‘Bro’s Collecting Languages Like Pokémon’: Mamdani Makes Cultural Inroads by Speaking Bangla, Mandarin, Spanish in a Surprise Broadway Giveaway
Flexed in four languages.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani just turned a routine Broadway ticket announcement into a full-blown language showcase, and the internet is obsessed. According to First Post, over the weekend, Mamdani dropped a series of videos promoting a program that gives away more than 2,000 free Broadway tickets to high school students – but instead of sticking to English, he delivered the message in Bangla (Bengali), Mandarin, and Spanish.
The giveaway itself is significant. In partnership with the Theatre Development Fund, the city is offering students a chance to win free tickets to seven Broadway shows through a lottery. Every student who enters gets a free two-month TDF membership, which unlocks discounted tickets to Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. The lottery opened on August 13 and closed at 10 a.m. on August 17, but the real buzz came from how Mamdani chose to spread the word.
Mamdani’s Bangla video, in particular, sent social media into a frenzy. He opened with “Kemon acho, New York City high schoolers?” – a greeting that instantly resonated with Bengali speakers. He then explained the ticket giveaway in Bangla, wrapping up with “Thikachey, tahole dekha hobe show te,” or “Alright then, see you at the show.” One commenter wrote that they hadn’t been around Bengali speakers in over a decade but understood every word, adding, “now I’m crying lmao.”
The Mandarin video was equally impressive
Mamdani’s Mandarin pronunciation and tones were so accurate that journalist Bethany Allen called it “extraordinary,” noting that many people study the language for years without achieving such clarity. His ability to nail retroflex sounds – those tricky consonants that trip up even advanced learners – had Chinese-speaking viewers doing double takes.
According to The Independent, State Senator John Liu, who’s fluent in Mandarin, gave Mamdani a “solid B” for his delivery, praising his proper tones and emphasis. Liu joked that the mayor should get an “A+ for effort,” adding, “It’s only the first marking period, and it’s sure to get better.”
Mamdani’s Spanish announcement, posted a day earlier, set the stage for the multilingual rollout. Rachel Zegler, the star of Snow White, commented, “ur spanish is so good my guy,” while Duolingo – ever the language cheerleader – asked, “how do you know every language?”
Mamdani studied Mandarin at the Bronx High School of Science from 2006 to 2010, though a spokesperson confirmed he hasn’t seriously practiced since then.
The enthusiasm only grew as Mamdani dropped more videos, with one commenter joking that he was “collecting all the languages like Pokémon.” By the time the Bangla clip went live, Duolingo was practically begging for mercy, writing, “Stop tagging me… I AM NOT HOLDING THE MAYOR HOSTAGE.”
It was all about representation
New York is one of the most linguistically diverse cities in the world, and seeing a mayor address students in their native tongues felt like a long-overdue nod to that reality. One user wrote, “Holy cow, when was the last time a NYC mayor spoke in Chinese?! My auntie’s going to be ecstatic.”
Another joked that Mamdani’s Mandarin would give Chinese moms a new standard to hold their kids to, writing, “Our Chinese moms are already asking us why we’re not mayors of a major metropolitan city and now he can speak Mandarin like this?! What’s his SAT score again?”
Mamdani’s multilingual skills aren’t new. During his political career, he’s frequently switched between languages like Arabic, Hindi, and Urdu when addressing voters.
Born in Kampala, Uganda, to Indian parents – filmmaker Mira Nair and academic Mahmood Mamdani – he spent his early childhood in Uganda and South Africa before moving to New York at age seven. His upbringing in a multilingual household clearly left its mark, and his ability to connect with different communities in their own languages has become a signature move.
But not everyone has been impressed with the Mayor’s linguistic prowess
Last year, per the New York Times, State Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz, a Republican from Long Island, accused Mamdani of using AI to fake his Spanish speaking skills in a campaign video. Blumencranz even commissioned an independent analysis, which he claimed showed “sufficient indicators of digital alteration.” Mamdani responded by releasing a blooper reel of himself stumbling over the lines, proving that his fluency was very much real.
This time, the Mayor was ready. He released a blooper reel of the many takes of his Broadway announcements, complete with the caption, “Could AI do this TAMBIEN?” On a serious note, the Broadway ticket giveaway is about access. In his English announcement, Mamdani made it clear that young New Yorkers should be able to experience the city’s cultural landmarks regardless of their financial situation.
“In a city overflowing with extraordinary art and culture, every young person should have the opportunity to experience those moments, regardless of what’s in their bank account,” he said. The lottery system ensures that students from all backgrounds have a shot at seeing a show, and the free TDF membership sweetens the deal by making future tickets more affordable.
Broadway is one of New York’s defining cultural institutions, and Mamdani wants every young person in the city to feel like it belongs to them. The multilingual videos were a way to meet students where they are, in the languages they speak at home. And if the internet’s reaction is any indication, it worked. From Duolingo’s playful exasperation to the emotional responses from Bengali and Mandarin speakers, Mamdani’s approach struck a chord.
(Featured image: InformedImages)
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