Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath discuss the Vijay Mallya podcast and why political patronage for big businessmen is detrimental. Joining them is senior business journalist Sucheta Dalal. In the second discussion, the hosts delve into the Bharat Mata image controversy in Kerala and the impact of university VCs and Governors endorsing such symbols.
Audio Timecodes
00:00:00- Introduction
00:01:05- Announcements
00:05:40- Headlines
00:11:05 - Vijay Mallya’s Half-Truths
01:00:32- Saffornisation of Bharat Mata
1:16:47 - Recommendations
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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali, written by Sukanya Shaji
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath discuss the tussle between DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah over the state’s Chief Minister-ship. Professor Chandan Gowda joins them to unpack what this will mean for the state’s politics. In the second half, activist Shivasundar joins the hosts for a discussion on the hypocrisy of the RSS with respect to comments on the Preamble of the Constitution.
Audio Timecodes
00:00:00- Introduction
00:01:46- Announcements
00:03:31- Headlines
00:14:26 - Karnataka State Leadership
00:35:31- Preamble
01:13:08 - Letters
1:17:47 - Recommendations
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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Vignesh Manickam
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of South Central hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Leena Reghunath discuss the censorship on director Honey Trehan’s film ‘Punjab95’, based on human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra and what the UDF’s win in the Nilambur polls in Kerala means for the state’s politics. Guests Honey Trehan, Amandeep Sandhu, and MG Radhakrishnan weigh in.
All this and more—tune in.
Audio Timecodes
00:00:00- Introduction
00:02:13- Announcements
00:03:20- Headlines
00:08:00 - Punjab 95 & Censorship
01:02:25- Nilambur Election
1:25:12 - Recommendations
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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In Episode 32 of South Central, Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna speak with journalist Sivapriyan ETB about why the Keezhadi excavation challenges the Union government’s narrative and how the DMK is politicising it ahead of 2026.
In the second half, lawyer Rohin Bhatt and journalist Leena Reghunath join to discuss the Sonam Raghuvanshi murder case in Meghalaya and what it reveals about caste, patriarchy, and forced marriages.
All this and more—tune in.
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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In Episode 31 of South Central, singer Chinmayi Sripaada joins hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath to talk about her years of isolation after speaking out against sexual harassment in the Tamil film industry. From being unofficially banned despite hit songs to the emotional impact of her recent Thug Life performance, Chinmayi reflects on what it means to be remembered again for her music.
In the first half of the episode, the hosts also speak with senior journalist Nandini Chandrasekhar about the Chinnaswamy stampede in Bengaluru. As the Karnataka government distances itself from responsibility and the police are scapegoated, who is really accountable for the chaos that followed RCB’s IPL win?
All this and more—tune in.
Audio timecodes
00:01:52- Introduction
00:03.32 - Headlines
00:09:14 - RCB Chinnaswamy Stampede
00:19:43 - Chinmayi Sripaada
001:08:49 - Letters
01:21:12- Recommendations
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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of South Central hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath discuss the tragic stampede that occurred in Bengaluru during RCB’s post-win celebrations, and Kamal Haasan’s comment on Kannada’s origin. They are joined by journalists Venkat Ananth, Anisha Sheth and Professor Purushothama Bilemale.
Audio timecodes
00:00:00- Introduction
00:03.43 - Headlines
00.5.47 - RCB’s post-win tragedy
00.40.53 - Kamal Hassan vs Kannada
01.17.15 - Recommendations
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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In Episode 29 of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath discuss the dichotomy of the BJP’s Muslim-messaging within India and abroad. In the second section, they also talk about whether art can be truly separated from the artist. Joining the discussion are The Wire’s editor Seema Chishti, Musician TM Krishna, and senior journalist Anna MM Vetticad.
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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In Episode 28 of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Sudipto Mondal discuss if Shashi Tharoor is at a breaking point with the Congress party, and TNM-Newslaundry series on police excesses and impunity across India. Joining the discussion are lawyer and activist Vinay Srinivasa and TNM’s Chennai Bureau Chief Shabbir Ahmed.
