About the Film
The marriage ritual is a nucleus of Indian society, and for the most part, the arranged marriage. The match-making process often establishes the woman’s place in society and prompts her to negotiate within herself issues of identity, sexuality and femininity. The Great Indian Marriage Bazaar is a feature length quirky and insightful documentary film that explores how traditions and rituals are being redefined and contextualized in modern-day ideals of urban Indian society during an era of post-liberalization. As many 20-something year old women in India face mounting pressure to get married, the filmmaker turns the camera onto herself to present a first point of view journey into her parents’ “mission-son-in-law”, and in turn, explores larger complex systemic issues that women not only in India but globally, are grappling with today.
Awards
- 2012 Silver Award for Best Asian Social Issues Documentary Film, New York Television Awards
- 2009 Asian Pitch – full commission by NHK Japan & Mediacorp Singapore [Executive Producers]
Television Distribution
- BBC World
- Arte France
- Channel NewsAsia
- Discovery Europe
- NHK Japan, and other channels
Film Festivals
- 2012 International Women’s Festival, Miami, FL
- 2012 Tunisia International Film Festival
- 2012 Women of Color Festival, Atlanta
- 2012 Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, LA
- 2012 South Asian International Festival, NYC
- 2012 Stuttgart Indian Film Festival, Germany
- 2012 Indie Vibes New Generation, Frankfurt, Germany
Educational & Community Screenings
- 2012 Association for Women in Development, Istanbul
- 2015 Women’s Day Panel Discussion at Tank Theater (off-Broadway)
- 2015 Women’s Education Project, NYC
- 2015 Yale University, CT
- 2015 The New School, NYC
Social Impact Producing
STEP 1
Once feature documentary production completed, identified platforms for distribution beyond television channels.
STEP 2
Curate and host events at organizations and venues to prompt a larger dialogue on the films’ macro ideas and issues.
STEP 3
Tour with the film at educational institutions, where conversations with students included self-inquiry and self- documenting exercises using citizen journalism techniques.
Outcome & Impact
Asides from international television broadcasts, including BBC World, the film screened the film at over forty different venues including women’s festivals, organizations, educational institutions, and commercial venues.