Upon its worldwide release on , Nanban received highly positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. It secured the second-biggest opening weekend for a Tamil film at the time, trailing only the sci-fi epic Enthiran . The film went on to become a huge blockbuster, reportedly collecting the highest-ever numbers for a Vijay-starrer up to that point. Its total worldwide collection was estimated at ₹150 crore. The film's success underscored the power of its message: that excellence is the natural byproduct of passion, not pressure.