Cinema VinesSun Pictures head Kalanithi Maran surprised the crew of the Tamil adaptation of Devdas, titled DC, with brand‑new BMWs on Thursday night, a gesture that has sparked a heated debate among fans. The gesture was captured in a video posted by the studio’s official social media accounts, showing Maran handing the keys to the cars to lead actor Arun Matheswaran, director‑turned‑actor Lokesh Kanagaraj and composer Anirudh Ravichander. The caption read, “Mr. Kalanithi Maran congratulated and presented the keys to brand-new BMW cars to Arun Matheswaran, Lokesh Kanagaraj and Anirudh, for the success of Blockbuster #DC!” The trio were seen smiling and driving away in the sleek vehicles, a moment that quickly went viral.
While the team celebrated the film’s commercial success—grossing ₹103.06 crore worldwide and earning positive reviews—the gesture left several key performers feeling overlooked. Wamiqa Gabbi, who played the exploited sex worker Chandra, was not presented with a car, despite her performance being widely praised and considered pivotal to the film’s impact. Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit to voice their discontent, with one user writing, “Wamiqa ku oru scooty achu vangi kuduthurukalam,” suggesting at least a scooter should have been awarded. Another commented, “Then should Sanjana receive a cycle…you should treat everyone equally,” pointing out that Sanjana Krishnamoorthy also received no gift.
The controversy has highlighted perceived gender bias in the industry. Commentators on social media noted the lack of recognition for the female leads, with one user questioning, “Did you forget? This is Kollywood; we don't respect women here.” Others expressed disappointment that Wamiqa, described as “the soul of the movie,” was omitted from the celebratory moment. The debate extended to Reddit, where users argued that the practice of gifting cars after a film’s success is common in South India, yet the distribution seemed uneven.
Behind the scenes, DC saw Lokesh Kanagaraj portray the outlaw Devadas, while Wamiqa Gabbi’s character Chandra and Sanjana Krishnamoorthy’s bar singer Parvathy form the core of a narrative that diverges from the original story. The film’s success, both critically and commercially, prompted Sun Pictures to reward the male leads, but the omission of the female performers has sparked a broader conversation about equity and recognition in the Tamil film industry.
