Rakhi ka Swayamvar

I never thought of this kind of show can be also made in today’s age. Not a bad idea either. Most of the people whom I know were watching this show including my mother and myself (Though I was watching occasionally but was aware what’s happening in the show). I was watching to see if actually people are interested in this kind of a show and was curious HOW is someone actually going to CHOOSE somebody if front of entire nation or agreed to make a program out of it. I think choosing somebody is quite a personal affair but in an arranged marriage of today’s date also entire three generations decide which guy or girl to be chosen for respective groom or bride and that also depending upon how qualified, good looking and settled you are in life!

Once having marriage discussion with my European friend, I was explaining her how an arranged marriage happens in India. After listening to all the conversation she told me – “ we do it other way round Pratima, we look for love first and then caste ( we don’t follow it here), education, money, looks comes and I think you guys look at everything else and then try to love each other…“ I just smiled on her statement. I think when you love someone you willingly change or do compromises or change your priorities happily. I hate the thing of changing names after marriage, how come you expect some 25 year old girl having name Pratima for all her life will be changed in a day to lets say ‘Sudha’ just because you want to change her name. Her whole identity, signatures, passport, all official documents change to new ‘Sudha’.

Okay! I have change the whole topic …So I was writing about Rakhi ka Swayamvar and choosing a guy in front of public on a television show. That made me think how in earlier times princess used to CHOOSE the prince in front of everyone after completion of the REQUIRED TASK successfully. As per the movie - Rab ne bana di jodi - every love story is unique…I thought may be this is the good time to SEE such kind of thing happening on T.V. in a live show! Then I saw the news of some 67 year old gentleman is interested in getting married to Rakhi and he wrote 52 poems for her and also got them published for her but he wasn’t allowed to participate in the show. His son and his entire family were very supportive in this gentleman’s decision. That’s very impressive though.

I am doubtful about how long this relationship will last which was decided after series of various tasks and discussions amongst would be bride and groom. But its good that it ended on engagement and they want to spend some time more knowing each other and not to get married just by the time spend on a T.V. show together. It might sound funny that I thought in the episode when all interested guys were shown for the first time that she will choose THE TORONTO GUY which she finally chose in the last episode. The show was entertainment, dramatic and PEOPLE WERE WATCHING IT!! May be to some extent the program is successful in changing Rakhi’s public image also. People will remember her because no one has ever attempted to do such kind of a program. She is constantly in news.

I have seen a movie based on Indian arranged marriages " Sanai chowghade". Very well made movie in marathi and very very much in todays context. Many chanels have started shows for match making or providing a platform where would be brides and grooms should come and present themselves to a large crowd and may be they are succesful in getting the desired response. Another television show in marathi called " Jodi jamali re" is also similar like other shows but I watch this sometimes because its quite realistic to see how the genaral discussions between parents and candidates happens when they come together and small games and tasks reveal what kind of person you are...not in details but it gives an idea. Rescently they showed their first pair who got engaged and will be getting married soon after 50 episodes. Things are changing...These shows are reflections of changing society. So now I'm expecting few more shows like this if you are definitely going to get a right guy …may be the next show will be called “Pratima ka Swayamvar”:D