After waiting for a lot of time, and surviving what can be called the worst possible time in the 21st century, we finally were able to get our hands on Netflix’s Bridgerton Season 2. And it was everything that we hoped for, and at some points even better. However, there is no such thing as perfection, and Bridgerton proved it yet again. While the show has always done justice to the original story of the books, it did come short when depicting different cultures. The prime example of this is the portrayal of the South Asian culture in the latest season of the Regency drama.

It was rather obvious that we will be seeing a lot of South Asian culture in the second season of the show. Primarily because of the addition of the Sharma family into the London Ton. Hence, there were always doubts about how well it will be portrayed. While it gave audiences a lot of pleasure, Bridgerton Season 2 came short with a few things. In this post, we will look at the one thing Bridgerton got wrong about the culture of South Asia.

The out-of-place use of “Appa” by the Sharma sisters in Bridgerton Season 2

Well, apart from all the Hindi words that Kate and Edwina Sharma use in the second season of Bridgerton, there is but one word that feels a bit too peculiar. Phrases like “baap rey” and Edwina calling Kate “didi” throughout the course of the series hint at them having a North-Indian influence. However, they call their father “appa” which is something Tamilians and Malayalis use. And given that they are settled in Bombay, and have the Sharma surname, it all shows that they are originally from North India. But are they though?

There’s a possibility that Kate’s mother was of South Indian descent. However, the show doesn’t quite explore Kate’s origins or past for that matter. In that sense, Bridgerton focuses single-handedly on Anthony and his troubled courtship. Maybe, in the later seasons we can hope for more insight, but we doubt it because the next one is likely to be on Benedict.

What is Hindustani? And How does Edwina know it?

Well, for those who are joking and claiming that Hindustani is not an actual language and the show actually meant to say Hindi. Let us burst your bubble and tell you it is an actual language. A rather beautiful amalgam of Hindi and Urdu, this is a language native to North India, Pakistan, and the Deccan Plateau. So, Bridgerton Season 2 at least got that right.

However, the problem begins when you examine the possibility of Edwina knowing the language. Kate mentions her sister knows Marathi as well as Hindustani. Sure, given that they grew up in Bombay, it makes sense that she knows Marathi. But how can she possibly know Hindustani unless they are from North India or the Deccan region? Well, maybe they are from North India, then how can you explain their use of the phrase “appa”?

So, we thought these to be a little odd with the South Asian representation in Bridgerton Season 2. Regardless, the show has done a great job and portraying multiple cultures and is a prime example of inclusiveness. At the very least, they have started the tide on inclusiveness in Regency Era shows with an aim to make everyone feel seen. Tell us if you caught any more such references or issues from the latest season of the Netflix Original.

Bridgerton Season 2 is now streaming globally on Netflix.