Tushar Jalota’s upcoming film Param Belange is making the trailer online waves – but not for complete exact reasons. While it has seen more than 43 million times on YouTube, the promo has also triggered a barrage of criticism, social media users have accused the manufacturers to reduce Kerala and its culture.
The biggest sounds of dissatisfaction were Malayalam singer Pavithra Menon, who dissected the trailer in a response video. He especially told Janhvi Kapoor’s pronunciation and style, stating how the character felt like a Malayali woman’s caricature rather than an authentic representation.
Criticizing Param Belange while criticizing Pavithra Menon’s video
Pavithra revealed that her criticism was removed by Instagram after a copyright complaint from “A Third Party”. Sharing a screenshot of the platform notice, reading, “We removed the following material you posted on Instagram because we got a notice from a third party that it violates their copyright,” he sarcastically captioned the post, “Happy Independence Day for everyone, which has a voice.”
In the original video, Pavithra also questioned the casting options, saying, “What is the problem in hiring a proper Malayali actor? We are talented hotels of work (are we less talented)? We have talked like this in Malayalam films of the 90s, when we speak once.
Social media reaction
His post filled a post of support, many users slammed the portrayal of Kerala’s film. “This means that it reached the right ears. Well done,” One person commented, while another commented, “They are afraid of it? Happy Independence Day IG.” A disappointed viewer wrote, “All Malayalis should submit a copyright violation report against them to incorrectly present an entire state and its culture – they could watch some Malayalam films for the least reference.”
Pavithra later uploaded her video without the film clip.
The ultimate beautiful trailer under the fire for stereotypes
Beyond Janhvi’s pronunciation and dress, even her character’s name – Thakupata Sundari Damodaran Pillai – became a matter of ridicule, in which Malayali audience reported that such a name never exists in Kerala. Many people also said that they can barely understand the “Malayalam” spoken in the trailer.
About the supreme beautification
Produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Madock Films, the film also stars Renji Panikar, Siddharth Shankar, Manjot Singh, Sanjay Kapoor and Bal actor Inan Verma. Holiness beautifies is slapped for the dramatic release on 29 August.