Indian Matchmaking

Indian Matchmaking is a 2020 Indian reality television series produced by Smriti Mundhra that premiered on Netflix on July 16, 2020.[1][2][3] In August 2021, Netflix renewed the series for a second season.[4] In March 2022, Netflix renewed the series for a third season,[5] which premiered in April 2023.[6]

Indian Matchmaking
GenreReality television
Created bySmriti Mundhra
Presented bySima Taparia
Country of origin
  • India
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
Original languages
  • English
  • Hindi
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes24
Production
Executive producers
Running time26-42 minutes
Production companyThe Intellectual Property Corporation
Release
Original networkNetflix
Original releaseJuly 16, 2020 (2020-07-16) –
present (present)

Cast
  • Sima Taparia, a marriage consultant from Mumbai who uses preferences from the people, their parents, and her years of matchmaking experience.[7][8] She previously appeared on Mundhra's A Suitable Girl.[9][10][11][12]
Name Age Job City Seasons
1 2 3
Aparna Shewakramani 34 attorney and general counsel Houston Main
Pradhyuman Maloo
(sometimes referred as Pradhyumn)		 30 jeweler Mumbai Main
Nadia Christina Jagessar 33 event planner who runs her own company, Euphoria Events, and works as a marketer for Givaudan New Jersey Main
Vyasar Ganesan 30 teacher, college counsellor, and writer Austin Main
Akshay Jakhete 36 businessman Mumbai Main
Ankita Bansal 30 businesswoman in garment e-commerce Delhi Main
Rupam Kaur Denver Main

Supporting cast

Release

Indian Matchmaking first aired on July 16, 2020, on Netflix.

Episodes
Series overview
SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
18July 16, 2020 (2020-07-16)
28August 10, 2022 (2022-08-10)
38April 23, 2023 (2023-04-23)

Season 1 (2020)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleOriginal release date
11"Slim, Trim and Educated"July 16, 2020 (2020-07-16)
Sima meets three unlucky-in-love clients: a stubborn Houston lawyer, a picky Mumbai bachelor and a misunderstood Morris Plains, N.J., event planner.
22"Just Find Me Someone!"July 16, 2020 (2020-07-16)
Nadia's and Aparna’s dates have mixed results. Friends and family get honest with Pradhyuman. Sima consults a face reader for clarity on her clients.
33"I’m Trying My Best!"July 16, 2020 (2020-07-16)
A setback with Vinay temporarily discourages Nadia. Sima offers two more prospects to Aparna. Feeling the pressure, Pradhyuman finally goes on a date.
44"I Want to See You Again"July 16, 2020 (2020-07-16)
Nadia has a promising date. Pradhyuman sees a life coach. Sima sends Aparna to an astrologer and seeks a cultural match for guidance counselor Vyasar.
55"Take the Elephant out of the Room"July 16, 2020 (2020-07-16)
A date with a model uplifts Pradhyuman. As Aparna’s luck seems to turn, Vyasar hits a snag. Akshay’s mother insists that he marry within the year.
66"It’s High Time"July 16, 2020 (2020-07-16)
Vyasar and Rashi instantly bond. As Akshay rejects over 70 matches, Preeti gives him an ultimatum. Progressive Ankita looks for an equal partnership.
77"Marriages Are Breaking like Biscuits"July 16, 2020 (2020-07-16)
Sima faces a challenge with single mother Rupam. A discovery about her match bothers Ankita. Vyasar frets over revealing his father’s past to Rashi.
88"Adjustment and Compromise"July 16, 2020 (2020-07-16)
Akshay makes a decision while a new path emerges for Rupam. Ankita has an empowering realization. As her clients move on, Sima’s work never stops.

