A while ago, recommended by my cousin and a couple of other friends, I finished watching a show on Netflix, called Indian Matchmaking. This post is more like a review/insight post about the show. Basically, I do not watch a lot of reality shows, but this one can be called more of a bad documentary. This show is just flat out terrible, but it is one of those shows where you have nothing else to watch, and just need a plain good laugh to relieve stress, and this my lovelies, is the show to watch. Advice from me: Watch at your own risk! LOL
Anyway, to start, summarizing the show, it is basically about a professional matchmaker, named Sima Taparia, showcasing her business of arranging marriages. There is also a bunch of Indian women and men presenting their so-called "matchmaking" journey with Sima Aunty (as she is known on the show). We see Indian women ranging from a lawyer based in Houston to models to entrepreneurs based in India. We also see Indian men ranging from a jewelry designer based in Indian to a high school counselor based in Austin. To be honest, I wish I could list out all the people from the show here for explanations, but they were not that raw or genuine, to begin with. Not worth my time to write about in my opinion. However, there were two people that stuck out to me because of their personality:
- Vyasar (a high school counselor, based in Austin, Texas): I loved his personality, absolutely sweet, open-minded, and funny. I don't understand why girls rejected to be honest? Is it because of his job? His personality? I don't know, but I do hope he finds the right significant other.
- Ankita (a fashion e-commerce entrepreneur based in Mumbai, India): I felt like I could relate to Ankita due to her standards or criteria for a life partner. She is an independent woman and let me tell, that is very rare and not well-recognized in India to this day. People think of independent women as arrogant and like a con artist. So many more judgments.
There were a couple of people that just made like WTF?! I realized how superficial they are.
- Aparna (Houston-based lawyer): In the beginning, she mentions she loves being a lawyer and it was her dream since she was seven. However, she later mentions she hates being a lawyer and only did it for the money because she is so driven and ambitious (huh?) I was so confused. Plus she hated all of her matches, the man who found his passion of making podcasts, to a man who was a lawyer and loves to travel, to another man who asked her the question "What would do for 10 days of vacation/relaxing?" Her response was let me tell you "Why 10 days, I would only relax for 2 days and then get back to work." She also did not want a man who speaks a lot and has a sense of humor COME ON WOMAN!
- Pradhyuman (Jewelry Designer based in Mumbai India): There is nothing much to say about him, he just wants a pretty hot wife that does not speak and follows him. Not much to be said about him, as you can guess. Plus has no room for compromise
- Akshay (something in film distribution, based in Mumbai, India): IS HE GETTING MARRIED OR IS HIS MOM IS?! And his mom?! Don't even get me started about that woman! Also, when he met his match he didn't like the girl because she wanted to be a career woman. In his interview, he mentioned how he wanted someone to follow his mom and stay home to take care of the kids. WTF DUDE?! I don't even know how they made to engagement.
Later on, I found out that none of the potential matches got married or even engaged for that matter. This led to me thinking, what was the point of the show exactly then? I read an article talking about the cast members' interviews. They mentioned: "It was so awkward off-camera, then on-camera" I'm like then why? To be honest it was just an advertisement for the matchmaker and her business. Plus it gave the members their "15 minutes fame."
In all honesty, this show does not describe the essence of the tradition, and customs of arranged marriages and weddings in Indian culture. Marriage is considered valuable, auspicious and a holy tradition/custom in Indian culture. Various families, depending on regions in India itself have many different ways, views, and customs on marriages that not are all the same. This show cannot justify Indian culture and the tradition of weddings, it's more of stereotyping the tradition and culture which is totally wrong. Plus, I would say 5% of the Indian population relies on professional matchmaking, 95% of which is technically done by families from either the bride's or groom's side for matchmaking
Well, there you have it! Also, it is not my intention to offend anyone, but please if you are curious about Indian culture and customs, please go watch an actual documentary, read a book, watch one of those traveler vlogs, OR even feel free to ask me! I would be happy to answer your questions. Please do not watch some lame-a** show about Indian people.
Thank you!
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