The much-anticipated box office clash between Dhanush's 'Kara' and Dhruva Sarja's 'KD The Devil' has finally begun, with both films releasing on May 1, 2026. As per early estimates, Dhanush's 'Kara' has taken a strong lead over Dhruva Sarja's 'KD The Devil' on day 1, particularly in the Tamil Nadu market.
Day 1 Box Office Collections
'Kara', directed by a prominent filmmaker, has earned approximately Rs 12 crore nett in India on its opening day. The film saw excellent occupancy in Tamil Nadu, where it is the home turf for Dhanush, and also performed well in other southern states and metro cities. In contrast, 'KD The Devil', which is Dhruva Sarja's Kannada film, collected around Rs 8 crore nett on day 1, with strong numbers in Karnataka but relatively lower in other regions.
Performance in Key Markets
In Tamil Nadu, 'Kara' dominated with over 70% occupancy in many multiplexes, while 'KD The Devil' managed around 40% occupancy in Karnataka. In the Hindi belt, 'Kara' had a decent opening due to Dhanush's pan-India appeal, whereas 'KD The Devil' struggled to find an audience outside Karnataka. The Telugu and Malayalam markets also favored 'Kara', contributing to its overall lead.
Critical Reception
Critics have praised 'Kara' for its gripping storyline and Dhanush's powerful performance, while 'KD The Devil' has received mixed reviews, with some praising Dhruva Sarja's action sequences but criticizing the plot's predictability. The word-of-mouth is expected to play a crucial role in the coming days.
Both films are expected to see a jump in collections over the weekend, but 'Kara' currently holds the advantage. The final day 1 figures are awaited from trade analysts, but the trend clearly indicates Dhanush's film as the winner of this clash.