Season 2 (2022)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleOriginal air date
91"I've Dated Lots of Chicks"August 10, 2022 (2022-08-10)
Sima meets Akshay, a bachelor whose small-town location has hindered his search for love. Meanwhile, some of her past clients return with new hopes.
102"Be a Boss, Marry a Boss, Build an Empire"August 10, 2022 (2022-08-10)
Sima urges Akshay to change his thinking, and worries about Nadia and Vishal's differences. New client Viral shares her criteria for an ideal mate.
113"Ovo-lacto-semi-vegetarian"August 10, 2022 (2022-08-10)
Viral and Aparna each go on first dates. Concerned that his past might hamper his future, Akshay takes action. Nadia faces a surprise in California.
124"I Love You Like a Friend"August 10, 2022 (2022-08-10)
An old client returns — and he's not alone! Sima meets soft-spoken cardiologist Arshneel. Viral seeks a physical attraction. Aparna reflects on Daman.
135"The Looks of Clint Eastwood"August 10, 2022 (2022-08-10)
A date leaves Arshneel apprehensive. Aparna reaches a conclusion about her needs. Sima and new client Shital debate compromise versus settling.
146"Very Chulbuli"August 10, 2022 (2022-08-10)
Despite a rocky date, Viral may be smitten. Arshneel and Rinkle get off to a promising start. A charming but chatty prospect gives Shital pause.
157"All The Bases Covered"August 10, 2022 (2022-08-10)
After a few flat dates, Shital worries about self-sabotage. Chemistry also proves elusive for Vinesh, Sima's new client, as he meets a potential match.
168"I Feel Like He's The One"August 10, 2022 (2022-08-10)
Opening up to Aashay, Viral notices her softer side emerging. Still struggling to find a connection, Vinesh finally considers changing his own mindset.

Season 3 (2023)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleOriginal air date
171"Husband-in-Waiting"April 23, 2023 (2023-04-23)
In London, Priya hopes for a new start and teacher Bobby wants out of the friend zone. In New Delhi, a client returns. A happy couple ponders next steps.
182"Take the Bobby"April 23, 2023 (2023-04-23)
Sima meets with founders of South Asian dating apps. Bobby and Priya take a salsa class. Rushali worries a spouse will separate her from her parents.
193"An ABCD"April 23, 2023 (2023-04-23)
Viral meets Aashay's parents. Rushali enjoys a first date — until it hits a snag. In California, Sima urges ER doctor Vikash to rethink his criteria.
204"A Top Knot Appreciator"April 23, 2023 (2023-04-23)
Vikash struggles to let go of his checklist. A new prospect has Priya cautiously optimistic. A life coach helps Rushali open up.
215"Is Costco a Hobby?"April 23, 2023 (2023-04-23)
As Priya considers rejecting an effusive suitor, Sima pushes back. Arti seeks a match with ambition and an edge. A familiar face returns with a new glow.
226"Wills and Whims and Fancies"April 23, 2023 (2023-04-23)
The future looks bright for Shital and Priya. Arti begins to question Sima's outlook. Vikash and a date hit it off — but they have one big difference.
237"Daddy's Little Tall Girl"April 23, 2023 (2023-04-23)
Finding a match for marketing professional Pavneet may be a tall order. Through a dating app, Arti finds the spark she's seeking — but Sima is skeptical.
248"Marry Me"April 23, 2023 (2023-04-23)
Pavneet seeks clarity when a suitor is slow to follow up. Arti is in for a surprise. As for Sima? She remains in demand as ever.

Production

Development

Series director Smriti Mundhra pitched the idea of the show to a TV producer in 2009/2010, but the show was rejected for "essentially not being white enough."[21] She pitched the show to Netflix by showing Taparia, who "were super excited about it."[22] She had met Taparia three years before Indian Matchmaking premiered on Netflix, when she documented the lives of other three women going through the Indian marriage process in the 2017 documentary, A Suitable Girl.[23] Taparia's daughter was one of the young women featured.

Casting

Mundhra named the casting the biggest hurdle of the show, going through a client list of 500 families and calling to see if they were willing to be on camera. Mundhra also noted that the series initially started with about a dozen singles but some of those "fell off" during production.[10]

Critical reception

The show received mixed reviews between critics and social media users.[24][25][26] Inkoo Kang of The Hollywood Reporter called the show "insightful, humorous and heartwarming," praising how it showcases the preoccupation with height and caste, as well as Taparia's matchmaking tactics.[3] Kristen Baldwin of Entertainment Weekly gave the show a B+, stating that the show as presented in a "glossy, cosmopolitan drama, without a hint of 'look at these crazy foreigners and their kooky customs!' condescension."[27] Joel Keller of Decider called people to stream it, saying that it "brings thousands of years of tradition into the mix, and there’s a much better chance that the matches that are made at the end of the season will last."[28] Archi Sengupta of Techquila rated the show 4 stars out of 5, calling it "sweet and entertaining."[29]

