Lunar newsletter: Indian Matchmaking, waistlines in a pandemic and more

For many Indians, the pressure to get married is real, and one that builds steadily from the mid-20s.

It’s not uncommon for them to go through arranged marriages, a concept highlighted in new Netflix series Indian Matchmaking. The show made its debut this month and has been gaining viewers across the world, but has also riled many in India.

Some say it showed the worst of Indian culture and lambasted it for its portrayal of caste, fair-skin obsession and misogyny, while others say it promoted biases against strong and independent women.

Many young Indians today are actually rising against stereotypes and cultural expectations – including having children – even if rejecting parenthood is a stigma in India.

Social consciousness is even starting to find its way to Bollywood. Movies on menstrual health and sexual violence are starting conversations about issues that have long been considered taboo, and they’re succeeding at the box office too.

The Lunar team

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