars Wamiqa Gabbi and Sanjana A K , with music by Anirudh Ravichander .
DC originated from a chance meeting between Matheswaran and Lokesh Kanakaraj at a party, where the story idea was pitched and immediately accepted.
Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu has heaped praise on the Tamil gangster film DC, directed by Arun Matheswaran and featuring ace filmmaker Lokesh Kanakaraj in the lead role, calling it an 'original and outstanding film.' The endorsement, posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, has drawn warm responses from the film's creative team, including director Matheswaran and music composer Anirudh Ravichander.
Mahesh Babu's X Post and the Response
Mahesh Babu took to his X timeline to share his appreciation for the superhit Tamil film, writing: '#DC… what an original and outstanding film! Just too cool… Loved every bit of it!! Congrats to the entire team…' The post quickly gained traction across film circles.
National Award-winning director Arun Matheswaran responded with a note of gratitude, saying: 'Thank you so much, sir! This truly means a lot to me. Seeing you watch and appreciate #DC is incredibly special. Really grateful for your love and kind words.' Music director Anirudh Ravichander also thanked Mahesh Babu for his kind words.
How DC Came to Life
Matheswaran has previously spoken about the film's origins. 'This is a story that I had always wanted to tell. I met Lokesh at a party and told him this idea. I said it would be good if we did it together. He liked the story a lot and immediately said 'Okay' to it. That's how this project started,' the director revealed.
DC is a gangster drama in which Lokesh Kanakaraj plays a character named Devadas, while Wamiqa Gabbi plays the lead character Chandra, and actress Sanjana A K plays Parvathi. 'Chandra meets Parvati on his journey. The film is about how their journey progresses after that,' Matheswaran explained.
Directing a Director
Matheswaran was candid about what it was like to direct Lokesh Kanakaraj, one of Tamil cinema's most celebrated filmmakers. 'This is not new to me. I have directed veteran directors Bharathiraja and Selvaraghavan sir too. Dhanush is also a director. Working with directors is easy. Since they know the film well, they quickly understand the director's vision,' he said.
Lokesh Kanakaraj's Acting Debut and Preparation
DC marks the acting debut of Lokesh Kanakaraj, who underwent martial arts training in Thailand for the role. This preparation followed immediately after he wrapped direction of superstar Rajinikanth's Coolie, which released worldwide on 14 August last year. Matheswaran had expressed confidence in the film's impact ahead of its release, saying he wanted audiences to watch it 'without any expectations' and promising 'it will definitely give you a new experience.'
The Creative Team Behind DC
The film's dialogues are by Arun Matheswaran and Franklin Jacob, with additional screenplay by Arun Ranjan. Music is composed by Anirudh Ravichander, with cinematography by Mukesh G, editing by G K Prasanna, and art direction by Kannan S. DC has since emerged as a major box office success, cementing its status as one of the most talked-about Tamil releases of the year. With cross-industry appreciation now pouring in from Telugu cinema's biggest names, the film's cultural reach is clearly extending well beyond Tamil Nadu.
Point of View
Not just the trade level. That a Telugu superstar is voluntarily championing a rival industry's gangster film underscores DC's unusually broad appeal. For Arun Matheswaran, who has now directed multiple filmmaker-actors, this cross-industry moment is also a quiet validation of his distinct directorial identity. The bigger story, however, is Lokesh Kanakaraj: stepping in front of the camera immediately after directing Rajinikanth is a high-stakes pivot, and a superhit debut changes the calculus of how Tamil cinema's top directors think about acting.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Mahesh Babu say about the Tamil film DC?
Mahesh Babu posted on X calling DC 'an original and outstanding film,' adding 'Just too cool… Loved every bit of it!!' and congratulating the entire team. The post drew responses from director Arun Matheswaran and composer Anirudh Ravichander.
Who directed DC and who stars in it?
DC is directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Arun Matheswaran. It stars director Lokesh Kanakaraj — in his acting debut — as Devadas, alongside Wamiqa Gabbi as Chandra and Sanjana A K as Parvathi.
How did the DC film project begin?
Director Arun Matheswaran has said he met Lokesh Kanakaraj at a party and pitched the gangster story idea on the spot. Lokesh immediately agreed, and the project took off from that conversation.
Did Lokesh Kanakaraj undergo any special training for DC?
Yes, Lokesh Kanakaraj underwent martial arts training in Thailand to prepare for his role in DC. He completed this training after wrapping direction of Rajinikanth's Coolie, which released on 14 August last year.
Who are the key crew members of DC?
DC features music by Anirudh Ravichander, cinematography by Mukesh G, editing by G K Prasanna, and art direction by Kannan S. Dialogues are by Arun Matheswaran and Franklin Jacob, with additional screenplay by Arun Ranjan.
