Nowadays, Bollywood movies often follow a familiar release cycle. They arrive in theatres first and then shift to streaming platforms. ‘Saiyaara’ reached Netflix this year. ‘Param Sundari’ arrived on Amazon Prime. As filmmaker Karan Johar pointed out, certain films are designed for theatrical viewing. According to him, some stories gain more value after they stream online because the theatrical experience prompts audiences to revisit them.

‘Param Sundari’ fits this idea well. It is visually rich and looks made for the big screen. Yet it still works on OTT because its appeal lies in its scenic charm more than its emotional depth.

The film opens with a striking scene. Param, played by Siddharth Malhotra, is seen running across lush Kerala landscapes in a mundu (a garment worn around the waist in Kerala). A group of local men chases him. The setting is peaceful, but the moment is chaotic. This contrast pulls the audience in. The scene raises a simple question. What is a Delhi boy doing here, and why is he being chased? The film then moves into his backstory.

Malhotra plays a privileged North Indian boy who has led a comfortable, carefree life. He has tried several startups. Each one failed. His father funded every attempt. His failures never carried consequences. He floats from one idea to another. When a young app developer introduces a dating app that claims to identify soulmates through algorithms, Param sees a new opportunity.

He becomes convinced it can be a profitable venture. He asks his father for five crores. His father refuses and challenges him instead. If Param can find his soulmate through the app, he will get the money. This challenge is what sends him to Kerala.

The storyline is familiar. A spoiled young man travels to a new environment. The place and the people begin to shift something inside him. In Param’s case, the shift begins when he meets Sundari played by Janhvi Kapoor.

Before Param meets her, the film shows his pattern of relationships. He matches with women on dating apps, meets them casually, spends a night or two with them and erases them from his life. The film tries to frame this as a cycle of detachment.

Sundari breaks that cycle.

She runs a homestay in Kerala and also teaches Mohiniyattam, (an Indian classical dance form) to young girls. Her world is rooted in discipline and selflessness. When Param first sees her, his surroundings slow down. The visual treatment suddenly becomes dreamy. It is a familiar Bollywood technique used to signal attraction. The moment does what it aims to do, even though it feels predictable.

When Sundari introduces herself as Thekkepattu Sundari Damodharan Pillai (her full name), the length of the name surprises both Param and the audience. The film uses this as a comedic moment, though one can question whether it leans too heavily on stereotypes for humour.

The contrast between the two characters is sharp. Param is careless and impulsive. Sundari is thoughtful and responsible. Their differences shape their chemistry. Their casual arguments and minor clashes become lighthearted moments. The film uses these interactions to build a slow romantic tension. Their relationship becomes the emotional centre of the film.

The most striking part of ‘Param Sundari’, however, is its visual treatment of Kerala. The cinematography highlights the region's greenery, water bodies, houses, and everyday life. At times, the film looks like an extended tourism advertisement. The locations are stunning. This visual appeal becomes the film’s biggest strength. It almost distracts from the writing’s weaknesses.

Several comedic scenes aim to capture the cultural gap between Param and the village. In one scene, he goes for a jog wearing gym shorts. The villagers stop him because his outfit feels inappropriate for the place. A village elder scolds him and insists that he change into a mundu on the spot. The scene tries to highlight cultural boundaries. It works in parts but feels exaggerated.

Another scene shows a nurse hitting on Param after bumping into him during his jog. She touches his biceps and invites him to her clinic for a ‘whole body check-up’. Rather than being funny, this moment feels awkward and uncomfortable. The humour does not land. It creates a sense of forced comedy that weakens the film’s tone.

Moreover, another scene involves Sundari climbing a tall coconut tree with ease. The scene is meant to portray her strength and confidence. It also fits the film’s fantasy-like style. Yet viewers familiar with Kerala might find it unrealistic. Bollywood’s imagination often treats such skills as effortless.

As their bond deepens, Sundari takes Param around Kerala. Their chemistry shines during these scenes. The song ‘Pardesiya’ plays over their journey. The music video is soft and pleasant. It supports the dreamy mood that the film tries to create.

Despite these strengths, Indian reviewers say the film shows a shallow understanding of Kerala’s culture. Certain scenes reveal a lack of research. For example, there is a moment when Sundari wears her ghungroos (a musical anklet worn by classical Indian dancers) along with slippers. Anyone familiar with Indian classical dance would notice that this is disrespectful.

Ghungroos are treated with great discipline. Wearing slippers with them is considered inappropriate. This detail may seem minor, but it reflects a broader issue. The film often relies on surface-level ideas about Kerala rather than portraying it with care.

Overall, ‘Param Sundari’ creates a mixed experience. The chemistry between the leads is lively. The film makes viewers blush in sweet scenes, laugh in light moments, admire the visuals and cringe in certain exaggerated or tone-deaf parts.

For viewers who know Kerala well, the cultural representation feels shallow. The details that matter to the local community are treated carelessly.

For viewers who are unfamiliar with Kerala, the film may succeed as a light, visually pleasing romance. It does not demand emotional investment. It focuses more on the beauty of its lead pair and their charm than on cultural accuracy or strong storytelling.

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Param Sundari

Director: Tushar Jalota
Cast: Janhvi Kapoor, Siddharth Malhotra, Sanjay Kapoor
Duration: 136 minutes
Year: 2025
Language: Hindi

Available on Amazon Prime