I’m curious about something… As someone 100% ignorant of Indian culture I don’t understand, how can you say Connie is a Southern Indian? What are the differences between North and South India?

Her name- Maheshwaram is a South Indian name, which clues most Indians in to where she is from. 

Both areas speak different languages, the languages are also from different families (Indo-European vs Dravidian). 

Since the Mughals conquered the Northern half of India but not the Southern one, there are very obvious differences in the cultures. The food, customs, festivities, religious practices, even physical features differ. There are also differences in social taboos and overall outlook on the world. Basically they may as well be different countries. 

However since the government is in Delhi, or North India, that area of India is the only one represented to foreigners, so most of them don’t even know that South India exists. Steven Universe changed that and it was well overdue.