South Central

In the first session of the episode, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna discuss the intersection of consent, agency and institutional power in sexual assault cases, like in the cases of Kerala MLA Rahul Mamkootathi, acquitted Bishop Franco Mulakkal, ex-BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar and more. The hosts are joined by senior journalist Nidhi Suresh, TNM Associate Editor and gender journalist Sukanya...

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna first discuss the recent political developments in Andhra Pradesh, including CM Chandrababu Naidu’s growing affiliation with the BJP. They are joined by professor, politician, and political analyst K Nageshwar. In the second part of the discussion, the hosts delve into the controversy at the Kochi Biennale, where a paintin...

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna first discuss the strike by gig workers on December 25th and 31st, what their demands are and whether the existing framework of payouts and stipulated minimum delivery time violates their rights. The hosts are joined by Shaikh Salahuddin, founder and president of Telangana Gig And Platform Workers Union, and Maitreyi Krish...

For this special year-ender episode, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri and Manisha Pande and The News Minute’s Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna are joined by columnist and media critic Santosh Desai. The conversation begins with a wrap of the Indian media ecosystem this year. Santosh says, “Institutions are struggling to retain credibility and resist pressure.” Dhanya argues that mainstream media...

In this year-ender episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna discuss federalism and how it has fared in India. They are joined by economist and author Rathin Roy, and TNM’s Associate Editor Nandini Chandrasekhar. 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...

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna discuss whether investigative journalism is becoming one of the most endangered professions in India or is that a misplaced fear. Looking back at 2025, the conversation focuses on how much space investigative reporting still has, the risks journalists face, and whether strong reporting is able to create real impact. ...

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna discuss India’s Constitutional value of secularism and the contradictions in its practice. The panel delves into how India has fared, or not, in prioritising Constitutional values vis-à-vis political agenda. They are joined by journalist and activist Aakar Patel and Seema Chishti, the editorial head of The Wire. Reporting...

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna first discuss the Kerala actor assault case of 2017, which superstar Dileep is accused of orchestrating. As the verdict is expected in a week, the hosts take us through the details of the case and its impact on Kerala society. They are joined by TNM’s Associate Editor, Sukanya Shaji and Breaking News Head, Azeefa Fathima....

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna first discuss the anti-vaccine statements made by billionaire Sridhar Vembu. In the second session, the hosts delve into the efforts of several governments, including Karnataka and Andhra, to implement a PPP model in the health education sector. The hosts are joined by Dr PV Ramesh, IAS, and Dr Sylvia Karpagam, a public he...

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Anisha Sheth first discuss Kerala’s announcement that it has eradicated extreme poverty. They are joined by T.V. Anupama, IAS officer and Special Secretary, Local Self Government Department and Devaswom, and Freddy Thomas, Assistant Professor at the School of Law, Christ University. The discussion explores how families were identified, t...

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Anisha Sheth first discuss the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls across the country, and the controversies surrounding it. The hosts are joined by activist and psephologist Yogendra Yadav. In the second part of the session, the hosts discuss two High Court orders–from Kerala and Karnataka– that quash FIRs in sexual harassme...

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Anisha Sheth first discuss the hijab controversy in Kerala, and whether it is a question of faith or the right to education. The hosts are joined by senior journalist Shahina KK and TNM’s Executive Editor Sudipto Mondal. In the second part of the session, the hosts discuss the newly announced Google data centre in Visakhapatnam, whether...

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Anisha Sheth first discuss the Supreme Court’s acquittal of Dashwanth, convicted and sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a minor girl in Tamil Nadu. They are joined by Azeefa Fathima, TNM’s head of Breaking News. In the second part of the session, the hosts discuss the RSS’s centenary year and the outfit’s presence in the south...

Putting south India at the centre Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna first discuss whether the attack on the Chief Justice of India, BR Gavai, is more than what just meets the eye. Justice Gavai is the second Dalit CJI of India. The hosts are joined by Ajoy Ashirwad, Political Affairs Editor, The Wire, and veteran journalist K Venkataramanan. In the second part of the session, the hosts and...

This week, The News Minute's Dhanya Rajendran and Sudipto Mondal, and Newslaundry ’s Abhinandan Sekhri and Manisha Pande áre joined by senior journalist Josy Joseph for a special and South Central and Hafta crossover episode on the future of media. Josy begins the discussion by arguing that the decline of newspapers and television is accelerating, not only due to technology, but also because of a...

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna first discuss the controversy in Karnataka over the socio-educational survey, wrongly called the caste census. The hosts are joined by guests Anisha Sheth, TNM’s Karnataka Bureau Chief, and Shivasundar, writer and activist. In the second part of the session, the hosts discuss whether the price of movie tickets should be ca...

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna first discuss the safety of Indians abroad in the context of a surge in anti-immigration sentiments across Ireland, US, UK and more.  Joining them are guests Joyojeet Pal and Bharathy Singaravel. The second part of the discussion is on two court orders– one, on Reliance Vantara, which says no further complaints will b...

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna first discuss the long legal process endured by Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and others who have been in prison without trial. The hosts are joined by lawyer and activist Shahrukh Alam and Poorna Ravishankar, lawyer and researcher whose focus area of study has been the Indian Constitution. In the second part of the discussi...

In this week’s South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna first discuss K Kavitha’s resignation from the BRS and what it reveals about power, patriarchy, and BC mobilisation in Telangana, set against the Kaleshwaram probe and the CBI-consent twist. They are joined by Tara Krishnaswamy, Political and Policy Consultant, and C Vanaja, Senior Journalist & Founder, Mahua Media, to unp...

In this week’s South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna first discuss Anant Ambani’s Vantara project and how, under the guise of animal rescue, it may be hiding something far more sinister. They are joined by investigative journalist M Rajshekhar, who has looked into Vantara’s formation, investigating deep into the problems in law, compliance, and more. In the second part of the di...

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath first discuss the ‘vote chori’ press conference by the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, issuing a seven-day ultimatum to Rahul Gandhi and anyone else casting doubts on the election process. Senior investigative journalist and Executive Editor of The Scroll, Supriya Sharma, joins them. In the sec...

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath first discuss the conviction of former Janata Dal (Secular) leader Prajwal Revanna in the first of four cases of rape against him. The panel, joined by TNM Karnataka bureau chief Anisha Sheth, weighs in on why the judgement is a milestone for survivors of sexual assault. In the second part of the discussi...

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath first discuss the Bajrang Dal attack and consequential arrest of two nuns in Chhattisgarh-- Sister Preethi Mary and Sister Vandana Francis--both part of the Sister Assisi Mary Immaculate Convent. They are joined by senior advocate and founder of the Human Rights Law Network, Colin Gonsalves, who speaks ab...

In this week's episode of South Central, Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath discuss the life and legacy of V.S. Achuthanandan with environmentalist Sridhar Radhakrishnan and senior journalist Sreejan Balakrishnan. Then, they look at the recent gag orders related to reporting on Dharmasthala, and revisit older allegations and data on deaths in the temple town, with TNM’s Karnatak...