Condé Nast India’s first Netflix show shines a spotlight on how India’s one percent redefines big, fat Indian weddings. The second part of this show manages to clamber over the low bar set by the first.
Schadenfreude is real
We’ve always maintained the primary ingredient you require to enjoy certain shows, especially reality TV, is not manufactured drama but schadenfreude. Seeing mega-rich people trying their hardest to act relevant and make their first world problems (luxury wedding planners that can’t read their minds? shocking!) sound despairing is an unfunny joke. Also, “like Ranveer Singh” doesn’t qualify as a personality, Prerna #justsaying.
The family that lives together, weds together
Many people believe that you don’t just marry a person; you marry their family. And this is especially true of Indian families. As Karan Johar says, “It’s all about loving your family”, and said family puts the big in big, fat Indian weddings. Right from choosing your partner to your mehendi design to finalising the menu – they’re with you all the way. And yes, fathers will always cry the most when it’s time for their daughter’s bidaai.
Money can’t buy happiness, but it makes you happier
Want Sanjay Leela Bhansaliesque opulence on your big day (s)? Bespoke Tarun Tahiliani outfits? The luxury and exotic beauty of Bahrain and Langkawi as your wedding backdrop? Mika Singh performing live at your sangeet? Hand over the moolah and it’s yours. When it comes to mega rich weddings, the bigger and flashier, the better.
Love is love
The first episode which features Dhruv and Irina and Nisha and Scott gets very real as it addresses love across cultures, religion and race. We might have misted over when Scott’s mother raised a toast to Nisha and said she found a daughter in her. We loved how Dhruv, who unfortunately lost his parents before his wedding, embraced Irina’s parents as his own. And we emphatically agree with Nisha when she says that religious institutions should adapt and evolve with time, and accept that love comes in all forms, especially if they want younger people to retain their faith.
Say hello to the groomzilla
The first part had Ami, a self-professed perfectionist who was dubbed a ‘bridezilla’ by her family, friends and wedding planner, and this part has Dhruv. Affectionately described as a ‘Papa Bear Groomzilla’ by his loved ones, it was quite refreshing to see him step up and take charge of the minutest details of his wedding. More so as all the grooms featured in the first part seemed acutely uninterested in theirs.
WATCH OR NOT
If you want to attend six high-profile, glamorous weddings for free, this is your show.
Director: Ashish Sawhay, Faraz Arif Ansari, Raonak Hathiramani, Aakriti Mehta
Streaming on: Netflix