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Audio Timecodes
00:00:00- Introduction
00:02:04- Announcements
00:03:29- Headlines
00:19:12 - Shashi Tharoor and Congress
00:39:33- Police Excesses and Impunity
1:17:50 - Letters
1:20:42 - Recommendations
1:24:50 - Support TNM
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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In Episode 27 of South Central, Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath discuss the India–Pakistan ceasefire following Operation Sindoor and examine the role of the media during military escalation. They speak with defence expert Sushant Singh and senior journalist Prem Panicker.
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Audio Timecodes
00:00:00- Introduction
00:01:58 - Announcements
00:02:38- Headlines
00:12:50 - India-Pakistan
00:41:25- Role of Media
1:12:34 - Letters
1:18:08 - Recommendations
1:24:18 - Support TNM
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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In Episode 26 of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath discuss India’s Operation Sindoor, evolving military posture, diplomacy, and the challenges of reporting during heightened conflict. In the discussion are foreign affairs reporter Smita Sharma and Takshashila Institution co-founder Nitin pai.
On India’s airstrikes, Nitin Pai says, “The three points Uri, Balakot, and Sindoor form a straight line — one that is the new normal, which says that India will respond with military force to a terrorist attack above a certain threshold.”
Smita explains the strategic importance of the terrorist camps India targeted on May 7: “Bahawalpur was a breeding ground for Jaish-e-Mohammad. For India, it’s a big boost that Masood Azhar confirmed these strikes, saying 10 of his family members were killed.”
On Pakistan’s retaliatory shelling and its “tit for tat” strategy, Nitin says, “There are no terrorists in India. There's no equivalent of a militant group in India that is connected to the Indian army or Indian armed forces that Pakistan can attack in retaliation. If they have to respond, they will attack the Indian army or security force’s relatively small installations. And that becomes an escalation.”
Smita warns about the risks of domestic militarism in Pakistan, “They have been crying for attention. US president Donald Trump, in his last presidency, had cut off financial aid meant for Pakistan. So for them, why have they been talking today for the DGI SPR, the Pakistan Army spokesperson, to do a press conference and admit that Indians managed to injure four Pakistani soldiers in Lahore? It's because they want to present a case to the world that they have so far only acted in defense.”
The panel also critiques India’s own preparedness and political narrative. Dhanya and Pooja question why civilians in areas like Poonch weren’t evacuated in time, and why Indian media isn’t pressing harder for accountability.
The speakers also discussed many more issues like the threat of a nuclear war, the cost of war, and the complexity of reporting on military action in an age of misinformation.
All this and more—tune in.
Follow Smita Sharma's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@smitasharmajournalist
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Audio Timecodes
00:00:00- Introduction
00:02:21- Headlines
00:09:55 -Operation Sindoor
1:04:19 - Support TNM
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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the aftermath of the tragic killing of 26 civilians in Pahalgam, how should India respond — and what signals do recent government measures really send? Meanwhile, India has moved up in the World Press Freedom Index. But does this reflect actual change on the ground, or just a shifting global baseline?
On South Central Episode 25, Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath speak with international relations expert Professor Amitabh Mattoo and senior journalist Nirupama Subramaniam.
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Audio Timecodes
00:00:00- Introduction
00:01:57- Support TNM
00:05:30 -Headlines
00:10:23 -Pahalgam Attack
00:57:47- Press Freedom Index
01:19:55 - Recommendations
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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In Episode 24 of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath discuss Bengaluru’s migrants vs Kannadigas issue and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar’s criticism aimed at the Supreme Court’s powers. Also part of the discussion are comedian and writer Nithin Kamath, lawyer Suhrith Parthasarathy, and TNM’s Anisha Sheth.
On the Bengaluru debate, Dhanya says, “For many Kannadigas, this isn’t just about language. It’s really about erasure. There is a fear among locals that their city, culture, and identity is being sidelined.”
Anisha adds, “It’s become an argument over a fight for economic resources — land, water, all of these things. And that’s acquired a kind of belligerence on all sides.”
Nithin observes, “On social media, anything related to Kannada, Karnataka, or Bengaluru has become a keyword of sorts. People lace Kannada sentiments into any issue, like with the Shiladitya Bose road rage incident. By the time the facts come out, the damage is already done.”
As the conversation shifts to Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar’s remarks on the Supreme Court, Suhrith Parthasarathy says, “Our constitutional design is such that the judiciary, which comprises an unelected body of members and judges, will act as a check on not just executive excesses but also legislative excesses.”
