'Bollywood always gets Malayalis and Kerala wrong': Dubai singer-RJ Pavithra Menon reacts to Janhvi Kapoor’s 'Param Sundari'
Janhvi Kapoor’s new film sparks outrage over lazy stereotyping of Malayalis in Hindi films
Dubai: When Dubai-based RJ and singer Pavithra Menon posted a reel calling out the lazy stereotyping in Param Sundari’s trailer — where Janhvi Kapoor plays a Malayali woman introduced as “ Tekhpatta Sundari Damodaram Pillai” — the internet erupted.
Several scenes show her weighed down with jasmine flowers, mispronouncing Malayalam words like “thenga” (coconut) and “mannuni” [idiot] in a painfully fake accent that even Malayalis couldn’t understand.
Instagram quickly pulled Pavithra’s video down on “copyright grounds.” But instead of silencing her, the move only turned her into a rallying point for South Indians fed up with Bollywood’s caricatures.
Dozens of Malayalam content creators, whose reels were pulled down, are lashing out at Param Sundari makers Maddock Films for not being able to digest constructive criticism and their inability to learn from their missteps.
“By trying to shut me up, they created an army of people louder than me,” Pavithra says in an exclusive interview with Gulf News.
She isn’t alone. Several Malayali influencers have also spoken up, slamming the film’s dated tropes and demanding authenticity in representation.
In her first full interview, Pavithra gets real about what pushed her to speak up, how Bollywood keeps getting it wrong, and why representation can’t be reduced to housecoats, jasmine, and coconut oil.
"My issue is with the makers who think a jasmine flowers in hair, a Mohanlal name-drop, and randomly throwing in Mohiniyattam is enough to represent Malayalis. That’s not representation. That’s caricature.” What follows are excerpts from our chat with Pavithra Menon ...
Your reel on Param Sundari went viral — and then got pulled down. What happened?
They took my reel down because I used a tiny snipper of their trailer while making my point about how the movie got the Malayali representation wrong. This is straight-up Gunda [goon] behaviour. If YouTubers can react to entire trailers, why is mine a problem? It wasn't vicious or mean-spirited, but by trying to shut me up, they created an army of people louder than me. The Streisand effect is real.
Why did this particular trailer upset you?
Because it’s not the first time. Every time Bollywood shows South Indians, it’s the same — jasmine in the hair, coconut oil in everything, heavy accents. Go to Kochi today and you’ll see women in cotton, breathable housecoats, not kanjeevarams with fresh jasmine and oiled hair. We’re global citizens, not cartoon props. It’s insulting.
This isn’t the first misstep by Bollywood Hindi-speaking filmmakers. Why did Param Sundari hit such a nerve with Malayalis. Also why can't they hire a diction coach when
Because it’s lazy and outdated. This isn’t 1995. It’s 2025. If you can hire an intimacy coordinator, you can hire a diction coach. Representation matters. Bollywood needs to stop underestimating audiences — we’re smarter and more informed than they think. We’re global citizens, not cartoon props. This caricaturing needs to end.
There are several reports that seem to suggest that your criticism was aimed at Janhvi Kapoor and reduced to a woman vs woman battle?
Not at all, my reel wasn't aimed at disparaging Janhvi Kapoor. Actors don’t cast themselves. Janhvi is doing her job. My issue is with the makers who think a jasmine garland and a Mohanlal name-drop is enough to represent Malayalis. That’s not representation. That’s caricature.
Have you faced stereotyping personally as an actor/singer?
Yes. Casting calls still ask for ‘typical South Indian girls’ with heavy accents and dark skin. Once I spoke normal Hindi and was told, ‘No, no, make it sound more South Indian.’ That’s not representation and those suggestions really grate.
Were you worried about backlash at work?
I work at a Hindi radio station in Dubai. My job could be at stake. But fortunately my colleagues were so supportive and actually said, ‘Well done.’ They get it. UAE has such a huge Malayali population, you can’t get away with lazy stereotypes here.
What do you want Bollywood to take away from this?
Stop underestimating your audience. We’re smarter, more informed, and tired of clichés. Spend money on research, not just sleeveless blouses and jasmine flowers. This isn’t entertaining anymore. It’s cringe. And we won’t stay quiet about it.
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