Controversy queen Rakhi Sawant marks her comeback on the small screen in a show that’s called Rakhi Ka Swayamvar, where she will have a bunch of men wooing her. Is this another attempt to up the TRPs? “We have introduced a fresh and never-before-seen concept on television of celebrity wedding. Indian marriages are a public affair. We Indians love fan fare during our weddings. This is just taking it to another level. Instead of finding a person through a matrimonial advertisement in a newspaper or a website, Rakhi has just chosen television to find a groom,” says Shailaja Kejriwal, EVP content, NDTV Imagine.

Star Vivaah, the new show, based on matrimony, brings to the sets eligible men and women, along with their families, for real-time matchmaking sessions on the small screen. Tanu Singh from Jamnagar who was one of the participants on the show feels this is the fastest way to reach out to your soul mate. “Initially, I was a little skeptical, but my parents asked me to register because the process would be faster. I had registered on matrimonial websites for a year but nothing really worked out. This was a welcome change.” Similarly for Dr Gaurav Chopra from Ludhiana ,the show gave more exposure and his portfolio reached out to more people.

Star Vivaah is earning brownie points also because of its format. While earlier shows looked at showing the entire process of matchmaking on screen, this one just advertises the profile of the respective girl or boy. “The show doesn’t embarrass you by making you meet the bride and groom on the show. It is just a space to advertise your strengths and weaknesses,” says Singh.

It is not just about finding the right match; having a perfect ceremony is equally important. The show, The Big Fat Indian Wedding on NDTV Good Times will vouch for that. “Marriage and love is an experience that everyone goes through whether you are rich, poor, successful, intellectual or not. Watching someone else get married over a period of five days in the right setting, in the perfect outfit, for the right reasons, with gorgeous guests and yummy food in the comfort of your home in just 30 minutes is warm and comfortable,” says Ambika Anand, Anchor & Associate Editor, NDTV Good Times.

So are these wedding-based programmes going to generate viewer interest? Anand replies, “Many times people attend weddings but they do not get a chance to ask the groom and bride how they met. In a way, the show works as a bridge and helps a viewer get to know the protagonists on a one-on-one basis.”