Bahu Wanted Ep 2: Mother's Swipe Left Exposes Society's Blind Spot For Brown Skin

Welcome to the second episode of #BahuWanted, where Sheila, the quintessential middle-aged matchmaker, embarks on a quest to find the perfect bride for her son, armed with a checklist longer than the Ganges.In this latest episode, Sheila, whose vision of matrimonial perfection is as fair as Snow White herself, continues her hunt for the elusive ideal bride. Sounds absurd, doesn't it? Well, hold onto your hats, because the absurdity is just getting started.

When Mom Swipes Left on Brown Skin Girl for Her Son

Sheila, a devout believer in the sanctity of sanskars, meticulously scrutinized potential daughters-in-law with a magnifying glass so powerful it could have been plucked straight out of the medieval ages. As she dismisses one girl after another for faults that seem as random as they are irrelevant, we're left wondering if she's searching for a bride or a mythical creature.

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But hold your breath, dear viewers, for the story takes an intriguing turn. Sheila, amidst her continuous search for 'Sanskari bahu', finds herself ensnared in a reverie. A dream, you may ask? Nay, a revelation! Fate intervenes in the form of the brown girl she had unceremoniously rejected in the previous episode. Ah, the rejected brown girl, a symbol of everything Sheila deems unfit for her precious 'Raja Beta'. But as she stands before Sheila, her words carry the weight of a thousand societal injustices, as she lays bare the Herculean task of navigating life with a complexion deemed 'unfit' by societal standards.  From derogatory terms like "kaali kaluti" to constant chasing of a fairer skin tone  through haldi, chandan, and a plethora of skin-lightening creams, she exposes the damaging effects of colorism on self-esteem and identity.The stigma, the taunts, the constant quest to achieve a fairer skin tone—it's a story all too familiar for many brown-skinned individuals in India.

And here lies the irony. While it's perfectly acceptable for Sheila's son to possess the same shade of brown skin, the mere thought of her son marrying someone with a similar hue sends shockwaves through her antiquated mindset. It's a glaring double standard that reflects the deeper hypocrisy ingrained within societal expectations.

While we preach equality and progress, we often find ourselves shackled by archaic notions of beauty and worth. Sheila's mindset serves as a grim reminder of the uphill battle faced by those deemed 'different,' be it in the chaos of marriage or everyday life.

Sheila, quick to dismiss brown-skinned brides for her son, fails to recognize the mirror image staring back at her—her daughter, conditioned to loathe herself because she doesn't fit society's narrow definition  of beauty. Caught in a web of societal conditioning and maternal taunts, she grapples with a crippling lack of confidence, internalizing the belief that her worth is defined by the shade of her skin. From hoarding skin-lightening creams to succumbing to societal pressures, Sheila's daughter embodies the plight of countless people, where beauty standards often prioritize fairness over character. 

Yet, amidst the irony and introspection, #BahuWanted serves a greater purpose. It holds up a mirror to a society that demands perfection from its daughters-in-law while turning a blind eye to the flaws of its sons. It challenges the biased norms of colorism and misogyny, forcing viewers to confront uncomfortable truths hidden beneath the veneer of matrimonial rituals.

Will Sheila  finally see beyond the confines of colorism, or will she remain shackled by outdated notions of beauty? Stay tuned for the next episode of #BahuWanted, where the truth is anything but fair.