Param Sundari trailer slammed for caricaturing Malayalis, copyright strikes target critics
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The recently unveiled trailer of Param Sundari — starring Janhvi Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra — has become a hotbed of criticism.
While the film presents itself as a cross-cultural, romantic comedy set against Kerala’s backdrop, viewers have swiftly turned their attention to the portrayal of the Malayali character, Sundari.
Critics, especially from Kerala, have taken issue with Janhvi Kapoor’s Malayalam accent, branding it inauthentic and artificial. As one viewer put it: “It doesn’t sound natural; it’s not even properly legible.”
Many social media users struggled to understand the name of the character itself.
Many content creators called out the film's team, saying that using a dubbing artist for the actress wasn't difficult at all.
Moreover, the trailer has been flagged for leaning too heavily on South Indian stereotypes — lungis, coconuts, classical dances, and over-the-top dialects — reminiscent of a Chennai Express gimmick rather than an authentic portrayal.
Malayali actress and singer Pavithra Menon emerged as a prominent voice in the backlash.
In an Instagram video reacting to the trailer, she asked sharply, “Is it so hard to find a Malayali to play the role in a Hindi movie? Are we less talented?”
She went further, dismissing clichéd tropes like jasmine garlands and Mohiniyattam dancing as outdated, questioning why Bollywood continues to perpetuate such caricatures in 2025.
Subsequently, her Instagram post — featuring trailer excerpts and her critique — was taken down under claims of copyright violation by the film’s production team. Menon reuploaded a version without the trailer clips, captioning it: “Thank you for all the support... I underestimated the power of our voices.”
The removal of Pavithra Menon’s criticism, which falls under fair use — since it is transformative commentary and criticism — has sparked debate over digital rights and copyright enforcement. Critics argue that using copyright claims to silence dissenting voices undermines creative and critical freedoms.
The trailer of Param Sundari has also sparked a memefest. Many mentioned that no one in Kerala is nowadays named "Sundari," and it is a name commonly used for pets. Others pointed out that Malayalam films have also portrayed North Indians stereotypically back in the 90s, but since then, the industry has evolved.
Some also mentioned that the caricaturish portrayal of Malayalis could be an intentional marketing ploy because the trailer itself generated a lot of buzz. Many called it an otherwise below-average film that would have gone unnoticed.