On the Supreme Court’s verdict on the role of governors, Leena points out, “What the court has done is just take the vision of the constitution-makers and say, do your job for what you were appointed. Be a constitutional head, a sagacious counselor, pour oil over troubled waters. That is not what is playing out now.”
All this and more—tune in.
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Audio Timecodes
00:00:36- Support TNM
00:01:01- Introduction
00:02:16 -Pahalgam Terror Attack
00:11:43 -Bengaluru Debate
00:51:05- VP vs. Supreme Court
01:15:21 - Letters
01:21:58 - Recommendations
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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In Episode 23 of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna discuss Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s dig at Indian startups and the Supreme Court verdict on Tamil Nadu Governor that revived the debate on federalism. Joining them are chairman of Aarin Capital Mohandas Pai, political and policy consultant Tara Krishnaswamy, and TNM’s senior news editor Shabbir Ahmed.
On the startup debate, Pai says, “Delivery-based startups should not be demeaned, they are also a part of the innovation cycle. India has spent just USD 160 billion on startups since 2014. Compare that to China’s USD 845 billion. The problem isn’t delivery apps, it’s the lack of domestic capital and investment in research and development.”
Tara adds, “Amazon started as a delivery platform. To build a deep-tech ecosystem, we need to invest in education, research, and infrastructure. India doesn't lack talent, it lacks systems that support it.”
Pooja points out how only 8% of Indian startups make it beyond 10 years. “We talk about being a 1.4 billion market—but only a small fraction can actually afford these services,” she says.
As the conversation shifts to the State-Governor tussle, Shabbir says, “The recent Supreme Court verdict is a win for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and other opposition-ruled states. Governor RN Ravi sitting on bills was a clear abuse of power.”
Tara highlights, ““Only 25% of governors have completed their terms. Most are either political appointees or retired judges. This is not sustainable.”
Dhanya points out, “In Kerala, the last governor sat on a bill for 23 months. The Constitution makers did not probably think that we are going to have governors who will sit on bills for months and not act on them.”
On whether the post of Governor serves a purpose, the panel agrees that reforms are overdue. Tara proposes, “Let’s have governors elected through an electoral college, like the President. Another option would be to abolish the post entirely.”
All this and more—tune in.
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Audio Timecodes
00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:24 - Announcements
00:02:19 - Headlines
00:20:24 -Startups
00:49:41- Governors
01:21:58 - Recommendations
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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In Episode 22 of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath discuss the US crackdown on Indian students through self-deportation notices and detentions and the implications of the Waqf Amendment Act 2025 with Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Affairs Editor at The Hindu, and Senior Counsel Zafarullah Khan.
On the scale of the US crackdown, Suhasini says, “What we have seen in the last two months is... governments making it very clear they don't care if due process is followed or not. The idea that the US government now is essentially saying we don't care what's right and wrong… that's never happened before.”
Dhanya says, “There definitely is panic amongst the student community… especially that anything they post on social media, anything they do on their campuses, can come back to bite them.”
On the Indian government’s muted response, Pooja says, “Isn’t there such a mismatch between what we see — the kind of personality we see of Mr Modi in speeches in Parliament, this bravado — but the minute it comes to implementation of that foreign policy… Rest of it has been extremely meek, hasn’t it?”
As the conversation shifts to the Waqf Amendment Act 2025, Zafarullah says, “The present amendments do not address the shortcomings in the administration of the Waqf and its properties. The focus is on how to deprive the Waqf of their landed properties.
On the BJP’s claim of protecting the Muslim community’s interests, Dhanya says, “This is a party which did not give a seat to a Muslim. It stood and watched when Muslims’ homes were demolished; when there were hate speeches made against Muslims. And you want the community to suddenly believe that you want to protect their lands, you want transparency in the system, and that is why you have brought the Waqf Act? That is hypocritical. Nobody’s going to buy that argument.”
Zafarullah adds, “It is an economic deprivation of the community. That is the agenda. To deprive the community of its resources and thereby make them dependent and second-class citizens.”
