Whats in the tongue...?

It has always surprised me.. the first time when i went to Mumbai, and when i spoke in Hindi to people, they would always ask where I was from. And I would say "chennai - Madras". and they would say, " Oh... Madras.. tumhari Hindi toh kaafi achhi hai. Lag nahi raha ki tum madras se ho..". Initially, I would like that statement, cos I would feel comfortable that the language does not differentiate me too much and lets me blend in.
And then after 2 years of Mumbai, when I went to Delhi the same thing happened again. People would always ask how my hindi was different from the usual stereotypical south Indian Hindi representation in the bollywood movies, like the one acted by Late Mehmood in Padosan. Trust me you non-southies... that is not how an average 'Madrasi' talks Hindi...
As if that was not enough. The same happens outside India when an average Indian speaks English. Like yday I went for a Braai to which Iw had invited me. And there were 3 english - south Africans whom I met. They were pretty cool. One of them - Carl, almost got a mental block for some word and i suggested the word and the guys goes on(with the typical South african english accent.. the one that DiCaprio has in the movie Blood diamond)..

Carl: bru.. how come you talk good english bru..?
I: I learnt english.
Carl: Bru.. they teach English in India? How come Bru... ? their culture is so strong bru... no one ruled you guys bru...
I: thanks to the British
Carl: aargh... Am sorry bru.. It was not me bru..
I: thats Okay.
Carl: Didnt know you guys knew English bru... Its likea...

Then he wanted to know if snakes were there everywhere in India.. Phew.. thats it, am done. Then I had to ask him, if there were Lions and elephants in your backyard. And then the guys understood how India had been generalised. tough task it is, to every time tell them what and how India works.