Reinforcing religion and caste segregation

Though the show is called Indian Matchmaking, it portrays no couples who identify as Muslim, Christian, or Dalit— communities that represent close to 40 percent of India's population.[30][31] The show has also been criticised for normalizing caste based discrimination such as when matchmaker Taparia declares "In India, we have to see the caste, we have to see the height..." which Yashica Dutt of The Atlantic describes as "lump[ing] an entire social system, which assigns people to a fixed place in a hierarchy from birth, together with anodyne physical preferences."[30] Per Dutt, in the show, caste preference is coded into harmless phrases such as “similar backgrounds,” “shared communities,” and “respectable families,” and "the show does exactly what many upper-caste Indian families tend to do when discussing this fraught subject: It makes caste invisible."[30] The show was also said to further endorse and promote gender stereotypes.[32]

In addition to showing "classist" and "casteist" stereotypes, the show was criticised for whitewashing the idea of arranged marriages.[31][33][34] Kennith Rosario of The Hindu labeled the show as "The big fat desi stereotype," saying that the characters "believe in some of the most atavistic ideals of marriage, and the show, in its glossy demeanour, endorses it."[35][36] Sushri Sahu of Mashable gave the show a 2/5 on the Mash Meter, criticizing how the show is "problematic and cheesy in equal parts."[37] In response to the criticisms, Smriti Mundhra stated that she hoped that "it will spark a lot of conversations that all of us need to be having in the South Asian community with our families – that it’ll be a jumping-off point for reflections about the things that we prioritize, and the things that we internalize.”[38][39] Ravi Guru Singh, a cast member who wrote a personal piece for the Huffington Post about his appearance on episode 2 of the show, criticized the producers for misrepresenting his appearance and failing to "discuss and explore casteism, homophobia and ethnocentrism."[40]

The Los Angeles Times followed up with the couples appearing on the show and reported that they are not together anymore.[41]

