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Despite videos being taken down, South Indian content creators call out the makers of Param Sundari for the bad representation of Malayalees.
Bollywood loves its stereotypes; it loves banking on the little elements which it considers as quirks of each state and they've become a running gag for that bit of comedy to a storyline. Maybe that's why Bollywood still hasn't moved past them. And the portrayal of South Indians, even in the latest film like Param Sundari, says a lot about it.
According to Bollywood, it’s as simple as it gets. A banana tree, a white saree with golden borders, chandanam, and an accent that’s still riding the train that never left the 70s station! Because what you don’t understand is either andu gondu or "what five states man, everything is the same only." As a Malayalee myself, to say that it's offensive would be an understatement. I do love watching Bollywood showing off our beautiful states and all its glory. There’s nothing like being represented along with actors we grew up loving. Considering how we have been craving for a good Bollywood rom-com, Param Sundari looks like a promising 'North meets South' love story. But if you want to make these states part of your storyline, maybe a little research would be good, no?
It’s not that we don’t love our coconut chutney and banana chips but choosing to run with the same template that worked eons ago shows Bollywood’s laziness to butcher the culture rather than adapt to what it truly is. As soon as Jhanvi Kapoor enters the screen, you, as a South Indian, are met with your worst nightmare - a female version of what Hindi cinema considers to be the depiction of the quintessential South Indian, Mithun Chakraborty'sKrishan Iyer MA. She has everything - mulla poo in her hair, half saree, a coconut billhook, and an accent that pierces your ear for how racist and unrealistic it sounds. While she is also portrayed to be classically trained, we can maybe give them some points for choosing to represent Kerala's art form, Mohiniyattam. But what truly puts a nail in the coffin and feeds into Bollywood's idea of South Indians is giving the character a name that's quite a mouthful. Because Sundari Pillai wouldn't have done what Dekhpatta Sundari Damodaram Pillai does, right?
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Shah Rukh Khan surprised us by portraying an intelligent techie who creates video games in Ra One, he detracted from the character's appeal by making him a curly-haired guy who adds curd to his noodles. Similarly, Deepika Padukone's performance as the iconic Meenamma in Chennai Express is another example of how these over-exaggerated portrayals often end up becoming eternal despite how bad the portrayals were. It was the same with the most recent National Award winner, Kerala Story, whose bad representation will continue to haunt Malayalees throughout time.
It's important to note that Kerala has misrepresented or stereotyped North Indians in their films too. We've seen numerous portrayals of turban-clad Punjabis who speak poor Hindi or randomly burst into bhangra dances. Despite being one of the few Malayalam films that focused on Punjabi culture, Punjabi House, an iconic comedy that was later remade in Bollywood as Chup Chup Ke, included elements that led many to believe that all Punjabis resolve their issues through fights or that they live in large joint families. However, over time, filmmakers have learned and chosen to present characters that do not degrade the culture but instead open avenues for Malayalees to understand it better. Films like Mallu Singh and Godha serve as classic examples of improved Punjabi representation in Malayalam cinema. The portrayal of Assi, a North-Eastern student in Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi, is another great example of how a well-researched character looks like.
Pavithra Menon, an RJ and content creator, was quick to point this out in her video that has been reshared by the creator after it was removed from Instagram. She talks about Bollywood's reluctance to hire a South Indian actor to play a role that is based on them. By stating her own example as a Malayalee who can also speak Hindi, Pravithra criticises the makers for always associating Mallus with jasmine flowers and bad accents when it's far from reality. Divya Unny, an actress and Malayalee who is currently living in Mumbai, is aware of Bollywood's need to stick to its template of what South Indians should look like.
Talking about the ongoing debates around Param Sundari, she recalled her own experience of auditioning in Mumbai and being asked to put in a 'south Indian accent' despite not having one. Meanwhile creator Vedangi called out the makers for not only misrepresenting Malayalees, but also of getting their videos, that talked about the same, flagged. Highlighting how this portrayal is not only inaccurate but also feels disrespectful towards every Malayalee, Vendagi joined these online discussions on the film.
Besides these three, several creators joined in these discussions, using their platforms to address this long-standing stereotype that Bollywood perpetuates in its films. With their storytelling skills, these creators are examining how ignorant and racist these portrayals can be.
As discussions continue and some of these videos get flagged on Instagram, we are repeatedly reminded of Bollywood's reluctance to share diverse stories. Despite the opportunity to educate and celebrate different cultures, the industry seems to prefer sticking to its outdated formula, serving the same stereotypes and taking us back a decade. Honestly, there's only one thing we Malayalees want to say to Bollywood -'Ende prahasanam aado idhu?'
What do you think of this whole debacle? Let us know in the comments below.
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