23rd November 2024

South Asian women celebrate Bridgerton’s representation

by | Apr 11, 2022 | Entertainment, Indian-American

TCA Camp kids meeting Robin Singh

Reading Time: 2 minutes

You have to be living under a rock to not have heard of Bridgerton. OTT platform Netflix’s regency romance drama that managed to break all time viewership records for the streaming service is back with Season 2. And as expected the multicultural aspect of the period show has added a unique vantage point for Indians to tune in to the show.

When Netflix announced late last year that the season 2 will feature Indian actresses Simone Ashley and Charithra Chandran it was enough to keep the desis riveted.

Interestingly, when the series premiered about a week ago, there was much Indian-ness than the insipid token color portrayal one is used to seeing on the American mainstream.

While we will give credit to the series for breaking the barriers of real representation in entertainment, the show also sometimes falls short of accurately portraying certain aspects of the complex Indian culture.

The new season introduces an Indian family – the Sharmas. Three sisters in top of the line roles in the much appreciated series. The Sharma sisters with their dark skin and champi (oil massages) bring to the fore aspects of Indian culture that may not have been yet explored on American TV.

It’s also remarkable that the girls gloriously flaunt ornate Victorian style gowns that look splendid against their dark skin. Casting leading ladies in deeper skin tones is something that even Bollywood is struggling with still. So it deserves due credit that Bridgerton actually bridges that gap.

And while the gowns seem to have trumped the Indian lehengas or saris, if you look closely there may be an occasional hint of Indian motif like paisley.

Looking at the role that costumes play in a period drama, it did seem like a missed opportunity to not introduce more Indian textiles or ethnic styles.

It may be noted that the series is set around the early 19th century. While it is mentioned that the Sharma family hailed from Bombay in India, there is no glimpse of what India looked like in the early 1800s.

Chai – a popular beverage in the subcontinent that has gathered some bad rap for its unoriginal western adaptation in the form of modern day chai lattes or chai teas in America, gets its moment in the series in all its gourmet glory. Kate Sharma does not think much of English tea and prefers her masala chai.

There is also a haldi ceremony where turmeric, marigolds and Bollywood music in the background bring to the forefront the Bollywood style moment to the regency era.

The sisters oiling each-other’s hair with oil or the traditional champi massage is unmistakably Indian as is the sisters referring to each other as didi – a north Indian word to address elder sister. However why do the sisters then use Appa to address their father – a south Indian term for dad is puzzling.

While there are some smirks on the internet on how Edwina pronounces Ghalib, all in all we would give it to her to bring the mention of the legendary Indian poet during the times of P.B. Shelly and Jane Austen of the regency era.

Bridgerton did include an Indian writer in its coterie of writers and Geetika Lazardi gets many moments right except for the few misses here and there.

Like this story? Or have something to share?

Write to us: contact@hindhimalayausa.com

Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter

0 Comments

You May Also Like

Indian-American DJ KSHMR collaborates with Raftaar on Legacy

Indian-American DJ KSHMR collaborates with Raftaar on Legacy

As hip-hop turns 50 , Indian-American DJ-producer KSHMR and rapper-producer Raftaar have joined forces for their debut collaboration titled 'Legacy', the third track from KSHMR's much-awaited Indian hip-hop album 'Karam'. Raftaar showcases his lyrical prowess as he...

US pork industry working on exporting first shipments to India

US pork industry working on exporting first shipments to India

The American pork industry is working on exporting its first shipments of pork to India, an industry leader has told lawmakers. Randy Spronk, a Minnesota pork producer, was speaking during a Congressional hearing on behalf of the National Pork Producers Council....

16 Indian American middle schoolers in STEM challenge finals

16 Indian American middle schoolers in STEM challenge finals

A total of 16 Indian American youngsters are among 30 finalists in the inaugural Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (Thermo Fisher JIC), the nation’s premier middle school science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) competition. The 30...

India-US Space Cooperation Gets a New Fillip

India-US Space Cooperation Gets a New Fillip

From September 7-10, U.S. President Joe Biden was in New Delhi to attend the G-20 Summit hosted by India. Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met for a bilateral discussion as soon as the U.S. president landed, highlighting their “close and enduring...

“If China Wants To Be A Spoiler…”: US Ahead Of G20 Summit

“If China Wants To Be A Spoiler…”: US Ahead Of G20 Summit

It is for China to decide what role it plays at the G20 Summit in New Delhi, a top US official has said, asserting that if Beijing wants to come in and be a "spoiler", that option is available to it. US National Security Advisor Sullivan was responding to a question...

Indian-American DJ KSHMR collaborates with Raftaar on Legacy

Indian-American DJ KSHMR collaborates with Raftaar on Legacy

As hip-hop turns 50 , Indian-American DJ-producer KSHMR and rapper-producer Raftaar have joined forces for their debut collaboration titled 'Legacy', the third track from KSHMR's much-awaited Indian hip-hop album 'Karam'. Raftaar showcases his lyrical prowess as he...

US pork industry working on exporting first shipments to India

US pork industry working on exporting first shipments to India

The American pork industry is working on exporting its first shipments of pork to India, an industry leader has told lawmakers. Randy Spronk, a Minnesota pork producer, was speaking during a Congressional hearing on behalf of the National Pork Producers Council....

16 Indian American middle schoolers in STEM challenge finals

16 Indian American middle schoolers in STEM challenge finals

A total of 16 Indian American youngsters are among 30 finalists in the inaugural Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (Thermo Fisher JIC), the nation’s premier middle school science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) competition. The 30...

India-US Space Cooperation Gets a New Fillip

India-US Space Cooperation Gets a New Fillip

From September 7-10, U.S. President Joe Biden was in New Delhi to attend the G-20 Summit hosted by India. Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met for a bilateral discussion as soon as the U.S. president landed, highlighting their “close and enduring...

“If China Wants To Be A Spoiler…”: US Ahead Of G20 Summit

“If China Wants To Be A Spoiler…”: US Ahead Of G20 Summit

It is for China to decide what role it plays at the G20 Summit in New Delhi, a top US official has said, asserting that if Beijing wants to come in and be a "spoiler", that option is available to it. US National Security Advisor Sullivan was responding to a question...