Latest news with #SmritiMundhra
South China Morning Post
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Indian Matchmaking creator on such shows' voyeuristic appeal, and why they feel ‘real'
The story of Muslim Matchmaker began as many modern tales of romance do: with an unsolicited direct message. Advertisement Smriti Mundhra, the executive producer of the Netflix show Indian Matchmaking, has spearheaded another series about the art of matchmaking, this time focusing on the Muslim American community. After pitching the idea to the show's eventual stars, matchmakers Hoda Abrahim and Yasmin Elhady, on Instagram several years ago, Mundhra began the long process of developing the series, eventually finding a home for it at ABC News Studios. As the creator of Indian Matchmaking and a one-time client of the series' star, Sima Taparia , Mundhra is intimately acquainted with the world of matchmaking. She was also an executive producer of 2023's Jewish Matchmaking on Netflix before leading the charge on Muslim Matchmaker, which is now streaming on Disney+. Muslim Matchmaker producers Smriti Mundhra (left) and Senain Kheshgi. Photo: TNS Mundhra thinks audiences are interested in shows that highlight religious or ethnic groups because there's 'so much wisdom to gain from seeing how different cultures and different communities approach the idea of matchmaking and marriage'.
Arab News
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Review: Hulu's ‘Muslim Matchmaker' has heart, but not enough spark
TORONTO: 'Muslim Matchmaker' premiered on Hulu this week. The series is directed and produced by Smriti Mundhra (of Netflix's 'Indian Matchmaking' fame). But this time around it's not Sima Aunty and her outrageous comments, but rather two older sister types – Hoda Abrahim and Yasmin Elhady – who are helping eight Muslim Americans find love. The premise of their matchmaking business is the 'Rules of Three: Three dates, three months, and three hundred questions.' In an era of dating apps and superficial swipes, the duo urges couples to approach their search for love with intention. They emphasize the importance of giving the relationship time and space to grow while asking the right questions. The eight-episode show provides a fresh perspective on Muslim Americans as they navigate both their Muslim and cultural identities in the West. It offers captivating discussions on topics like cultural expectations when dating an older woman, the appropriate timeline to 'date,' and finding a partner with an equal 'halal-to-haram ratio.' These discussions are sure to resonate with many. And perhaps, offer a glimpse into a Muslim world that's rarely seen in mainstream Western media. The show comes with good intentions. For one, it acknowledges dating app fatigue. It offers a refreshing take with matchmakers who approach singles' choices without judgment or sacrilegious remarks about 'wanting too much' (looking at you, Sima Aunty). But that's also probably the biggest failing of the show. Dating shows thrive on drama – and there's none here. Tension doesn't surface until episode four. A Bengali-American woman is older than the man she's dating, and cultural norms deem this unacceptable. We're left on a cliffhanger, wondering how the Bengali-American man will disclose the relationship to his family. It shouldn't take that long to get us hooked.