Write to us on what you would like to speak about to southcentral@thenewsminute.com
Audio Timecodes
00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:23 - Announcements
00:03:03 - Headlines
00:13:39 - US Deportations
00:44:51 - Waqf Amendment Act
01:09:13 - Letters
01:14:23 - Recommendations
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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In Episode 21 of South Central, hosts Pooja Prasanna and Leena Reghunath discuss the Empuraan controversy and the Telangana government’s use of bulldozers and police force to clear ecologically rich land near Hyderabad Central University, alongside TNM’s Nandini Chandrashekar, lawyer Nikhil Narendran, and environmental journalist Bahar Dutt.
On the outrage over Empuraan, Nikhil says, “What is the problem? If you make a movie using the name of a known convict – Babu Bajrangi – why should the Hindu sentiment be hurt?”
On Mohanlal expressing regret over the film’s contents , Pooja remarks, “If anybody could withstand pressure, it's a star like Mohanlal. There was no call for ban, not even from the BJP. So what was the need to buckle?”
Leena adds, “People like that – soft Hindutva insiders – you don’t need to threaten them with violence. Even a letter saying his honorary position as Lt Colonel will be removed is enough to shake them.”
As the conversation moves to the Hyderabad University land row and the student protests against it, Bahar Dutt says, “We are the land of Chipko. Here we have students who have decided they want to save the forest and the biodiversity in their backyard. Yet we are not celebrating it. Instead, we are lathi-charging and arresting them.”
Nandini, who is also an alumna of HCU, observes, “There is no reason [for the government to take this land.] It is not befitting the Chief Minister to call students cunning jackals.”
All this and more—tune in.
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Audio Timecodes
00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:49 - Announcements
00:03:03 - Headlines
00:12:29 - Empuraan
00:41:34 - HCU Land Row
01:09:10 - Recommendations
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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In Episode 20 of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath discuss the absurdity of targeting Kunal Kamra, why the contempt of court law needs to go, and what the Kiran Bedi tapes reveal, alongside Alok Prasanna Kumar, Co-Founder and Lead, Vidhi Karnataka, and independent journalist Nikita Saxena.
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Tell us what you think about our podcast and give us your feedback by filling this form.
Audio Timecodes
00:00:00 - Intro
00:39:00 - Kiran Bedi Tapes
00:02:11 - Headlines
00:13:05 - Kunal Kamra Row
00:33:38 - Judicial Accountability
00:54:25 - Kiran Bedi Tapes
01:12:57 - Recommendations
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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Are the arrests of journalists in Telangana a sign that the Revanth Reddy government is misusing power? Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, Leena Reghunath, and Sudipto Mondal speak with Amar Devulapalli, Editor of Mana Telangana, about what these arrests signal for press freedom in the state.
They also speak with independent public health researcher Malu Mohan about why ASHA workers—hailed as heroes during the pandemic—are still denied basic labour rights. From lack of pay to being treated as volunteers despite full-time work, the discussion exposes the deep structural neglect of women in India's public health system.
Write to us on what you would like to speak about to southcentral@thenewsminute.com
Audio Timecodes
00:00:00 - Intro
00:34:00 - Support TNM
00:02:34 - Headlines
00:06:28 - Telangana Arrests Journalists
00:37:08 - Plight of ASHA workers
01:07:15 - Letters
01:12:57 - Recommendations
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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The 18th episode of South Central, a weekly podcast hosted by TNM’s editor-in-chief Dhanya Rajendran and editorial head for reporting Pooja Prasanna, discussed concerns of electoral roll manipulation and Bengaluru’s governance challenges. Joining them were senior editor Nandini Chandrashekar, Nitin Sethi, the founding editor of Reporters' Collective, and activist Tara Krishnaswamy.
Nitin Sethi highlighted serious concerns regarding electoral rolls. He said, "Voter list manipulation has been part of the game for a fairly long while. If you look at election records, you’ll ghost voters up to two, three lakhs in a population of twenty lakhs. Now, technology allows rigorous manipulation at a greater scale. If any party, with a considerably large number of workers try to do this, they can affect it at scale. At this moment, we do not have adequate safeguards to ensure the credibility of the electoral process."
Nandini Chandrashekar raised concerns about voter disenfranchisement, pointing out systemic issues within the electoral process. She highlighted, "Faulty voter rolls and procedural errors deny citizens their right to vote effectively. These errors severely hinder democratic participation."
