Review : Param Sundari : Love Story Where North Meets South!

In recent times, Bollywood, dominated by the North, has looked southwards for commercial success, in the process creating Pan-Indian cinema. Actors from both film industries have exchanged talents for mutual benefit. The recently released film Param Sundari has crafted a love story where North meets South.

At the centre of the story is #SidharthMalhotra as #ParamSachdev, a young man torn between modern ambitions and age-old traditions, and #JanhviKapoor as Thekkepattu Sundari Damodaram Pillai, who is graceful, strong-willed, and deeply rooted in her cultural identity. Param visits Kerala to meet Sundari as part of a project for his startup, but he actually falls in love with her. She too, though silently, starts liking him. However, her uncle Bhargavan Nair (played by Renji Panicker) fixes her kalyanam (marriage) to his son Dr. Venu Nair (played by Siddhartha Shankar). Their love life faces hiccups due to societal pressures and cultural differences. What transpires next forms the crux of the story.

The story reminds one of Chennai Express and lacks novelty. The screenplay feels amateurish and shoddy, but the dialogues, at some places, sparkle. The music is good, especially the title track and the end-credit song. Cinematographically, the film is rich with visual storytelling, Kerala’s lush landscapes contrast sharply with the urban settings of Param’s world, symbolizing the central conflict between tradition and modernity.

The chemistry between Sidharth and Janhvi is good, and both look appealing on screen. Sidharth has tried his hand at comedy but still needs to polish his skills. Janhvi looks beautiful in every frame and has delivered a decent performance. Others, including Sanjay Kapoor, Manjot Singh, and Inayat Verma, lend good support.

Param Sundari is worth a watch for those who enjoy stories of love versus tradition.

Rating : **

By Keerti Kadam