NEW DELHI: When Meenakshi Wagh said yes to Vinod Deshpande, thousands of viewers across India approved of the match and showered their blessings on Indian television’s first arranged marriage show.

“They were both compatible since both are into sports. I was hoping she would choose him,” said viewer Raksha Shukla, admitting that she didn’t entirely approve of the show but thought it was entertaining.

“Kahin naa kahin koi hai” (There is someone somewhere) plays matchmaker to the hilt. Families are first introduced to each other, than girl meets boy and finally the wedding bells ring.

The series, which started earlier this week and has received thousands of applicants, arranged its first wedding in its fourth episode on Thursday night when Meenakshi, a 26-year-old professional badminton player, and Vinod, a 27-year-old business owner and an avid table tennis player, told viewers that they were going to tie the knot.

Most marriages in India are arranged and the programme producers believe that they are just providing another avenue, adding to the options provided by matrimonial agencies, family priests and extended families.

“We have been inviting applications through on-air promos. A mix of avenues have been used to get information on interested boys and girls, including matrimonial agencies,” explained Sanjay Lulla, executive vice-president of Sony Entertainment Television, producers of the show.

Traditionally, arranged marriages are initiated after families exchange horoscopes of the girl and boy. In the serial, the girls’ parents get to go through the bio-data of prospective boys and choose the ones they would like to meet.

In keeping with tradition, the show first brings the families of the prospective bride and groom together. As they exchange pleasantries, the camera zooms in on the couple, sitting together on a decorated swing.

The hostess, Hindi film world’s diva Madhuri Dixit, gets the conversation going and much to the surprise of many viewers, the couples are frank and not very camera shy.

In her home in western Indian city of Ahmedabad, Prithvi Vyas tuned into the show every night. “It is very entertaining. For me the biggest draw was Madhuri Dixit. She is so gorgeous.”

Though the initial draw of the show seems to be Madhuri Dixit and curiosity, many feel that in a society obsessed with organizing elaborate weddings, the channel’s gamble might just pay off.—dpa