MATCHES ARE MADE IN HEAVEN: TRADITIONAL MODERNITY ON OVER-THE-TOP TELEVISION IN INDIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhshreejan.v2.i2.2025.38Keywords:
Over-The-Top (Ott) Television, Cultural Narratives, Traditional Practices, Indian Matchmaking, NetflixAbstract [English]
This study examines the evolution of television in India, focusing on the transition from traditional TV to over-the-top (OTT) platforms. It explores how OTT content, particularly the Netflix series "Indian Matchmaking," balances traditional values with modern sensibilities. The research traces the development of Indian television from state monopoly to digital revolution, analyzing its impact on societal norms and cultural values. The study highlights the growing influence of OTT platforms in shaping viewer preferences and cultural narratives, especially among young urban audiences. It discusses the economic implications of this shift and its effects on content creation and consumption patterns. The paper also delves into the representation of marriage and family themes in "Indian Matchmaking," examining how the show navigates traditional practices within a contemporary global context. The research concludes by reflecting on the broader societal impact of OTT platforms and their role in shaping cultural identity in an increasingly digital India.
References
Bhandari, P. (2020, July 21). Matchmaking illustrates ills of Indian society. Hindustan Times.
Chang, P.-C., & Chiu, Y.-P. (2023). Factors influencing switching intention and customer retention of over-the-top (OTT) viewing behaviour in Taiwan: The push–pull–mooring model. Emerging Media, 1(2), 196–217. https://doi.org/10.1177/27523543231210140
Deori, M., Verma, M. K., & Kumar, V. (2021). Sentiment analysis of users' comments on Indian Hindi news channels using Mozdeh: An evaluation based on YouTube videos. Journal of Creative Communications, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/09732586211049232
Dutt, Y. (2020, August 1). Indian Matchmaking exposes the easy acceptance of caste. The Atlantic.
Eddy, W. C. (1945). Television: The eyes of tomorrow. Prentice Hall.
Fernandes, L. (2000). Nationalizing the global: Media images, cultural politics and the middle class in India. Media, Culture & Society, 22(5), 611–628. https://doi.org/10.1177/016344300022005005
Gomathi, S., & Christy, N. V. (2021). Viewers' perception towards OTT platform during pandemic. International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts, 9(8), 593–693.
Jensen, R., & Oster, E. (2009). The power of TV: Cable television and women's status in India. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 124(3), 1057–1094. https://doi.org/10.1162/qjec.2009.124.3.1057
Johnson, K. (2001). Media and social change: The modernizing influences of television in rural India. Media, Culture & Society, 23(2), 147–169. https://doi.org/10.1177/016344301023002002
Madnani, D., Fernandes, S., & Madnani, N. (2020). Analysing the impact of COVID-19 on over-the-top media platforms in India. International Journal of Pervasive Computing and Communications, 16, 457–475. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPCC-07-2020-0083
Mankekar, P. (2012). Television and embodiment: A speculative essay. South Asian History and Culture, 3(4), 614–625. https://doi.org/10.1080/19472498.2012.720077
Mehta, N. (2008). Television in India: Satellites, politics and cultural change. HarperCollins.
Mehta, N. (2015). Behind a billion screens: What television tells us about modern India. HarperCollins.
Menon, D. (2022). Purchase and continuation intentions of over-the-top (OTT) video streaming platform subscriptions: A uses and gratification theory perspective. Telematics and Informatics Reports, 5(1), 100006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teler.2022.100006
Menon, R. (2020, July 16). 'Indian Matchmaking' creator Smriti Mundhra puts a spotlight on the marriage industrial complex of the South Asian diaspora. Decider.
Mishra, N., Aithal, P. S., & Iyer, A. (2023). A study of the changing trends in the television industry. International Journal of Case Studies in Business, IT, and Education, 7(2), 333–347. https://doi.org/10.47992/IJCSBE.2581.6942.0276
National Readership Studies Council. (2006). The National Readership Study: Technical report. National Readership Studies Council.
Punathambekar, A., & Kumar, S. (Eds.). (2014). Television in South Asia. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315780979
Puthiyakath, H. H., & Goswami, M. P. (2021). Is over-the-top video platform the gamechanger over traditional TV channels in India? A niche analysis. Asia Pacific Media Educator, 31(1), 133–150. https://doi.org/10.1177/1326365X211009639
Raj, N. (2008, October 26). Saas Bahu and the end. The Times of India.
Rangaswamy, N., & Arora, P. (2015). The mobile internet in the wild and every day: Digital leisure in the slums of urban India. International Journal of Cultural Studies, 19(6), 611–626. https://doi.org/10.1177/1367877915576538
Singh, R. G. (2020, October 1). I was on Netflix's 'Indian Matchmaking.' Here's what you did not see on the show. HuffPost.
Webster, J. G., & Lichty, L. (1991). Ratings analysis: Theory and practice. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Mona Das

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
With the licence CC-BY, authors retain the copyright, allowing anyone to download, reuse, re-print, modify, distribute, and/or copy their contribution. The work must be properly attributed to its author.
It is not necessary to ask for further permission from the author or journal board.
This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.













