Janhvi Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra starrer Param Sundari is making huge headlines even before its release. Directed by Tushar Jalota and produced by Dinesh Vijan, the romantic comedy drew attention with its trailer. While many fans enjoyed the colourful setting, light humour and the lead pair’s fresh chemistry, others were quick to point out flaws. Much of the criticism has been directed at Janhvi’s portrayal of a Malayali girl.
Malayali Influencer Explains How Badly Param Sundari Is Messed Up
Viewers on social media have accused the film of falling into stereotypes. Several commented that Janhvi’s character was always shown performing Mohiniyattam or wearing jasmine flowers, which they felt was an exaggerated picture of Malayali women. Actor Pavithra Menon also raised doubts about the casting on Instagram. Her post was removed once but later re-uploaded, sparking more conversation online.
Malayali influencer Divya Nair went further and criticised the film’s use of the Malayalam language. Speaking to Mid Day, she said, “Poor diction can sometimes be forgiven, but here, the Malayalam words itself aren’t clear or correct. The film was shot in Kerala on a massive budget. Why couldn’t the makers spend a fraction of that money on hiring a local dialect coach? Also, in the scene where Janhvi introduces herself as Theykkapetta Sundari Damodaran Pillai, the result is unintentionally hilarious as in Malayalam, ‘Theykkapetta’ is slang for someone dumped.”
Divya also pointed out errors in pronunciation. She explained, “The surname is wrong. She pronounces it as ‘Pillai’, whereas in Malayalam, it’s pronounced ‘Pilla’.” She further questioned why Bollywood avoids casting South Indian actresses who already have a strong cultural understanding. She added, “Nayanthara, Keerthy Suresh, Nithya Menen, Sai Pallavi, or Samantha Ruth Prabhu would have done justice to the role.”
Her criticism reportedly led to a copyright strike on her Instagram handle, but this only fuelled more attention on the film.
Janhvi Kapoor’s Response
Addressing the backlash during promotions, Janhvi Kapoor clarified that her character Sundari is written as half Tamilian and half Malayali. She also admitted that neither she nor her late mother, Sridevi, come from Kerala. Her comments suggested that the role may have more layers than what the short trailer revealed.
Sidharth Malhotra plays Param, a Delhi boy whose love story with Sundari drives the narrative. Their pairing has been one of the most talked-about aspects of the film.
Despite the controversy, excitement for Param Sundari remains high. The film is set to release in theatres on August 29, 2025. Whether it wins over the audience or continues to face criticism for its language and portrayal will soon be clear.
