When the web series “Indian Matchmaking” released in 2020, it created a buzz on social media as it highlighted one of the country’s age-old traditions – arranged marriage. A year later, the show has been nominated for the upcoming 73rd Emmy Awards.
Seema Taparia, an elite matchmaker from Mumbai, became popular as Sima Aunty and because of her phrase “Hi, I’m Sima Taparia from Mumbai” she is over-the-moon after Emmy’s approval, and to express her Words are lacking. Gratitude.
“‘Indian Matchmaking’ has completed a year and the show has moved to the Emmy Awards. I am grateful and I cannot express enough. Our going to the Emmys is a huge achievement,” Seema told IANS.
In the eight-part series, Seema tries to find a suitable match for her affluent clientele in India and abroad.
Decoding the popularity of the show globally, Seema says that it was the realistic approach that made the show binge-worthy.
“The whole world enjoyed it because it was a reality show. I was talking there just as I was talking to you, just the camera following me. I was simple and humble, and that’s the way they portrayed me. So, the show was a hit and all my Indian values were portrayed in the show.”
For Seema, “Indian matchmaking” really “shocked the world”.
She said: “So, people loved me and it was a reality show. Everyone loved Seema Aunty. It shook the world. It was beyond my dreams that this show would rock the world and be so successful. I have gained global recognition and popularity.”
With great love comes criticism, and it was tagged as “controversial” and “cringe-worthy” for showing in-your-face racism, racism, astrology, and misogyny. The series soon became the subject of memes and jokes.
Seema, or Sima Aunty as she likes to be called, remains unfazed. Instead, she says she enjoyed the social media banter.
He said, ‘It didn’t affect me because there is a little bit of negative and positive in everything. The more negative and positive the show the more popular it became. It didn’t affect me even one per cent,” Seema said.
In fact, Seema appreciated the creativity of the people who made her memes.
“Also, there are so many memes! What creativity of our people in India,” laughed Seema.
“I watch all the memes. The more the memes, the more popular the show becomes. So wherever I got time, I used to enjoy the memes and they would poke fun at me. It didn’t bother me. It’s the public’s choice – something Will criticize and do nothing. I don’t mind. I haven’t taken anything in my mind,” she said.
A lesser known fact about matchmaker Seema is that she has already appeared in a documentary called “A Suitable Girl” which went to the Tribeca Film Festival, winning the Albert Maysles New Documentary Director Award. It was directed by Smriti Mundra, who was looking for a match for herself through the famous matchmaker.
Talking about saying yes to “Indian matchmaking”, Sima said: “A documentary called ‘A Suitable Girl’ came out in 2017 and it got an award at the Tribeca Film Festival. So, Smriti Mundra came to Mumbai for her match. She was the director of ‘A Suitable Girl’ and when she came and met me, she saw that I was a matchmaker and thought she might make a documentary with ‘Seema Didi’.”
She went down memory lane and revealed that she was approached for a Netflix show after the documentary was brought up with respect.
“For four years she shot with me, wherever I went, she would come and tape. When the documentary-series was completed in 2014, when it won an award, they pitched the idea to Netflix and then they approached me and I said ‘okay’ but never in my dreams thought that this show would rock the world. Said Seema.
When asked whether arranged marriages were relevant at a time when Hinge, Bumble and Tinder were gaining momentum, Seema extended “best wishes” to these dating apps.
She said: “My job is to personally visit all the matches and give a personal touch. I travel personally, I understand personality, preferences, see standard of living, their occupation, temperament, girl and boy. Then I filter and scan, and then I fit the bio data for my clients – that’s my role. That’s why everyone has faith in me that what Seema ji is saying is absolutely correct. I don’t know what Tinder, Bumble are. Best wishes to her,” said Seema, who currently has a fan following of over 37.5K on Instagram.
Will the audience get to see their beloved Seema Aunty again? “I can’t say this today, but my association with Netflix has been pleasant, so I look forward to working with them,” she concluded.
IANS looks back on some lines from Seema that went viral on social media.
* “After all, my efforts are in vain if the stars don’t align.”
* “long, thin, trim.”
“Marriages have become like biscuits these days.”
* “Accommodate, be flexible, compromise.”
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