Netflix's newest docu-series is The Big Day. It takes an intimate look at engaged Indian couples as they go through the process of planning and celebrating their weddings. Released on February 14, Collection 1 is made up of three episodes. Each episode features two extravagant weddings.
The Big Day has generated plenty of buzz since it dropped on Valentine's Day. The release date was certainly no mistake, given that love is the show's central theme. Produced by Condé Nast India, the show is now the third reality venture based in India that has premiered on Netflix during 2021 and 2020, Indian Matchmaking and The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives.
Each episode of The Big Day lasts roughly 40 minutes and features two couples. Each featured pair is in the process of planning nuptials. By the end of the episode, viewers get to see how it all turned out, as they celebrate alongside family and friends. The parties are without a doubt extravagant. This is standard for the multi-billion dollar industry that exists for weddings in the country.
What sets The Big Day apart from other wedding shows (and other reality shows set in India) is how the couples featured unabashedly embrace and incorporate modern values. Several of the couples shown mention the importance of gender equality. Plus, sustainability, non-traditional, and LGBTQ+ (there is a gay couple featured) themes are all present throughout the series. All of this is seamlessly executed and respects the couples' family's values, as well as the cultural context for weddings and marriage in India.
The Big Day also feels markedly escapist, given that it was filmed in pre-COVID times. Viewers get to enjoy the beautiful festivities, all of which were enjoyed without social distancing, and with a number of attendees that feels unfathomable these days. While all of the weddings are certainly over-the-top by Western standards, they also range quite a bit in of style and level of extravagance. As one of the luxury wedding planners says in episode one, “one of the trademarks of a modern Indian wedding is that they’re very personal.”
Though Collection 1 only contains three episodes, fans of the show will be glad to know that Collection 2 is on its way. A specific release date for the second batch of episodes hasn't been announced yet, but it's believed that it will drop by the end of the year. For now, the first Collection of The Big Day is well worth a watch. It's great entertainment, particularly when we can't attend parties of our own due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Big Day is now streaming on Netflix.