Ever since the release of the trailer for Param Sundari, starring Janhvi Kapoor and Siddharth Malhotra, the film has been subject to brutal trolls for its choice of a Hindi actor for the role of a Malayali. The Malayalam dialogue delivery by Janhvi has only been adding to the criticism. Since its recent digital release, the reactions have only become more intense, with netizens sharing a particular scene from the film where Renji Panicker repeats Janhvi’s awkward Malayalam lines. According to the internet users, the screenwriter-director-actor is ‘translating’ her lines, because she cannot speak Malayalam. However, Renji Panicker has taken exception to the criticism against the film. In a conversation with Dool News, he said that the criticism has gone too far and that the film’s target audience is not from Kerala but rather in North India.
In our Param Sundari movie review, Kartik Bhardwaj wrote, “It’s amusing to witness a product of the Hindi film industry, historically known for stereotyping the South, trying to teach viewers the difference between a Rajinikanth and a Mohanlal.” The review went on to note, “Janhvi’s Malayali accent is sporadic.”
Despite the criticism, however, according to Renji Panicker, the creators of the film have succeeded in their attempt in making a film that offers wholesome entertainment.
Tushar Jalota directed the film, which Dinesh Vijayan produced under the Maddock Films banner.
