In a major protest that caught public attention, Kannada activists came out on the streets against the Bollywood film Param Sundari. The movie has been criticized for showing women in a negative way, especially women from Kerala. According to protesters, the film wrongly suggests that Kerala women have loose morals and can be easily influenced.
The anger is not just among Malayali people but also in Karnataka, where activists are showing support. Protests were held in several big cities. People carried placards and shouted slogans, demanding respect for women and fair representation of regional cultures in movies.
Critics say the film makes women’s lives look simple and shallow, instead of showing their real struggles and strength. Protesters believe such films create harmful stereotypes and influence how society views women.
“Cinema is powerful, and we want our women to be shown with respect. We will not accept stories that reduce them to cheap caricatures,” said one protester.
The protests also show a new trend in India—different regional communities are uniting to demand better and more sensitive representation in media. Kannada activists stressed that this issue is not only about Param Sundari, but about how Bollywood often misrepresents women from different states.
Women’s rights groups have also supported the protests. They are asking the film industry to take responsibility for the way women are portrayed. They believe filmmakers should avoid spreading harmful stereotypes that damage women’s dignity.
It is still unclear how the makers of Param Sundari will respond to the criticism. But many hope this movement will push Bollywood toward more responsible storytelling—stories that respect regional identities and show women in a fair and positive way.
The debate around women’s representation in films is clearly not over. With growing unity across communities, the call for change in Indian cinema is becoming louder than ever.
