Wanted: A partner for my single parent

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Dwelling on the issue of re-marriage and challenging the social norms of society, a new movie Second Marriage Dot Com by debut director Gaurav Panjwani talks about the rising number of second marriages and live-ins among Delhi’s middle-aged. Shot at various locations of Delhi, the film reflects the changing mindset of the youth as two teenagers, Akshay (Vishal Nayak) and Poonam (Sayani Gupta), urge their single parents to go in for a second marriage.
Interestingly, it was a spam email of a matrimonial site that inspired Gaurav to explore the subject. He said, “I met many middle-aged people from Delhi, Jaipur and Mumbai who were separated, divorced or widowed. Many of them were widowed and had got their kids married. So, they were living alone, they now felt the need for a partner. Most of them now have their children’s support as well,” says the director adding, “Today’s youngsters really understand the emotional need of their parents. In metros, educated people have a different mindset towards the institution of marriage and do not mind going in for re-marriages. I feel every individual has the right to lead life with happiness and satisfaction, and that’s the message my movie has tried to convey.”
While researching for his film, Gaurav found that second marriage is not only getting popular in metropolis but also small cities. Many middle-aged couples in the capital who have gone in for a second marriage say that they have the support of their family for the new life.
Forty five-year-old Delhi-based Shikha Shah (name changed on request), got married the second time into a Muslim family after filing for divorce in September 2011. Leading a happy new life, Shikha credits her daughter for this fresh start. “Marriage at this age comes with lot of problems and societal obligations. My earlier marriage was going through a bad phase. That was when my daughter decided on my second marriage. She made me meet this gentleman, who was single and we soon decided to tie the knot. My daughter is married and understands the importance of a partner. In India, second marriage of middle-aged is still considered a big thing. But single parents should understand that once their children are settled, they would feel the need of a partner,” shares Shikha, who works with an IT firm in Gurgaon.
Seconds 43-year-old Prashant, a businessman and father of three children, who settled on a mutual divorce with his wife after 18 years of marriage. “We both initiated the divorce because there was a lack of comfort in our relationship. We took a mutual decision. But this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our kids,” he says.
And even youngsters today don’t shy away from the re-marriage decisions of their single parents. Akshaydeep Singh, a Delhi-based DJ, is looking for a partner for his mom. “My mother stays in Amritsar and I’m working in Delhi. Though, she never says anything, I can feel her loneliness. I want to see her settled.”