What’s It All About?
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Genre & Synopsis
Param Sundari is a romantic comedy that brings together a fun, cross-cultural romance between Param, a Punjabi boy from Delhi (Sidharth Malhotra), and Sundari, a Malayali beauty (Janhvi Kapoor) from Kerala. Their chemistry is portrayed amidst Kerala’s mesmerizing backwaters and vibrant culture. The story promises humor, warmth, and unexpected twists. - Release Details
It was initially slated for 25 July 2025, but the release was postponed to 29 August 2025 to avoid a clash with War 2 and boost visibility. - Creative Team
Produced by Maddock Films under Dinesh Vijan, and directed by Tushar Jalota, known for Dasvi. Music is composed by Sachin–Jigar with lyrics from Amitabh Bhattacharya.
Marketing Highlights
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Teaser Strategy
The teaser launched exclusively in theaters alongside Bhool Chuk Maaf on 9 May 2025, creating early excitement. - Promotion Efforts
Ahead of release, Sidharth and Janhvi visited Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar Temple for blessings, as part of the wider publicity campaign. - Lead Single
The song “Pardesiya” dropped before the film’s release, building emotional resonance and buzz.
Box Office & Online Release
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Opening Weekend Results
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Day 1 (Friday): ₹7.25 crore
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Day 2 (Saturday): ₹9.25 crore
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Day 3 (Sunday): ₹10.25 crore
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First 4 days total: ₹30 crore, but a sharp drop of around 65% was seen on Monday.
- Critical Context:
Despite early excitement, the film’s box office run was moderate—even outpaced by contemporaries like War 2 and Coolie.
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Critical & Cultural Reception
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Mixed Reviews
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India Today noted the stunning visuals and music but said the chemistry between the leads was lacking.
- Indian Express criticized the film’s lack of originality and emotional depth.
- The New Indian Express described the story as predictable and surface-level, though visually rich.
- Controversies
The movie faced backlash for cultural stereotyping—especially a scene showing Janhvi’s character on a coconut tree, which many Malayalis viewed as reductive and hurtful. This ignited social media debate.
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Param Sundari (2025) is a visually rich Bollywood rom-com framed around the theme “North meets South.” The scenic Kerala backdrop and melodious music stand out, but critics note thin character arcs and a lack of convincing chemistry between the leads. The film earned a decent opening weekend but was hurt by cultural stereotyping controversies, affecting its long-term reception.
