art: meet the patels (pink rickshaw)

"They say love hides behind every corner, I must be walking in circles."-Unknown

I have to be honest, I was a bit skeptical about if I would like the new documentary, Meet The Patels. After seeing the funny trailer, I wanted it to be enjoyable in support of the young, Indian-Americans who created it and in hopes there was truth to all the positive buzz surrounding the film. But the cynical and critical side of me curbed my enthusiasm. (Spoiler alert: I did like it and like most reviews you will read, highly recommend it). So, why the hesitation?

Well, for most first generation Indian-Americans, the subject matter of the modern, Indian matchmaking process is familiar, typical and frequently discussed, usually ad nauseam. If you are the child of Indian immigrants and have reached “marriageable age”, probabilities are high that in some form or another, you have been exposed to the process that the documentary explores. You have undoubtedly felt the pressure from your parents to wed (preferably to someone from your regional background). You know what a biodata is, have deflected relatives' questions regarding marriage prospects, have been asked to attend matrimonial matchmaking conventions, and have definitely been gently reminded about the world's most popular dating/matrimonial website, shaadi.com. And, if you are part of this special group, you have also commiserated and joked with friends about the complexities and discomfort of the entire process. So having heard countless funny anecdotes on the subject, I had low expectations, anticipating the film to be a documentary-style dive into the matchmaking process sprinkled with the same tired jokes. (I also had no doubt that it would be far more interesting and eye-opening to those not familiar with the process, hence the great reviews). However, after seeing the documentary this weekend, the cynic in me was pleasantly surprised. I absolutely enjoyed Meet The Patels.

While the whole matchmaking process of Indian-Americans, particularly the sub-group of Patels, is the backdrop of the plot, this film is really about the Patels themselves. It does not take long to grow fond of these folks. And what makes the documentary cute and charming is that, at its core, it is a sweet love story capturing both romantic and familial love. And that was refreshingly unexpected. There is a great review of the film on RogerEbert.com that perfectly summarizes the appeal “…it speaks to the generational struggles over tradition and societal expectations, highlighting that children often have different ideas about life than their parents. These are universal subjects, so one does not have to be of Indian descent to appreciate Meet the Patels. You’ll either learn something new or nod your head with amused familiarity."

Ravi Patel's older sister, Geeta Patel, documents as Ravi navigates a year of the Patel matchmaking process. He's recently broken up with his secret, white girlfriend (Audrey), agrees to his parents' methods to find him a suitable partner and you find yourself rooting for him to find happiness. Ravi is humorous, lovable, and honest in a way that allows the viewer to feel the conflict many first generation kids feel. I did wonder about Ravi’s sincerity since he is an actor and director (you can also spot a few of his Indian-American actor friends sprinkled throughout the film). But after a few minutes into the film, he seems authentic (or maybe he's just a really good actor?). In either case, like any good rom-com, you so badly want him to find love (second spoiler alert: which maybe he does?). Although Geeta (who directed along with Ravi) is behind the camera for Ravi's journey of self discovery as he travels across the country to go on dates and attend matrimonial conventions, she also plays an integral part in the film, highlighting their close relationship. However, the real stars are the siblings' wise parents, Champa and Vasant Patel. Their struggle with preserving the traditions of their culture yet accepting generational differences yield some of the best lines and moments of the film. In fact, almost all of their dialogue is gold (Vasant Patel: “I didn’t get a million dollar house by wasting money.” Classic Dad line.). In an interview, Ravi Patel said that he and Geeta were concerned with making sure the film didn’t come across as making fun of their parents. They definitely achieved a delicate balance of capturing both hilarious and poignant moments without any mockery of the parents or the traditions.

The film weaves in interviews from singles and married couples as well as cute, animated interludes which make up for crude home videos (which Ravi even addresses at the beginning of the film). And yes, for those familiar with the modern matchmaking process, there are a few of the expected, tired jokes about biodatas (wheatish complexion, anyone?) and the famous Patel network. But, overall, it’s a surprisingly refreshing film that is heartwarming because of a lovable family. So, if you are married or single, parent or child, a Patel or a Smith, this film is definitely worth checking out.

Meet the Patels is playing in select cities nationwide. You can find theaters and dates here.

image source: meethepatelsfilm.com

-SD