Parental pressure
Khadija Tariq
Wedding Season is a newly released Netflix romantic comedy with a little Bollywood flair
nder parental pressure to find spouses, Asha and Ravi pretend to date during a summer of weddings. The tables turn once the feelings get real.
Wedding Season is an ordinary yet enjoyable rom-com recently released on Netflix. It brings nothing new to the table but is still a good movie to watch on the weekends when you don't have to worry about plot twists and surprises because it is that predictable. With a good looking cast, pleasant soundtrack, handsome direction and production, and most importantly, cracking chemistry between the main leads, it is enjoyable throughout. It mainly showcases the pressure that South Asian youth have to face from parents to get married in time and making the hard choice between their own dreams and their parents' wishes. Both the main leads face their dilemmas centred around unstable career paths and parental enforcement.
The dreamy eyed Suraj Sharma and charming Pallavi Sharada play Ravi and Asha. Ravi is an MIT graduate with a mysterious startup; he also DJs in New Jersey. He has a troubled past which we get to know about as the story unfolds. Asha is in her thirties, She is the eldest daughter of Indian immigrant parents and has a younger sister named Priya. She is a workaholic who left her job as a banker in London to join a microfinance company back home in New Jersey with a dream to save the world and help the underprivileged. It could be described as a blend of Netflix's Indian Matchmaking and the popular movie series To All The Boys I've Loved Before as it includes all the clichés of typical Indian culture matchmaking and fake dating that ends up as a real love affair.
It mainly showcases the pressure that South Asians have to face from parents to get married in time and making the hard choice between their own dreams and their parents' wishes.
Asha and Ravi have fake dating profiles made by their parents with exaggerated information to attract the best matches. This is how the movie begins – with an ironic, situational comedy tone. The date is a disaster as both Asha and Ravi are not interested in a relationship and want instead to focus on their careers. Afraid of the commotion her mother might stir, Asha asks Ravi to fake date her till the end of summer so that they can get through the wedding season without gossip aunties ripping her apart and more setups arranged by their parents. Ravi agrees. In the process they fall for each other.
Following various deceptions and reveals, Ravi is found to have been lying about being an MIT graduate. He is indeed a famous DJ with millions of followers on social media. The revelations are harmless however and the plot keeps moving towards a happily ever after ending. The subplots provide laughter and a few romantic moments. Priya, Asha's younger sister is marrying a white guy called Nick, who tries his best to follow Indian cultural norms so he can fit in. He learns Hindi and makes a grand entrance on an elephant to impress his in-laws. The names and nationalities of these characters are a parody of Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas's love story which adds a little more entertainment to the movie. Characters like Asha's dad represent a positive image of parents. He supports his daughter in every decision she makes in her life. Asha's boss too is cheerful and supportive, breaking the stereotype of a jealous boss of the kind shown in Emily in Paris. The movie ends with Asha and Ravi revealing their true feelings to each other.
Staying true to the genre of Netflix rom-coms, Wedding Season checks all the boxes. It includes exquisite outfits, an attractive cast and a safe storyline, resembling every other romance-comedy film from the '90s. The use of words like beta and appearance of rishta aunties add a Bollywood touch but the lack of emotional depth and banger songs remind viewers that it is a Netflix movie after all. Despite being just another predictable film, Wedding Season is on the better end of the spectrum. It is an enjoyable, relaxing watch. It can make you giggle and shed a tear. Recommended for easy watching.
The writer has a background in English literature. She can be reached at kkhadijak0@gmail.com