On August 29, 2025, Param Sundari, starring Janhvi Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra, hit theaters but faced immediate criticism for a scene showing Janhvi’s character climbing a coconut tree, deemed a stereotype of Malayali culture. Janhvi plays a half-Tamil, half-Malayali woman in this rom-com. The scene has fueled social media outrage for perpetuating clichés. The movie was released nationwide, with backlash amplified online. Controversy erupted post-release on August 29, 2025. The film’s box office dipped, earning ₹34.5 crore in five days, reflecting audience discontent.
The Controversial Scene
Param Sundari, a romantic comedy directed by Tushar Jalota and produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films, follows a cross-cultural love story between Param (Sidharth Malhotra), a Delhiite, and Sundari (Janhvi Kapoor), a half-Tamil, half-Malayali woman from Kerala. A scene depicting Janhvi’s character, Thekkepattu Sundari Damodaran Pillai, hacking coconuts atop a tree went viral, drawing criticism for its “insulting” portrayal of Malayali culture.
Box Office Struggles
Despite a promising start with ₹7.25 crore on opening day (August 29, 2025), Param Sundari saw a 65% drop to ₹3.5 crore on its first Monday, totaling ₹34.5 crore by day five, per reports. Advance bookings sold 10,000 tickets in 24 hours, but mixed reviews criticizing the “lackluster plot” and “no sizzle” between leads hurt its run. The film outperformed Janhvi’s Ulajh (₹10.4 crore lifetime) but lagged behind genre benchmarks like Saiyaara (₹21.5 crore opening). The controversy, alongside a “flirty church scene” complaint, dampened its momentum, per reports.
Challenges and Industry Reflection
Critics gave Param Sundari 1.5 stars, noting its reliance on “bumper-sticker lines” and outdated tropes, per reports. The film’s attempt at a Mani Ratnam-style romance fell flat, calling it a “Kerala tourism ad disaster,” per reports. Will Bollywood learn from this backlash or continue recycling stereotypes? As Param Sundari struggles to cross ₹50 crore, the controversy underscores the need for cultural authenticity, with calls for dialect coaches and regional casting growing louder.
-By Manoj H