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Bill 2026: BJP’s war on self-identification & KD The Devil song: Why does misogyny still get a free pass? | South Central 67
Season 1, Ep. 67
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In this week’s South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna first discuss the Transgender Persons Amendment Bill 2026, which has triggered protests across the country. They are joined by advocate Arvind Narrain of the Alternative Law Forum, who was part of the panel of lawyers who fought for IPC 377 to be struck down. Joining in is also Rumi Harish, a musician and a queer, trans, masculine and social justice activist. In the second part of the episode, the hosts discuss the controversy over the lyrics of the new song from the movie KD: The Devil, and the problematic gaze of ‘item songs’. They are joined by TNM senior reporter Shivani Kava and Associate Editor Sukanya Shaji.
Once a month, we will invite one TNM subscriber to the show. Write to us on what you would like to speak about to southcentral@thenewsminute.com
Send your thoughts, suggestions and criticism as well.
You can also let us know what you think by filling out our quick feedback form. Your suggestions help shape future episodes of South Central.
Audio Timecodes
00:00:00 - Introductions
00:02:21 - Headlines
00:11:20 - Trans Bill 2026
00:43:16 - KD Song Lyrics
01:13:56 - Recommendations
Check out the recommendations and references from this episode.
Become a subscriber - Click here.
Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here.
To check out our other shows, Click here
To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click here
Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali, written by Sukanya Shaji.
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66. LPG Crisis Fears & Why Opposition Wants Impeachment of CEC Gyanesh Kumar | South Central 66
01:19:07||Season 1, Ep. 66In the first segment of this week’s South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna discuss the LPG crisis and what that could mean for India going forward. They are joined by energy journalist and policy expert Shreya Jai, and climate journalist and researcher Aruna Chandrasekhar. In the second segment, the hosts discuss the recent no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and the one anticipated against Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. They are joined by journalist Sravasti Dasgupta, senior political correspondent at The Wire.Once a month, we will invite one TNM subscriber to the show. Write to us on what you would like to speak about to southcentral@thenewsminute.com Send your thoughts, suggestions and criticism as well. You can also let us know what you think by filling out our quick feedback form. Your suggestions help shape future episodes of South Central. Audio Timecodes 00:00:00 - Introduction00:03:22 - Headlines 00:13:57- LPG Fears00:51:05-CEC Impeachment 1:14:11 - RecommendationsBecome a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereProduced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali, written by Sukanya Shaji. Check out the recommendations and references from this episode.
The doctor who went to court to donate kidney and Iran-Israel war | South Central 65
01:22:02|In the first segment of this week’s South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna speak to senior gynaecologist Dr Thankam Subramonian, who recently approached the Karnataka HC to altruistically donate a kidney after being denied permission by a medical committee.In the second segment, the hosts delve into the ongoing military conflict between Iran, Israel and the USA. They are joined by Aditya Ramanathan, a Research Fellow with the Takshashila Institution, where he heads the Advanced Military Technologies Programme, and Nirmal Abraham, a journalist who specialises in international politics, especially matters of the USA.Check out the recommendations: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SuGm5-JwvRc4SCazAtW9956IKfsy3RrTJOFMsvbhmGE/edit?gid=0#gid=0Once a month, we will invite one TNM subscriber to the show. Write to us on what you would like to speak about to southcentral@thenewsminute.com Send your thoughts, suggestions, and criticism as well.You can also let us know what you think by filling out our quick feedback form. Your suggestions help shape future episodes of South Central.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereProduced by Megha Mukundan, edited by Jaseem Ali, written by Sukanya Shaji.
64. Karnataka’s ban on teenage mobile use and Kerala Story 2’s divisive agenda | South Central Episode 64
01:22:58||Season 1, Ep. 64In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna first discuss the Karnataka government’s plan to ban teenagers from using mobile phones. They are joined by policy researcher Tara Krishnaswamy, child psychologist Sama Adil, and Adhira S Magesh, a teenager who is a Karate black belt holder and enthusiastic baker. In the second part of the discussion, the hosts delve into the upcoming film The Kerala Story 2 and its polarising politics. They are joined by professor, writer, and activist NP Ashley.Once a month, we will invite one TNM subscriber to the show. Write to us on what you would like to speak about to southcentral@thenewsminute.com Send your thoughts, suggestions and criticism as well. You can also let us know what you think by filling out our quick feedback form. Your suggestions help shape future episodes of South Central. Check out the recommendations and references from this episode.Audio Timecodes 00:00:00 - Introduction00:01:15 - Headlines 00:09:32- Mobile Ban 00:43:49 - Kerala Story 21:19:57 - RecommendationsBecome a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereProduced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali, written by Sukanya Shaji.
