2020 was challenging for all of us. We were trapped in a pandemic, and suddenly our options were limited. It was crucial for us to choose our battles wisely in such a precarious time, and I certainly did not make the wise choice on February 14, 2021. I decided to binge-watch two titles on Netflix back to back and had a headache by the end of it. In this review, I will write about my painful experience with one of those titles, i.e., ‘The Big Day.’
The Big Day is a three-part docu-series that follows the lives of six couples and captures in the manner how they redefine their marriage ceremony by spending millions of dollars on their respective wedding. Starting with importing extravagant flowers from China and creating customized furniture for the wedding, the Big Day gives us a sneak peek into the lives of Indian millionaires and the fanciness that most Indians hardly get to witness.
It’s not a surprise that after Netflix‘s show Indian Matchmaking made headlines for all the wrong reasons, we see another show in a similar vein. However, this docu-series has its own set of flaws.
All six stories felt too rushed. The series did not allow us to explore the characters or their journey except for the last couple (Tyrone and Daniel) that covered the same-sex topic in India. Every documentary has an element of storytelling in it, which seemed to be missing in this series. We see Katrina Kaif dancing at a couple’s wedding, and there is no effort to explain the relationship of Katrina in this wedding. Was she a friend or was she hired to participate in the wedding?! For another story, the bride tells the audience the importance of the wedding day. However, towards the end, she says, “Weddings are not the biggest day of your life… start celebrating other days.” The entire messaging came across as oxymoronic.
Personally, I respect an individual’s choice to celebrate the wedding the way they want. However, I do have a problem when the series is marketed as a progressive show, but in reality, it is nothing but a shallow attempt that disguises rich people’s privilege as an ‘ideal’ wedding with a small tinge of tokenism and inclusion.
Reviewed by Puneet Ruparel
