Janhvi Kapoor’s Malayalam In 'Param Sundari' Trailer Triggers Backlash: Fans Call Out South Indian Stereotypes
The trailer of Param Sundari, Maddock Films’ upcoming romcom starring Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor, has set social media abuzz, but not entirely for the reasons the makers might have hoped.
While the 2-minute-40-second promo, garnering more than 2 crore views in 24 hours, delivers a colourful blend of romance, culture clash, and humour, it has also triggered criticism for its portrayal of linguistic authenticity and South Indian identity.
Directed by Tushar Jalota, the film follows Delhi boy Param Sachdev (Sidharth) and Kerala girl Sundari Damodaram Pellai (Janhvi) as they meet, fall in love, and face relationship turbulence when cultural differences begin to cause misunderstandings.
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The trailer shows Param’s first meeting with Sundari at the homestay she runs, where her love for dance becomes part of their shared moments. What begins as a light-hearted cross-cultural romance soon turns into a clash of worlds, the trailer’s final scene featuring a conversation about the differences between various South Indian film industries becomes the central talking point online.
Much of the online chatter has zeroed in on Janhvi Kapoor’s Malayalam in the trailer, with many Malayali viewers finding it inauthentic, unclear, and poorly delivered.
“It doesn’t sound natural; it’s not even properly legible,” one comment read, reflecting a broader frustration among South Indian audiences about the portrayal of their languages on screen.
For some viewers, the issue was more personal. “The last scene hit me like the frustration I’ve had as a South Indian my whole life,” one social media user wrote, pointing to the long-standing irritation with northern filmmakers lumping all South Indian states into one cultural mould.
Ironically, the trailer tries to address this very stereotype in its closing gag, with Sundari explaining that South India isn’t one monolithic culture and that Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada each have their own distinct identities.
But here lies the paradox critics are highlighting: the character calling out stereotyping is being played by an actress of half Tamil–Telugu and half Punjabi heritage, portraying a Malayali woman, and in the eyes of some, struggling with the language.
While I should be glad that Janhvi is calling out the North’s stereotyping of all South states as one, isn’t having an actress of half Tamil-Telugu lineage (and half Punjabi) playing a Malayali girl also contributing to that stereotype? https://t.co/cYsWyU1Uvm
— Sreeju Sudhakaran (@sree_thru_me) August 12, 2025
While Bollywood has increasingly embraced regional diversity in its stories, casting and dialect coaching remain sensitive points. As one cultural commentator noted, “You can’t break a stereotype on screen while unintentionally reinforcing another.”
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Beyond the online criticism, the trailer still retains the charm expected from a Maddock Films romcom. Sidharth Malhotra slips into the role of an affable, slightly awkward Delhi boy, while Janhvi Kapoor’s Sundari is portrayed as spirited and rooted in her culture.
The supporting cast includes Renji Panicker, Siddhartha Shankar, Manjot Singh, Sanjay Kapoor, and Inayat Verma. The music by Sachin–Jigar features the already released “Pardesiya” sung by Sonu Nigam, Krishnakali Saha. Originally slated for July 25, Param Sundari will now release in theatres on August 29, 2025.
