'Meet the Patels': A New Look At An Old Tradition

[brooklynite]

NBC News:

On paper, the premise of "Meet the Patels" feels familiar, but brother-sister duo Ravi and Geeta Patel are tackling the topic of arranged marriage in a new way.

The documentary, which opened in theaters Friday, follows 30-year-old actor Ravi Patel on a nationwide quest to find a wife through dates arranged by his parents, family members, Indian wedding conventions, and marriage websites.

The idea for the film came about when Geeta Patel, a screenwriter, began playing around with her camera during the family's annual trip to India, and the family started discussing marriage options for Geeta and Ravi. Their mother, Champa Patel, known as a successful matchmaker in her community, was astonished that her own children were still unmarried. What she didn't know at the time was that Ravi had just broken up with his girlfriend of two years shortly before their trip to India.

Seeing how in love his own parents still were after 35 years of marriage, despite having only met for 10 minutes before they were engaged, Ravi decided to give the idea of an arranged marriage a chance.

Saw this last night, with a Q&A with the Director/Star. Well worth seeing if it's in your community.

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. Thanks for the rec......putting on my list. n/t

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. Thanks for the rec......putting on my list. n/t

[Person 2713]

3. I saw a long interview with the cast of the movie . The father steals the show they said

the women the son broke up with was not a Patel and not Indian and that's when the parents went on overload . It looks fun and of course insightful and they never revealed the end but the OP hints he went for a traditional marriage

[brooklynite]

6. Actually, he ended up back with Audrey...

...but subsequently, they broke up again (his parents were disappointed...)

[riderinthestorm]

4. I heard the NPR review of this and already put it on my Netflix queue

sounds great!

Here's the trailer

https://m.

[mcar]

5. Heard the NPR review

It sounds great.

[peacebird]

8. Me too! It's on my list.

[phylny]

7. We had lovely neighbors when we lived in Indiana.

Harish and Nila. I'll never forget when she said, "You and your husband have love marriage. Me and Harish have arrange marriage."

They were happy, sweet to each other, and in love. I'd never do it, but it worked for them.