South Central

In the first part of this week’s South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna discuss the Kerala and Tamil Nadu exit polls and the recent political developments in both states.They are joined by TNM’s Tamil Nadu bureau chief Shabbir Ahmed, Kerala bureau chief Haritha John, and senior reporter Azeefa Fathima.In the second part of the episode, the hosts discuss the World Press Freedom Index 2026, in which India has slipped down to 157. They are joined by senior journalist Laxmi Murthy, who is also the founder and co-editor of the Free Speech Collective.Audio timecodes:00:00:00 - Introduction00:03:58 - Headlines00:14:04 - Kerala & Tamil Nadu exit polls00:51:25 - India slips in Press Freedom Index1:18:15 - RecommendationsCheck out the recommendations and references from this episode.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. 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 hereYou 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 Jaseem Ali, Megha Mukundan, edited by Jaseem Ali, written by Sukanya Shaji, Camera by Ajay R

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna first discuss delimitation and what states should now be discussing with the Union government. They are joined by former IAS officer Rangarajan Ramakrishnan.In the second part of the episode, the hosts discuss the Telangana government’s Socio-Economic, Educational, Employment, Political and Caste (SEEEPC) Survey 2024, its main findings, how poverty intermingles with caste to create marginalisations, and more. They are joined by academician and commentator Professor PL Visweshwar Rao, and TNM’s Executive Editor Sudipto Mondal.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 00:01:59 - Headlines 00:08:55 - Delimitation 00:40:23 - Telangana Caste Survey01:12:17 - RecommendationsCheck 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 & edited by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Vignesh Manickam & written by Sukanya Shaji.

In this episode of South Central, Pooja Prasanna and Azeefa Fathima discuss the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, focusing on the delimitation row, alliances, welfare politics, and what may ultimately decide the vote. They are joined by Frontline’s Senior Associate Editor R K Radhakrishnan, The Hindu’s Chief of Bureau Ramya Kannan, and academic and activist Dr C Lakshmanan. The panel examines whether the election is being framed as Tamil Nadu vs Delhi, the role of the BJP in the state, the limits of the Vijay factor, and how voters are responding on the ground.The 2026 reset: Assam to Puducherry Election Fund: https://pages.razorpay.com/zTQadhQFFTOnce 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 00:03:40 - Delimitation00:12:50 - Tamil Nadu Elections01:06:51 - RecommendationsCheck 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 & edited by Bhuvan Malik, written by Sukanya Shaji.

In this episode on South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna first discuss the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. They are joined by The Deccan Herald’s Assistant Editor Sivapriyan and journalist and translator Kavitha Muralidharan. In the second segment of the episode, the hosts discuss the verdict in the Sathankulam police station case in which Bennix and Jayaraj were tortured to death. A court in Madurai gave the death penalty to nine police officers, and the hosts go into the details of the verdict. They are joined by Anisha Sheth, TNM’s Karnataka Bureau Chief.The 2026 reset: Assam to Puducherry Election Fund: https://pages.razorpay.com/zTQadhQFFTOnce 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 00:02:25 - Headlines 00:09:17 - Tamil Nadu Elections00:46:56 - Bennix-Jayaraj Case01:03:46 - RecommendationsCheck 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.

In this week’s South Central, Dhanya Rajendran, Anisha Sheth, and cartoonist Rachita Taneja discuss the Union government’s proposed amendments to the IT law and what they mean for online speech. Why is the government bringing in these changes, and how will they impact people sharing news and opinions online?In the second part, guests from Kerala discuss the upcoming Assembly elections. Environmentalist Sridhar Radhakrishnan says that none of the major parties are prioritising environmental concerns, pointing to a decade of aggressive infrastructure development that ignores the state’s ecological fragility.The 2026 reset: Assam to Puducherry Election Fund: https://pages.razorpay.com/zTQadhQFFTOnce 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 Timecodes00:00:00 - Introductions00:02:29 - Headlines00:11:23 - New IT Rules00:39:32 - Kerala Elections01:20:21 - RecommendationsCheck 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 Ajay R & Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali.

This week South Central looks at Kerala’s elections and the transgender amendment law. Hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna are joined by MG Radhakrishnan, Sreejan Balakrishnan, and TNM’s Haritha John to unpack why the UDF may have a slight edge but no clear wave against Pinarayi Vijayan. In the second segment, Azeefa Fatima and Lakshmi Priya discuss the trans bill’s fallout, with reports of fear, threats, and uncertainty within the community.The 2026 reset: Assam to Puducherry Election Fund: https://pages.razorpay.com/zTQadhQFFTOnce 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 Timecodes00:00:00 - Introductions00:02:22 - Headlines00:09:27 - Kerala Elections00:51:39 - Trans Bill Horror01:11:57 - RecommendationsCheck 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.

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 Timecodes00:00:00 - Introductions 00:02:21 - Headlines 00:11:20 - Trans Bill 202600:43:16 - KD Song Lyrics 01:13:56 - RecommendationsCheck 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.  

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.