The trailer for dinesh vijan’s Param Sundari was released yesterday and has sparked a mixed response from viewers. While some find it charming and believe it could be another sweet Bollywood love story, others feel it is an uninspired rehash of Chennai Express.
Set to release in theatres on 29th August, Param Sundari follows the romance between Param, a Delhi ka munda, and Sundari, a cheerful South Indian girl. However, several viewers feel the trailer relies too heavily on outdated cultural stereotypes and exaggerated character portrayals.
Critics have pointed out that the film seems packed with clichés, including men in lungis, classical dance sequences, elephants, machetes, and coconuts. Many say this reflects Bollywood’s continuing narrow and outdated perspective on South Indian culture, rather than offering a nuanced portrayal.
The casting of Janhvi Kapoor as a South Indian girl has also faced backlash. Fans have questioned why the role was not offered to an actress from the South film industry. Janhvi’s Malayalam accent has been criticised for sounding overly polished and unnatural for the character.
Her acting in the trailer has also come under scrutiny, with some accusing her of simply shouting in certain emotional scenes. This includes a moment where she identifies which South star belongs to which state, a portrayal that has offended some South Indian viewers.
The on-screen pairing of Janhvi Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra has been called unconvincing by several fans. They have noted a visible age gap and criticised Sidharth’s performance, with some saying it appears as though he has forgotten how to act.
Many had hoped for a heartfelt love story similar to Two States, but the trailer has instead left viewers comparing it to a mix of Chennai Express and a collection of South Indian clichés. Whether the final film offers more remains to be seen.
