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Kalidas Jayaram, acclaimed for his roles in films like Paava Kadhaigal, Vikram, and Raayan, has expressed strong criticism for the Bollywood film Param
Sundari, describing it as the worst he has recently watched. The 2025 romantic comedy, starring Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor. While the film achieved moderate box office success, it has faced controversy over stereotypical depictions of the culture of Kerala and traditions, drawing criticism from Malayalam actors and audiences.
What Did Kalidas Jayaram Say About Param Sundari?
In an interview with food blogger Iran Views, Kalidas Jayaram, criticized the Bollywood film Param Sundari, calling it the worst film he has recently watched. He expressed disappointment over the movie’s portrayal of Kerala’s culture and traditions, describing it as a bad attempt that misrepresented local customs. It has to be noted that Kalidas, hails from Perumbavoor, Kerala, is the son of actors Jayaram and Parvathy.
In the past, Actress and RJ Pavithra Menon took to her social media page to share the inaccuracies in Janhvi Kapoor’s portrayal of a Malayali girl and mentioned that authentic representation could have been achieved by hiring a native actor.
Actor Ranjith Sankar, in his post on Facebook mentioned that the film’s depiction failed to reflect the contemporary Kerala society, which has moved ahead beyond the clichés shown in the film.
Param Sundari Emerges Winner Despite Backlash
Veteran actor Renji Panicker defended the filmmakers, noting that the movie aimed to entertain audiences primarily in North India rather than Kerala. Panicker, who played a key role in the film said that it successfully provides a wholesome romantic comedy experience, and the dialogue delivery, catered to the target audience. Param Sundari is romantic comedy directed by Tushar Jalota and produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films. The story follows Param, a young man from Delhi, who seeks his soulmate through an AI matchmaking app and meets Sundari, a girl from Kerala. Despite the criticisms, it managed to gross approximately Rs 85–89 crore worldwide. While it did not reach the Rs 100 crore milestone, it is said to have got commercial success.
Meanwhile, Kalidas Jayaram was last seen in Ashakal Aayiram. The film featuring the real-life father-son duo Jayaram and Kalidas Jayaram explores their complex relationship, strained by differing life ambitions. It follows Hariharan (Jayaram), a practical and responsible medical representative, and his son Ajeesh (Kalidas), an aspiring actor consumed by social media, as they confront generational differences and financial challenges.