Tara Krishnaswamy focused on Bengaluru's governance issues, particularly criticising the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill. She argued, "This Bill centralises administrative control instead of empowering local bodies, undermining local governance and accountability. It moves us further away from decentralisation."
The episode delves into both the electoral concerns of the country in general, and Bengaluru’s governance conundrum.
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Audio Timecodes
00:00:00 - Intro
00:03:17 - Reporter's Collective
00:01:40- Announcements
00:10:20 - Headlines
00:13:09 - Flaws in Electoral Process
00:44:59 - Greater Bengaluru Bill
01:07:15- Recommendations
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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week’s episode of South Central, hosted by journalist Dhanya Rajendran and co-hosted by Pooja Prasanna and Leena Reghunath, explored two pressing topics—youth violence in Kerala and the growing influence of hyper-nationalism in Indian cricket. The episode featured filmmaker Don Palathara, senior sports journalist Sharda Ugra, and social media influencer Aysha Mahmood.
With Kerala witnessing violent crimes, the state is debating whether movies, drugs, or the internet were fueling these incidents. Don Palathara argued against blaming any single medium, including cinema. He emphasized that cinema does not dictate behavior but is a reflection of the larger society.
Aysha Mahmood, however, highlighted the impact of technology on behavior, particularly among children. “Our brain has been rewired to have instant justice, instant dopamine hits, instant gratification,” she said.
The conversation then shifted to Indian cricket, examining the power of the BCCI and the rising wave of hyper-nationalism. Sharda Ugra pointed out how nationalism in cricket is being deliberately amplified. “This kind of jingoism has been amplified by the government at the centre, and by the broadcasters,” she said. She likened BCCI’s dominance in cricket to the U.S.’s global influence, saying, “BCCI is like the United States of cricket.”
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Audio Timecodes
00:00:00 – Introduction
00:02:05 – Subscribe & Support TNM
00:02:52 – Headlines
00:06:44 - TNM turns 11
00:08:03– Cinema & Violence
00:42:23 - Indian Cricket and Hyper-nationalism
01:05:51 - Letters
01:08:41 – Recommendations
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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath are joined by activist and journalist Shivasundar and retired IAS officer PV Ramesh to discuss the looming delimitation and Karnataka’s Naxal journey.
With delimitation set for 2026, will south India’s political representation shrink if more seats go to northern states? What does this mean for governance, federalism, and the country’s power balance?
On delimitation, PV Ramesh says, “It does not really matter how many citizens one MP represents—certainly, the lesser, the better—but any revision must be pro-rata across the country. If seats must increase, it should be across the board by 10–20% without reference to population, ensuring fair representation for union territories and smaller states. In a country as diverse as India, a one-size-fits-all rule simply won’t work.”
Shivasundar argues, “There should be a numerical increase, but it should come with devolution of power. Why should the Lok Sabha have so much power? Devolve the power to the regional states. Bengaluru is developing as Delhi, and Raichur is developing as another Bihar. So when you say South, South is not uniform in that sense. This is a consequence of the mode of development we are pursuing. Unless we attend to that, these superficial solutions will not go to the roots.”
Dhanya points out the lack of transparency from the Union government, saying, “The BJP is very calculative. They aren’t revealing how many seats will be added or which states will gain. That itself shows there’s a political strategy behind it.”
As the conversation turns to Karnataka’s recent declaration that it is Naxal-free, the panel examines whether the movement is truly gone or if it has only changed form.
On the state’s anti-Naxal operations, Shivasundar challenges the official narrative, saying, “The idea that Naxalism has been ‘eliminated’ is misleading. The state has used repression, but it has not addressed the conditions that gave rise to the movement.”
Shivasundar challenges the claim that Karnataka is “Naxal Free,” arguing that Naxalism is more than an armed movement—it’s an ideology born from deep inequalities. “The armed rebellion may have ended, but as long as the conditions that created it exist, the ideology isn’t going anywhere.
Write to us on what you would like to speak about to southcentral@thenewsminute.com
Audio Timecodes
00:00:00 – Introduction
00:02:05 – Subscribe & Support TNM
00:03:00 – Headlines
00:08:54 – Delimitation
00:39:57 - Karnataka’s Naxal Journey
01:07:44 - Letters
01:11:30 – Recommendations
Check out the recommendations and references from this episode.
Become a subscriber- Click here.
Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here.
To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click here
Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
