Ravi Patel, 29, is a bachelor, a status his traditional Indo-American parents can no longer abide. Strong believers in arranged marriages, they’re certain they can find their son a suitable Indian girl, someone who shares his values and Hindu religion. Bachelorhood, they assert, is not for a nice Indian boy.
- Ravi Patel
- Meet the Patels, directed by Patel and his sister, Geeta, is scheduled to be screened at the annual Canadian International Documentary Festival (Hot Docs) on April 27 at 9:30 p.m. April 29 at 11 a.m. and May 1 at 9:30 p.m.
It’s about Patel’s dogged pursuit of a wife who meets his parents’ exacting standards. Funny, sardonic and hugely entertaining, it’s a revealing glimpse into the nature of romance and the Indian diaspora in the United States.
Patel, an actor, has just broken up with Audrey, his “white,” red-headed girlfriend. He dated Audrey for two years, but never breathed a word about her to his parents, fearing they would react badly. And now that he’s ditched Audrey, Patel, a first-generation Indo American, agrees to join his parents on a trip to India.
Maybe they can find a catch for him there. The woman they have in mind for him should be well educated and come from a good family. He doesn’t object to their conditions, since he loves Indian culture.
The Patels visit their ancestral village, but nothing turns up. For a viewer, the interlude in India is time well spent. India is exotic, brimming with bright and vibrant colors.
Returning to the United States empty-handed, Patel leaves the serious business of match-making to his mother. Like many Indo-American mothers, she compiles a resume about her son intended for circulation around the Indian community. This “bio data” lands him a few dates.
Having decided that his prospective bride should be an American-born Hindu, or the “perfect Patel girl,” he surfs an Indian dating site and attends a single’s convention. Since the going is pretty rough, he reconnects with Audrey. She plays it cool, leaving him in a funk.
At this point, the question arises whether Patel will ever find his beloved.
The film is supplemented by animated footage that pokes good-natured fun at his parents and their old-fashioned ideas. The black-and-white cartoon images fits seamlessly into Patel’s light-hearted movie.
http://youtu.be/n4goORY6kTk