Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor’s film Param Sundari hit theatres in August this year, just in time for the festive season of Ganesh Chaturthi. Over a month after its theatrical release, the romantic drama is now gearing up for its OTT premiere. This was the first time Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor shared the screen, and their fresh chemistry struck a chord with audiences. Shot in the breathtaking locales of Kerala, the film portrays a cross-cultural love story.
Param Sundari OTT release
According to reports, Param Sundari will start streaming on Amazon Prime Video from October 24. This marks an eight-week window since its theatrical release. The film is directed by Tushar Jalota, best known for Dasvi starring Abhishek Bachchan, and is backed by Dinesh Vijan under the banner of Maddock Films.
The story follows two hearts that collide when a North and South Indian unexpectedly fall in love. Their diverse backgrounds spark a comedic yet emotional love story filled with cultural misadventures.
Controversy around Param Sundari
The film sparked controversy among Malayali viewers, with several content creators claiming that their critical Instagram posts were deleted. Pavithra Menon, a singer and RJ, was one of the first to criticize the film’s portrayal of Malayali women. In a now-deleted video, she questioned why a Malayali actress wasn’t cast in the lead role, saying, “Women in Kerala do not walk around wearing jasmine flowers and dancing Mohiniyattam.”
Her video was swiftly removed following a copyright claim by Maddock Films. Menon later shared a screenshot of the removal, writing, “Happy Independence Day to everyone who has a voice.”
Undeterred, she re-uploaded the video, voicing her frustration over a Hindi actor representing a Malayali character. “What’s the problem with hiring a proper Malayali actor? Are we less talented? This does not happen in Kerala. We don’t wear jasmine flowers or perform Mohiniyattam in offices and homes,” she said, adding that if filmmakers struggle with pronunciation, “just say Trivandrum instead of Thiruvananthapuram — we’ll be fine.”
The debate soon went viral, with many Malayali users criticizing Bollywood for stereotyping and misrepresenting their culture. This wasn’t the first controversy surrounding the film — earlier, the makers had faced backlash for shooting a romantic scene in a church, which upset members of the Christian community who demanded its removal from the song.
