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Netflix’s latest reality show, Indian Matchmaking, brings the process of arranged marriages to the OTT platform, with Mumbai-based matchmaker Sima Taparia. 

Source: OprahMag

It certainly hits too close to home, highlighting the worst aspects of arranged marriage – a process that not only accepts, but even propagates, the ideas of colourism, sexism, and even casteism, turning marriage into a business proposition. 

‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 1

The show normalizes multiple problematic things, in the name of reality TV. Like these: 

1. When Preeti demanded that the girl Sima picks for her son be 5″3 or above because ‘height’ is the secret behind loving marriages. 

‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 2

2. When Preeti defined her ideal daughter-in-law as flexible. Exactly the quality you look for in a bean bag. 

‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 3

3. When Sima’s answer to every question on marriage is, adjustment and compromise. Every single time. Literally. 

This is the first thing that Sima says to Aparna, after Aparna shares what she expects from her life partner. 

‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 4

This is how Sima explains marriage to Vyasar, the first time she meets him.  

‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 5

4. When Sima judges Aparna for rejecting the first person she meets, even though Pradhyuman, who has rejected 150 girls, is just being ‘unsure’. 

‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 6
‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 7

5. When Sima aunty took a leaf out of Preeti aunty’s vocabulary on the ‘ideal’ Indian girl. Even international gymnasts could not match the standards of Indian aunties.  

‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 8

6. When Sima deemed Aparna picky, after knowing her past, but Vyasar got the ‘golden child’ treatment. 

Sima, after understanding Vyasar’s past: 

‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 9

Sima, after understanding Aparna’s past: 

‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 10

7. When every other person kept reiterating that there is a ‘right age’ to get married. SMH!

‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 11

Akshay’s mom uses the Indian motivation tool 101 – comparison. 

‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 12

8. When Sima is hesitant to take on a client who is a divorcee and a single mother, exposing the illogical, yet deep-rooted, bias in our society against divorce and/or widows. 

‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 13

9. When Akshay’s criteria of his ideal partner is, and I quote, “exactly like mummy.”

‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 14

*Ummmm researching Oedipus Complex*

‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 15

10. When Akshay, finally, clarifies that his ideal woman is not someone like his mother, but rather, someone like a babysitter. Phew, at least we got that clarification. 

‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 16

11. When Nadia believes that the right reason to marry is that her friends are married. 

‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 17
‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 18

And Pradhyuman backed the sentiment. 

‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 19
‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 20

And Pradhyuman’s friends backed it too. Have none of them been asked this question as kids – “If your friends jump, will you jump too?”

‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 21

12. When Sima aunty tops up Nadia’s reason with a better one – parent’s wish. This is the plot of Baghban 2. 

‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 22

13. When we finally get the secret to ‘successful marriages’. No, it’s not communication. 

‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 23

14. When an astrologer predicts Vinay and Nadia will have twins, only for them to break-up in the next episode, thereby proving how that astrology is a reliable science… not. 

‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 24
‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 25

15. When the same astrologer also describes the ideal man for Aparna – someone willing to accept domestic abuse. 

‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 26

16. When Sima aunty specifies what’s really at stake in marriage. And if you thought it was the couple’s relationship, you’ve clearly not been paying attention. 

‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 27

17. And last, but not the least, the never-ending obsession with fair and skinny. 

‘Reality’ Bites: 17 Problems With The Desi Arranged Marriage Scene In Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’ 28

All images are screenshots from Netflix. 





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