Param Sundari, directed by Tushar Jalota and produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films, is a cross-cultural romantic comedy that hit theatres on 29 August 2025 after being postponed from July. The film pairs Delhi-based techie Param (Sidharth Malhotra) with Kerala-born Sundari (Janhvi Kapoor), weaving themes of love, culture clash, and family expectations in a sun-drenched Malayali setting.

Plot & Cast

Param, desperate to launch his startup “Find My Soulmate” and prove himself to his business-minded father Sanjay Kapoor, bets that he’ll find his soulmate within a month via the app. The soulmate? Sundari, a grounded homestay owner in Kerala. As Param arrives in her idyllic village, their worlds collide in humorous and romantic ways—complete with scenic backwaters, family drama, and expressive song sequences.

Supporting cast includes Renji Panicker, Manjot Singh, Siddhartha Shankar, Inayat Verma, with a cameo by Abhishek Banerjee.

Music & Technicals

Composed by Sachin–Jigar with lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya, the soundtrack—especially tracks like Pardesiya, Bheegi Saree and Sundari Ke Pyaar Mein—has been a major highlight, winning praise even among mixed reviews. Cinematography by Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran captures Kerala’s lush landscapes beautifully, and the 136-minute run time keeps the narrative light and breezy.

Reviews: Mixed but Charming Chemistry

Critics are divided.

• Positive notes:
  • Times of India (3/5) applauds the palpable chemistry between the leads and the film’s steady pace, calling it a “pleasant watch” for rom-com audiences.
  • NDTV views it as a loving nod to Shah Rukh Khan films, filled with tropes and nostalgia, though not breaking new ground.
  • Influencers and early screenings described it as fun, feel-good, with “Chemistry 15/10!”.
• Critical reservations:
  • Hindustan Times laments the lack of emotional depth, calling it a rom-com “with no soul” (½★).
  • Indian Express (1.5★) criticized stereotypical portrayals and forced humour, despite Janhvi’s visible effort.
  • GreatAndhra dubbed it predictable with weak execution (2/5).
  • 123Telugu pointed to pacing issues, emotional flatness and an underwhelming second half despite good music and chemistry.
  • Social media memes flagged its caricatured representation of Kerala culture and unnatural Malayalam accent.

Box Office & Budget

Though official budget figures were not publicly disclosed, it’s produced on a standard mid-range rom-com scale by Maddock Films. Trade analyst Rohit Jaiswal projected a strong opening of ₹ 7–9 crore net on Day 1 in India.

• Advance bookings were solid, hinting Day-1 collections near ₹ 9 crore.
• Actual earnings: Sacnilk reported ₹ 4.32 crore by 8 pm on release day (~10.6% occupancy), indicating a softer-than-expected start.
• Another report mentioned ₹7.25 crore opening—possibly early estimates before final figures rolled in.

As of now, Param Sundari remains a moderate performer opening day–wise, with word-of-mouth likely to shape its future trajectory. No official total collections or budget disclosures yet.

OTT Release

Prime Video has acquired exclusive streaming rights. Param Sundari is expected to premiere on Prime Video approximately eight weeks (around late October 2025) after its theatrical window closes.

Final Verdict

Param Sundari is a visually appealing, music-rich romantic comedy that leans heavily on the charm of its debut star pairing. If you’re in the mood for light-hearted escapism with beautiful locales and catchy songs, it delivers. But if you’re looking for emotional depth, originality, or authentic cultural representation, it may fall short.