See also

References
  1. Ramadurai, Charukesi. "Indian Matchmaking: The reality show that's divided viewers". BBC. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  2. "Prepare to fall in love with Indian Matchmaking: Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
  3. Kang, Inkoo (July 10, 2020). "'Indian Matchmaking': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
  4. White, Peter (August 9, 2021). "'The Circle', 'Indian Matchmaking' & 'The American Barbecue Showdown' Renewed At Netflix". Deadline Hollywood.
  5. Sisavat, Monica (March 24, 2022). ""Indian Matchmaking" Renewed For Season 3". PopSugar.
  6. Deggans, Eric (21 April 2023). "'It's about time': How 'Indian Matchmaking' found love - and success - on Netflix". NPR. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  7. Mehrotra, Kriti (July 17, 2020). "What Is the Cost of Hiring Sima Taparia?". TheCinemaholic.
  8. Hill, Kennedy (July 5, 2020). "Indian Matchmaking: Everything we Know About Matchmaker Sima Taparia". Screen Rant.
  9. Freedman, Adrianna (July 13, 2020). "Here's What We Know About Sima Taparia, the Matchmaker on Netflix's Indian Matchmaking". Men's Health.
  10. Villarreal, Yvonne (July 17, 2020). "Inside Netflix's eye-opening look at arranged marriage, your next reality TV obsession". The Los Angeles Times.
  11. Edwards, Eve (July 16, 2020). "Who is Sima Taparia? Husband, career and Indian Matchmaking explored". Reality Titbit.
  12. Raga, Pippa (July 17, 2020). "Families Around the World Seek out the Services of Indian Matchmaker Sima Taparia". Distractify.
  13. Swartz, Tracy (24 July 2020). "Chicago lawyer talks life after Netflix's 'Indian Matchmaking'". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  14. "Chicagoan Shekar Jayaraman talks about his experience on new Netflix show 'Indian Matchmaking'". ABC7 Chicago. August 16, 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  15. "'Indian Matchmaking' star Nadia reveals if she is still together with Shekar". Newsweek. 2020-07-21. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  16. "About Shekar Jayaraman, Esq., LL.M - Principal Attorney". Jayaraman Law. 2016-04-19. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  17. Harris, B.; Ogilvy, A.; O’Rourke, James S. (2005). Chicago Sun-Times: When Truth-Tellers Lie. London: The Eugene D. Fanning Center for Business Communication, Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame. doi:10.4135/9781526406026. ISBN 978-1-5264-0602-6.
  18. Rodriguez, Bianca (July 16, 2020). "Netflix's 'Indian Matchmaking' Is Your New Favorite Dating Show". Marie Claire.
  19. Karra, Sushma (July 15, 2020). "'Indian Matchmaking': 'Negative' Aparna doesn't like comedy, will she be able to find her perfect match?". Meaww.
  20. Mehrotra, Kriti (July 16, 2020). "Are Aparna and Jay From Indian Matchmaking Still Together?". TheCinemaholic.
  21. Houghton, Rianne (June 17, 2020). "Indian Matchmaking creator says show was rejected 10 years ago for not being white enough". Digital Spy.
  22. Gupta, Prachi (June 16, 2020). "Director Smriti Mundhra On New Dating Show and the Business of Indian Matchmaking". Jezebel.
  23. "Before 'Indian Matchmaking', this Netflix docu chronicled lives of 3 unmarried women". The News Minute. 2020-07-27. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  24. "Netflix's Indian Matchmaking Twitter Review: Some netizens love it while others deem it 'wrong' on many levels". Pinkvilla. July 17, 2020.
  25. Andrew, Stephen (June 17, 2020). "Netflix Series 'Indian Matchmaking' Sparks Mixed Reaction From Viewers". PopCulture.
  26. "Ugly truth or promoting colourism': Netflix's Indian Matchmaking gets mixed reviews". The Indian Express. July 18, 2020.
  27. Baldwin, Kristen (July 15, 2020). "Prepare to fall in love with Indian Matchmaking: Review". Entertainment Weekly.
  28. Keller, Joel (July 16, 2020). "Stream It Or Skip It: 'Indian Matchmaking' On Netflix, Where Mumbai's Leading Matchmaker Matches Singles In India And The U.S." Decider.
  29. Sengupta, Archi (July 16, 2020). "Netflix's Indian Matchmaking Review: Sweet and Entertaining". Techquila. Archived from the original on July 19, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  30. Dutt, Yashica (August 1, 2020). "Indian Matchmaking Exposes the Easy Acceptance of Caste". The Atlantic.
  31. Gupta, Shubhra (July 18, 2020). "Indian Matchmaking review: Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match". The Indian Express.
  32. "Netflix's 'Indian Matchmaking' Is The Talk Of India — And Not In A Good Way". NPR.org. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  33. Harrison, Ellie (June 17, 2020). "Netflix's Indian Matchmaking condemned for being a 'cesspool of casteism, colourism, sexism and classism'". The Independent.
  34. "'I am mortified': Twitter opens fire on 'Indian Matchmaking' - Netflix's reality show on arranged marriage". The Free Press Journal. July 18, 2020.
  35. Rosario, Kennith (July 17, 2020). "'Indian Matchmaking' Review: The big fat desi wedding stereotype". The Hindu.
  36. Padwal, Saylee (July 17, 2020). "What Critics Are Saying About Indian Matchmaking". Screen Rant.
  37. Sahu, Sushri (17 July 2020). "'Indian Matchmaking' Review: If 'Love Is Blind' Had A Brown, Cheesy And Problematic Cousin". Mashable.
  38. Padwal, Saylee (July 18, 2020). "Indian Matchmaking's Creator Welcomes Conversations About Colorism". Screen Rant.
  39. Menon, Radhika (July 16, 2020). "'Indian Matchmaking' Creator Smriti Mundhra Puts A Spotlight On The Marriage Industrial Complex of the South Asian Diaspora". Decider.
  40. Guru Singh, Ravi (2020-10-01). "I Was On Netflix's 'Indian Matchmaking.' Here's What You Didn't See On The Show". HuffPost. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  41. Lee, Ashley (2020-07-18). "Netflix's 'Indian Matchmaking' hints at happily ever after. Did the couples last?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
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