Netflix is quite popular for its rom-coms. However, recently, there has been a surge in rom-coms that steps aside from the stereotypical white-main-character trope. From To All The Boys I've Loved Before to Never Have I Ever, these films and shows bring in new perspectives by having protagonists from Asian descendants. The most recent hit is Wedding Season. This Indian-American rom-com by Tom Dey focuses on two South Asian characters struggling to balance their own happiness and their families' happiness since the two seem to be in conflict with one another.

Apart from a very diverse cast, this film is definitely a sight for sore eyes. In fact, non-south-Asian viewers might find the very colorful and exciting Indian weddings to be a whole new world. Yet again, the film is not just about festivities and love. Rather, it goes beyond its way to address some key struggles that many South Asian people go through.

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Marriage Is Mandatory

Asha (Pallavi Sharda) and Ravi (Suraj Sharma) pretends to date
Netflix

The film begins with Asha's mother, Suneeta (Veena Sood), creating a fake "biodata" for her eldest daughter on an Indian matchmaking site. While that may sound horrendous and also hilarious at the same time, for many viewers, it is, in fact, a common step that many South Asian parents tend to take when they feel like the "time is right" for their children to get married. This is especially aimed at women. As the film progresses we see Asha (Pallavi Sharda) coming to a "deal" with her mother where the former promises to take down Asha's fake profile, provided she attends all the weddings of the season. This might be an illustration of the lack of freedom South Asian bachelors like Asha have.

The inclusion of the very nosy aunties is definitely a very appropriate and accurate portrayal of South Asian culture. Ironically, even in real-life, the many Ashas and Ravis cannot seem to attend any gathering or occasion with an "aunty" coming up and asking about their love life. This might be intrusive for many, but it is definitely something one cannot avoid if one is South Asian. Interestingly, Ravi (Suraj Sharma) has the same fate as Asha as we see his parents forcing him to find a significant other as soon as possible. All this directs to the idea that if one is single when the "time is right" for marriage, one has failed. Thus, it must be applauded the way in which the film approaches this subject with such humor, in turn, allowing the viewer to have a good laugh while understanding the problem with this theme of marriage being the ultimate task for one to be successful.

Education! Education! Education!

Ravi (Suraj Sharma) secretly helping out his father's restaurant.
Netflix

The common stereotype is that Asian-Americans "are smart, competent and hard-working". While one cannot expect this from every single Asian, it might be true up to a certain extent. A common struggle that many Asian children go through, whether they are in America or in Asia, is their parents pressurizing them to pursue a phenomenal education. This means that they are expected to achieve brilliant grades so that they can end up in the top universities like the Ivy Leagues. Ravi represents such children.

Ravi is introduced as this super-smart persona who got selected to MIT when he was just 16 years of age. However, as the story progresses it is revealed that Ravi dropped out of College to seek his own happiness, in turn, becoming a successful DJ who ends up helping his father in secret to avoid hurting him. However, it is sad to see that Ravi's parents, especially his father, are not proud of their son. He might be world-famous and super-rich, but he is still a college drop-out, which in South Asian terms is a scar for life. Fortunately, Ravi's parents end up coming to terms with their son's choices.

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The South Asian Diaspora = Family

Ravi's family and Asha's family discussing their children's possible marriage
Netflix

As the title of the film suggests, the story revolves around many South Asian weddings. One might question, why should one attend all these weddings. The answer to that is brought out with Suneeta's statements on how their community is family. This is yet another accurate representation of the South Asian diaspora.

Given that with migration comes feelings of alienation, South Asians tend to stick with one another and create a community that is much more like a close-knitted family. Thus, we see people being called aunties and uncles when in reality they are not related through the family tree. Moreover, as Suneeta points out, this family ends up helping one another even if it means doing simple tasks like babysitting for free or cooking meals when sick. It can definitely be argued that Wedding Season portrays this idea of a community becoming a chosen family quite beautifully. As Marshall states in his article:

"Wedding Season" brings South Asian and Indian cultures to the forefront in a beautiful, unapologetic way, presenting viewers with an almost-all South Asian cast to boot.