Young versus Old: Shuddh Desi Romance

Marriage, the big topic on all parents and child's mind once they hit the age of 18. This is not going to be a conventional review of 'Shuddh Desi Romance' but some observations. This film questions the major element that society seems to built on and functions upon - Marriage and the current generations view on the institution. What i liked about this film was the newness of the idea that instead of a romantic relationship or married life, young people were seeking connections with each other. That one thing they had in common is the loneliness they experienced and how they felt like they were not normal for not conforming to society's norms.

Communities and in particular the Asian community is going through a major change in attitudes with the younger generation becoming frustrated by the social norms forced upon them by the older generation. Though i can't speak for back home and their society as i don't know much about it, in the UK this 'gap' in generations is becoming more visible with the younger generation often in conflict with the elders. Where once the norm was to reach a particular age, get married and 'settle down', the younger generation are questioning this and are opting to pursue life goals and careers instead. I am not by any means trying to say that people can't have both a successful marriage and career but some are questioning whether the institution of marriage is really for them. They want to be something in life and achieve something and find the idea of marriage to be restricting and tying them down to a society that they never felt a part of in the first place.

It is difficult to feel like yourself in a society that never felt like you fitted in, in the first place. Being born in the UK, the traditions and culture can feel alien at times and you just don't know if you can conform to it and behave in that way. That is not to say that being Western is where they fit, that can feel alien too.  It is an interesting time for the British Asian community as it is evolving and adopting Western attitudes and marriage is still ultimately a goal for some. However some are opting not to marry and what do their futures if they don't settle down? Will the young British Asian community ever feel at one with their British and their Asian heritage? Will marriage continue to be the ultimate goal in 50 years time? Time will tell.