63. TNM turns 12 and here is how we got this far | South Central Episode 63
01:20:09||Season 1, Ep. 63The News Minute turns 12 on February 21, and to commemorate, in this week’s South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna bring together the old and new team of TNM. The group goes over how TNM started– a one-room venture with an intern and one reporter, and traces how it grew into a steadfast newsroom with several journalists, focusing on caste, gender, power, and culture.Once a month, we will invite one TNM subscriber to the show. Write to us on what you would like to speak about to southcentral@thenewsminute.com Send your thoughts, suggestions and criticism as well. You can also let us know what you think by filling out our quick feedback form. Your suggestions help shape future episodes of South Central. Check out the recommendations and references from this episode.Become a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereProduced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali, written by Sukanya Shaji.
62. Naravane Memoir, LAC China Claims & Questions for the Govt | South Central Episode 62
01:10:35||Season 1, Ep. 62This week, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna discuss the controversy over former Army Chief General MM Naravane's unpublished memoir, Four Stars of Destiny, and the political storm it has stirred in the Parliament. They are joined by senior journalist and founding editor of The Wire, MK Venu, and Caravan magazine’s Consulting Editor, Sushant Singh, who wrote about the book.Once a month, we will invite one TNM subscriber to the show. Write to us on what you would like to speak about to southcentral@thenewsminute.com Send your thoughts, suggestions and criticism as well. Audio Timecodes 00:00:00 - Introduction00:02:19 - Headlines 00:13:00- Naravane’s memoir00:56:47 - Free Speech 1:04:31 - RecommendationsYou can also let us know what you think by filling out our quick feedback form. Your suggestions help shape future episodes of South Central. Check out the recommendations and references from this episode.Become a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereProduced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali, written by Sukanya Shaji.
61. India-US trade deal and Karnataka’s plan to bring back student elections | South Central Podcast
01:32:11||Season 1, Ep. 61In the first session, hosts Pooja Prasanna and Anisha Sheth discuss the India-US trade deal and the recently announced reduction in tariffs. They are joined by senior journalists Smita Sharma and TK Arun. In the second part of the discussion, the hosts delve into the ban on student elections in Karnataka and the Congress government’s proposal to bring it back. They are joined by Professor Muralidhar PS of the Bangalore University, President of the Teacher’s union.Once a month, we will invite one TNM subscriber to the show. Write to us on what you would like to speak about to southcentral@thenewsminute.com Send your thoughts, suggestions and criticism as well. Audio Timecodes 00:00:00 - Introduction00:04:26 - Headlines 00:16:40- India-US Tariff1:05:32 - Campus Politics Returns?1:29:22 - Recommendations You can also let us know what you think by filling out our quick feedback form. Your suggestions help shape future episodes of South Central. Check out the recommendations and references from this episode.Become a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereProduced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali, written by Sukanya Shaji.
60. UGC rules protests and the myth of “misuse”, Kerala SNDP-NSS breakup | South Central Episode 60
01:26:56||Season 1, Ep. 60In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna first discuss the new UGC equity regulations and the protests around them. They are joined by TNM’s Executive Editor Sudipto Mondal and rights lawyer Mridula Vanangamudi. Then they look at the fast-paced political negotiations and developments in Kerala, headed for Assembly polls soon. The hosts are joined by Damodar Prasad, a senior political analyst based in Kerala.Once a month, we will invite one TNM subscriber to the show. Write to us on what you would like to speak about to southcentral@thenewsminute.com Send your thoughts, suggestions and criticism as well. Audio Timecodes 00:02:47: Headlines 00:09:36 - UGC Rules 00:50:37 - Kerala Politics 1:20:52 - RecommendationsYou can also let us know what you think by filling out our quick feedback form. Your suggestions help shape future episodes of South Central. Check out the recommendations and references from this episode.Become a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereProduced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali, written by Sukanya Shaji.
Cinema, Politics and the War on Film Critics | South Central Podcast ft. Sucharita Tyagi, Anna MM Vetticad
01:26:54|In this episode, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna discuss the organised hate campaigns against film reviewers in the country. The discussion spans themes including the communal profiling of actors and reviewers and delves into whether fan culture catalyses the polarisation of films based on nationalism, religion, and gender politics. Joining the hosts are acclaimed film critics Anna MM Vetticad and Sucharita Tyagi.Once a month, we will invite one TNM subscriber to the show. Write to us on what you would like to speak about to southcentral@thenewsminute.com Send your thoughts, suggestions and criticism as well.Audio Timecodes 00:00:00- Introduction 00:01:46 - Headlines 00:14:34- Film Review Backlash01:23:27- RecommendationsYou can also let us know what you think by filling out our quick feedback form. Your suggestions help shape future episodes of South Central. Check out the recommendations and references from this episode.Become a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereProduced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali, written by Sukanya Shaji.