The wedding of Anant Ambani, the son of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, and Radhika Merchant has become a widely discussed topic both in India and internationally. As the younger Ambani marries Radhika, the daughter of Encore Healthcare CEO Viren Merchant, media outlets worldwide have extensively covered the lavish celebrations.
A report unveiled by Kutniti Foundation, a Delhi-based Operational Think Tank, highlights the Ambani wedding as the only India related news in 2024 which is reported in a somewhat positive light by the international media. The report analyses coverage from over 160 large media outlets across 23 countries in the world that are most relevant to India. The report focused on the seven largest media outlets in each country, which collectively represent between 80% to 98% of readership. The analysis includes articles published between July 12-16, 2024, categorised into positive, neutral, or negative perceptions.
The overall world perception was 50% positive, 22% negative and 28% neutral in regards to media articles on the wedding.
Described by some articles as the "Wedding of the century", the event has been portrayed as setting an unparalleled standard, positioning India momentarily as the best country for such extravagance.
The presence of renowned Western celebrities at the wedding has captured significant media attention. Unlike the usual focus on Indian politicians, cricketers, and singers by foreign press, there is curiosity about how an Indian event could attract such global interest.
The following five pictures are the most selected by international media outlets to cover The Ambani Wedding. They have been used by many publications across multiple countries.
In addition to this, the attendance of Kim and Khloe Kardashian at the wedding has led to them featuring their trip to India in their popular show "Keeping up with the Kardashians". This rare inclusion of Indian-related content in a major global program reflects a Kardashian echo-chamber effect.
Other highlights from the report:
Curiosity about Indian culture and Hinduism: Global media's rare depiction of Indian and Hindu culture has sparked intrigue, with some newspapers highlighting aspects of Indian marriage customs and even referring to them as representative of 'Hindu culture'. Described by some articles as the 'wedding of the century,' the event has been portrayed as setting an unparalleled standard, positioning India momentarily as the best country for such extravagance.
The inequality angle: The majority of the criticism has been reported from the press in the US, Japan, Taiwan and Singapore, where they have repeatedly featured the take of Agence France-Presse (AFP), emphasising the extravagant finale of billionaire Indian tycoon Mukesh Ambani's son Anant’s wedding. The story highlights Ambani's immense wealth, India's rapid economic growth, and stark financial disparities. Criticism has been directed at the wedding's budget, with many newspapers deeming it excessive, particularly when contrasted with the perceived poverty in India. This scrutiny serves as a stark reminder of the significant inequalities within the country.
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