A new Bollywood film has reignited an age-old conversation around how India's largest and most influential film industry represents characters from non-Hindi speaking states.
'Param Sundari', a romcom starring Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor, is a love story between a woman from the southern state of Kerala and a man from Delhi in northern India.
Param and Sundari first butt heads and then fall in love, successfully overcoming the cultural differences between them. However, the portrayal of Sundari has attracted significant criticism.
Critics argue that the film overly relies on clichéd representations of Kerala, depicting Sundari with traits such as wearing jasmine flowers in her hair and communicating with elephants, while her Malayalam language skills are disappointingly poor. Many have voiced concerns about the potential misrepresentation of the cultural landscape, especially in light of the film's trailer.
This isn't the first time Bollywood's handling of cultural themes has come under scrutiny; filmmakers have a history of using regional stereotypes for comedic purposes, which has increasingly been challenged by audiences.
One notable example includes another character from a recent controversial film, who also struggled with authentic representation. Critics have suggested that films like 'Param Sundari' risk reducing complex cultural identities to mere caricatures.
Despite the backlash, some viewers find value in the film's exploration of cultural differences, suggesting that it offers insights into unfamiliar cultures, even if not entirely authentic. As Bollywood faces competition from regional films gaining popularity, discussions on the film's cultural authenticity and impact on audience perceptions are more relevant than ever.
Ultimately, the film shines a light on the broader issue of representation in the Indian entertainment industry, encouraging a deeper examination of who tells cultural stories and how they do so.
