⭐ Rating: 2/5
Param Sundari Review: Tushar Jalota’s new film, starring Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor, tries to blend romance with culture-clash comedy, but ends up leaning heavily on Kerala stereotypes while struggling to deliver laughs.
Kerala Clichés Galore
From backwaters, elephants, Onam, Ayurveda, and boat races to Mohanlal songs, kalaripayattu, and Mohiniyattam, the film piles up Kerala references in quick succession. Instead of organic storytelling, it often feels like a checklist of clichés—complete with unironic use of the “God’s own country” tagline.
Plot: A Delhi Boy Meets His ‘Soulmate’ in Kerala
Param (Sidharth Malhotra) is a directionless Delhi rich kid whose failed startups are bankrolled by his father (Sanjay Kapoor). When a quirky app called Find Your Soulmate claims his match lives in Kerala, Param heads south with his friend (Manjot Singh).
They end up at the homestay run by Sundari (Janhvi Kapoor). While Param is instantly charmed, Sundari is unimpressed with these ever-smiling North Indians who confuse Tamil with Malayalam and Rajinikanth with Mohanlal. What follows is a predictable North-versus-South culture clash, in the vein of Chennai Express or 2 States, but without the spark.
Performances and Writing
- Sidharth Malhotra continues to appear stiff on screen, even after more than a decade in films.
- Janhvi Kapoor struggles with her Malayalam accent, though she brings energy to her role.
- Supporting characters—like Sundari’s quirky sister and a flirtatious nurse—are written in broad strokes, with little nuance.
Director Tushar Jalota, who earlier helmed Dasvi, once again fails to create sharp comedy or engaging drama. Even the love triangle involving Venu (Siddhartha Shankar) lacks tension, with the narrative meandering until the inevitable soulmate app reveal.
Cultural Disconnects and Missed Opportunities
The film’s language inconsistencies stand out: locals converse in Hindi more often than Malayalam, accents vanish conveniently, and subtitles appear sporadically. At one point, Param rallies locals with a Hindi song during a boat race—undermining the film’s supposed message about embracing local culture.
Instead of exploring cross-cultural romance with freshness, Param Sundari feels outdated, especially at a time when streaming audiences are more accepting of linguistic authenticity.
Music: The Silver Lining
The standout element is Sachin-Jigar’s “Pardesiya”, a pulsating track with rhythms inspired by Kerala’s boat races. It’s easily the film’s highlight, echoing the brilliance of an A.R. Rahman composition. Unfortunately, the film rarely matches the song’s creativity.
Final Verdict: A Culture Clash Without Spark
Param Sundari had the potential to be a witty clash-of-cultures rom-com, but instead settles for caricatures and clichés. Despite star power and vibrant visuals, the film struggles to land genuine laughs or heartfelt moments.
