A new Bollywood romantic comedy has reignited debate over how India's largest film industry portrays characters from non-Hindi speaking states, with viewers and critics accusing the film of leaning on tired stereotypes of South India.
Param Sundari, produced by Maddock Films and starring Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor, tells the story of a romance between a man from Delhi and a woman from the southern state of Kerala. The plot follows the pair as they initially clash over cultural differences and later fall in love, a familiar premise in Hindi-language cinema that has long used cross-regional relationships for comedy and drama.
Critics and social media users from Kerala and other parts of the country have challenged the film's depiction of the Kerala-born character, Sundari, played by Kapoor. They point to recurring visual and behavioural tropes — the heroine frequently shown wearing strings of jasmine flowers in her hair, portrayed as able to communicate with elephants and depicted climbing coconut trees for leisure — as examples of caricatured shorthand rather than nuanced representation.
Those objections reflect a longer-standing conversation about Bollywood's treatment of India's linguistic and regional diversity. In a multilingual nation where regional identity is prominent, filmmakers have sometimes been praised for sensitively navigating cultural differences and derided when portrayals are seen as reductive. The debate over Param Sundari centers on whether the film's humour and characterisation cross the line into stereotyping.
Responses on social media and in letters to regional publications highlight a sense among some viewers that the depiction reduces Kerala's culture to a set of easily identifiable props and mannerisms. Commentators said such portrayals risk reinforcing simplistic ideas about an entire state and its people, especially when presented to national and international audiences through a widely distributed Hindi-language film.
At the same time, industry observers note that cross-cultural romcoms have been successful when they balance comedy with authentic detail and character depth. Bollywood's reach means films often shape perceptions beyond their immediate box-office returns, prompting calls from cultural commentators and viewers alike for greater care in representing regional diversity.
Maddock Films and the cast have not issued widespread public responses to the criticism as of the latest reporting. The discussion follows other recent controversies in Indian cinema over representation, language and the balance between mainstream entertainment and cultural sensitivity.
Film analysts say the conversation over Param Sundari underscores broader questions about who gets to tell regional stories and how those stories are framed for pan-Indian and global audiences. While cross-regional romances remain a staple of Hindi cinema, the response to the film highlights increased scrutiny from viewers in non-Hindi speaking states and a growing demand for portrayals that reflect complexity rather than caricature.
The debate is likely to continue as the film reaches wider audiences and as filmmakers and critics weigh the responsibilities of an industry that remains a dominant cultural force in India.