Fans Disappointed With the Stereotypes in the Trailer of 'Param Sundari'

The recently released trailer for Param Sundari, starring Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor, quickly ignited backlash—not for its romance, but for its reliance on time-worn stereotypes about Malayali culture.

Within just forty seconds, the film’s portrayal drew sharp criticism from fans and creators who demanded better accuracy and diversity from Bollywood’s cultural depictions.

Janhvi Kapoor’s character introduces herself with a stereotypical long-winded Malayalam name, “Thekappatil Sundari Damodaran Pillai,” combining place and name in a way that many view as antiquated and unrealistic.

The trailer continues with clichéd sequences of Mohiniyattam dance, backwater boating, coconut-tree climbing, and Kalaripayattu martial arts—suggesting Malayalees are permanently stuck in these tropes.

Malayalam singer and presenter Pavithra Menon also joined the chorus of criticism. She questioned why a non-Malayalee was cast to play such a culturally rooted character and attacked Janhvi’s accent and attire as forced and inauthentic. Her Instagram commentary was briefly removed due to a copyright claim, but she reposted it, pointing out the blatant misrepresentation and demanding accountability.

Even critics not from Kerala chimed in. In The Indian Express, Rohan Manoj noted that the trailer’s name, Thekkappetta Sundari ("dumped beauty"), unintentionally becomes a punchline—reflecting poor script choices.

He also took aim at the film’s superficial geography tour, calling attention to the repeated cinematic pattern of exoticizing Kerala rather than portraying real life.

This article was previously published on omanmoments. To see the original article, click here