Not A Chance is a documentary exploring the reasons young Indians today still turn to arranged marriages despite growing up in Western countries. We examine how young, educated, middle-class Indians use social media and other internet media to adapt their customs surrounding marriage to the 21st Century.
We follow couples in their journey from Indian matrimonial sites to marriage brokers and finally western-style dating. These couples lead us through the labyrinthine array of choices available to young Indians whose career and studies take them overseas. We burrow under the skin of an extremely innovative and flexible society still harking to the traditions that make it unique.
The founders of the first matrimonial sites for Indians explain what inspired them to create a DIY arranged marriage concept allowing the Indian diaspora to meet highly compatible individuals around the world. These matrimonial sites present themselves as an alternative to dating and to arranged marriages, but the question is: are they any different to either one?
We follow couples in their journey from Indian matrimonial sites to marriage brokers and finally western-style dating. These couples lead us through the labyrinthine array of choices available to young Indians whose career and studies take them overseas. We burrow under the skin of an extremely innovative and flexible society still harking to the traditions that make it unique.
The founders of the first matrimonial sites for Indians explain what inspired them to create a DIY arranged marriage concept allowing the Indian diaspora to meet highly compatible individuals around the world. These matrimonial sites present themselves as an alternative to dating and to arranged marriages, but the question is: are they any different to either one?
Nirzari
What would you do if your parents picked a man called Healthy to marry you out of a matrimonial ad in a magazine? Twenty-three year old Nirzari flat out refused to meet him. After fending for herself for seven years while studying in Australia, Nirzari is not going to let anyone determine her fate for her. Although she has many friends none of them fit her ideal of a good husband and father. When she joins the Indian matrimonial sites Shaadi.com and GujaratiMatrimony.com the websites present her with her most compatible match: Healthy.
What would you do if your parents picked a man called Healthy to marry you out of a matrimonial ad in a magazine? Twenty-three year old Nirzari flat out refused to meet him. After fending for herself for seven years while studying in Australia, Nirzari is not going to let anyone determine her fate for her. Although she has many friends none of them fit her ideal of a good husband and father. When she joins the Indian matrimonial sites Shaadi.com and GujaratiMatrimony.com the websites present her with her most compatible match: Healthy.
Healthy
Yes, his real name is Healthy. To make matters worse, Healthy is an orthopaedic doctor. Armed with a great sense of humour, spades of common sense and a lot of patience, Healthy is willing to accept the twists and turns of life. Although very modern in his ideas, Healthy still allows his family make the final decision on his potential bride. When Nirzari’s parents contact his family to negotiate their courtship, Healthy involves his entire family in the decision making process.
Yes, his real name is Healthy. To make matters worse, Healthy is an orthopaedic doctor. Armed with a great sense of humour, spades of common sense and a lot of patience, Healthy is willing to accept the twists and turns of life. Although very modern in his ideas, Healthy still allows his family make the final decision on his potential bride. When Nirzari’s parents contact his family to negotiate their courtship, Healthy involves his entire family in the decision making process.
