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ARDHA, 2020-2023



After a personal breakup, I moved in with the family of a long-time friend in Kerala, India. Like me, this friend was nearing their thirties and had also recently gone through a breakup, following the rejection by their partner’s parents. This sudden situation led their own parents, as with many friends before them, to begin a rushed search for a future spouse. Our respective experiences made me reflect on the concept of union, which I began documenting within my extended circle of friends in Kerala, and later expanded to different communities across various Indian states over the years.


In India, over ten million couples get married every year. Among them, a small percentage are love marriages, while the vast majority follow the traditional process of arranged marriage. Whether viewed as a rite of passage into adulthood or an alliance between two families, marriage is the central event in everyone’s life. Although traditions vary by region and religion, the search for a spouse by parents has a common thread across all communities: finding the "mirror" partner for their child.


Traditionally, spouses are expected to belong to the same caste and practice the same religion. They are also required to have a similar level of education. For Hindus and Christians, an additional criterion comes into play: the astrological compatibility of the couple, which must be validated by an astrologer. In this marriage market, age is also a crucial factor. After the age of 30, it becomes increasingly difficult to find a partner in all communities. This quest for marriage often turns into a countdown for young people, who are compelled to let go of their youthful romances to fulfill their families' expectations.


Much like the mythological perfect and indissociable union of Shiva and Pārvatī, known as Ardhanarishvara (the lord who is half woman), who were first tragically separated, Indian mythology and literature are filled with stories of love that follow similar contours: union, separation, and reunion. This pattern is now echoed in the film industry, captivating contemporary young audiences and reflecting the lived realities of many.





Is there union without pain?

LUNGO LA ROMEA