MIRA NAIR

Monsoon Wedding

I have a really small family. I believe I’ve mentioned it before. I have zero first cousins, and one second cousin thatI know. I have one uncle I rarely get to see. There are some semi-cousins here and there, and few other distant relatives, but that’s about it. Perhaps that’s why I’ve always been fascinated by large families. There’s just something about all the chaos and joy they can bring which really resonates for me.

This is the story of one very large family, preparing for the wedding of the only daughter of one of the main parts of the family. An event like this happens only once or twice a generation; a time when the entire family is going to be assembled in one place. Everyone has come, and everyone has something to do or say. It’s absolute chaos, with agendas, characters, stories, and events moving so fast it’s hard to even keep track of them all.

The family speaks to me not just because of the allure of its size. I grew up with a small family, but in a large Jewish community. The parallels feel strong. The chaos, the personalities, the endless supply of well-meaning adults who “just want to help.” The large communal and religious events, with traditional dress, song, and dance. The endless joy of celebration. The straightforward way everyone talks to each other, while still not revealing everything they mean. It all felt so familiar to me, I couldn’t help but smile the whole way through. - May 29th, 2017