'Param Sundari' Review: Yes, stereotyping of Malayalis is a red flag in this passable love drama

There was plenty of hue and cry when the makers released the teaser for 'Param Sundari,' starring Janhvi Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra. Social media influencers were aghast, pointing out that despite evolving portrayals in other industries, Bollywood continues to rely on outdated stereotypes when representing South Indians. But were they overreacting? Are they justified in their disappointment regarding the way the Kerala community is often depicted—always in traditional attire with jasmine flowers adorning their hair? It seems as if Bollywood only has tapes of Channel V's cute yet caricatured Lola Kutty (Anuradha Menon) for character reference of Malayali girls.

Tushar Jalota's Param Sundari introduces us to Thekkapettu Sundari Damodaran Pillai, a fiery, headstrong village belle portrayed by Janhvi Kapoor. From the trailer alone, it's clear that Sundari is a walking stereotype: long, flowing hair adorned with jasmine flowers, and perpetually dressed in traditional attire. Her looks are definitely charming, but not her accent. If Sundari has lived in Kerala all her life, it’s puzzling how she ends up speaking heavily accented Malayalam. If the makers weren’t keen on casting a Malayali actor for a Malayalam-speaking role, the least they could have done was dub her lines—especially since she delivers several lengthy dialogues in Malayalam. The lack of authenticity becomes all the more jarring.

The stereotypes don’t end there. When Sidharth's character, Param, tells his friend that Kerala is nearly 100% literate, the line comes across as more mocking than admiring. And while he seems impressed that a Malayali driver can speak English, the scene quickly turns into a stereotype when the driver pulls out a bottle of toddy, drinks while driving, and inevitably crashes into the bridge rails.

If that weren’t enough, we’re then introduced to a caricature of a local man who speaks exaggerated, broken English while giving directions to Thekkapettu Homestay—the ancestral home-turned-guesthouse of our heroine. There’s more where that came from, but revealing it would spoil the film, in case you plan to watch it.

Despite leaning heavily on stereotypes, the film manages to deliver as a passable romantic comedy with some genuinely funny moments. If you assume 'Param Sundari' only pokes fun at South Indian culture, there's a clever exchange where Sundari calls Param and his friend "guests from UP," though they're actually from Delhi. "Delhi, not UP," the friend corrects, to which Sundari quips, "Paratha, Porotta, same, same." While the film is often condescending toward the South Indian community, it does occasionally critique the pitfalls of cultural generalisation. The chemistry between Sidharth and Janhvi , while not particularly electrifying, is pleasant enough to keep the story moving. The plot, though overly familiar, shows promise—it follows a struggling entrepreneur who decides to invest in a dating app and, as part of a trial run, ends up at Sundari’s homestay without her knowledge. However, the film often gets too caught up in presenting a glossy, picture-perfect love story, which causes the narrative to lose direction at times. The songs by Sonu Nigam blend well with the narrative, though there are no stand-out tracks like Jiya Jale from 'Dil Se' or Lungi Dance from 'Chennai Express', two songs that showcase a bit of South Indian culture in Bollywood.

Just like in 'Chennai Express', the makers cast regional actors, including Renji Panicker, Tanvi Ram, and Anand Manmadhan, which is quite refreshing—though they are given stereotypical roles. Overall, the film, despite its several flaws, is a passable drama at best.