In this single drama, a young woman finds her loyalties divided between family tradition and her own desires.
This single play depicts the tensions within a family planning an arranged marriage. The drama centres on the Daughter (Sneh Gupta), who finds her future the subject of intense discussion and pressure from her Father (Gurdial Sira), Mother (Josephine Welcome), and Uncle (Renu Setna). Their plans involve her betrothal to a Fiancé (Dev Sagoo), forcing a confrontation over cultural expectations and personal autonomy.
Produced by the ITV franchise ATV, An Arranged Marriage is a notable example of the single play format being used to examine a subject rarely seen on mainstream British television at the time. The drama moves away from conventional domestic stories to scrutinize the cultural and generational conflicts surrounding the tradition of arranged marriage within a British Asian family. Written and directed by Malcolm Feuerstein, the production has the focused, intimate feel of a singular vision, using a small cast to stage a conflict between personal freedom and familial duty.
Broadcast: ITV – ATV, 1 December 1981
Written by: Malcolm Feuerstein
Directed by: Malcolm Feuerstein
Executive Producer: Brian Lewis
Main Cast: Sneh Gupta (Daughter), Gurdial Sira (Father), Josephine Welcome (Mother), Renu Setna (Uncle), Dev Sagoo (Fiancé)
