Frontline Conversations

Frontline Conversations

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Frontline Conversations episodes

  • CBFC being used as backdoor to control freedom of expression: Honey Trehan

    Originally published on July 10, 2025

    In this episode of Frontline Conversations, filmmaker Honey Trehan speaks about his upcoming biographical film "Punjab '95", which has run into a wall of censorship. The film, based on the life and legacy of Sikh human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, revisits a dark, documented chapter of India’s recent history—mass disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and the abuse of power during the Punjab insurgency.
    Although "Punjab '95" is based on court records and official documents, the Censor Board has stalled its release by demanding over 120 cuts, including the removal of factual references to Punjab, specific dates, cremation records, and details of Khalra’s torture and abduction. Trehan opens up about the politically charged certification process, which he describes as a backdoor attempt to rewrite historical memory and suppress free expression.
    Context:
    Trehan reflects on why the current political and cultural climate makes it even more important to document resistance figures like Jaswant Singh Khalra. He argues that the real threat to law and order is not the film but the silencing of history. "Punjab '95" is not just about state violence in the 1990s—it is about the battle for democratic freedoms today.
    Highlights:
    -Why "Punjab '95" is facing censorship despite being based on court-verified facts
    -How Honey Trehan compares CBFC’s overreach to the very abuse of power the film critiques
    -The story of Jaswant Singh Khalra and the estimated 25,000 extrajudicial killings in Punjab
    -The legal hurdles, festival withdrawals, and negotiations around the film's certification
    -Why Trehan believes Khalra’s story is as important as that of Bhagat Singh or Sardar Udham
    -What the film’s censorship reveals about freedom of expression in India today
    Perfect for:
    -Viewers following debates on censorship, civil liberties, and political cinema in India
    -Students of history, journalism, law, and human rights
    -Filmmakers and artists facing state surveillance or suppression
    -Citizens concerned about freedom of speech and constitutional rights
    -Anyone interested in Punjab’s history and resistance movements
    Credits:
    Interview by Ashutosh Sharma
    Produced by Kavya Pradeep M.
    Edited by Razal Pareed
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    25 min
  • Yogendra Yadav exposes Bihar SIR crisis: Why EC deleted 65 lakh voters?

    Published on August 22, 2025

    In this episode of Frontline Conversations, political activist Yogendra Yadav talks about the growing crisis of credibility in the Election Commission of India. He criticises the Commission’s unusual press conference over mass voter deletions in Bihar under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), calling it the “biggest disenfranchisement drive in history.” Yadav warns that by making citizens prove their own citizenship, the Commission is undermining the foundations of Indian democracy.

    Drawing on data, legal arguments, and his Supreme Court petition, Yadav talks about the decline of public trust in the Election Commission, the targeting of research groups like CSDS, and the risks of repeating the Bihar exercise across the country. He also explains what the Commission must do to regain credibility and ensure fair elections.
    Context:
    The Election Commission’s SIR in Bihar asked voters to prove their citizenship with documents many don’t have. Critics say this could leave millions, especially the poor, without the right to vote. Public trust in the Commission is now at a historic low. Yadav, who has taken the issue to court, sees this as part of a bigger debate on citizenship, voter rights, and the future of Indian democracy.
    Highlights:
    -Why the Election Commission’s press conference backfired
    -SIR in Bihar as the largest disenfranchisement exercise in history
    -Declining public trust in the Election Commission
    -FIRs and show-cause notices against CSDS and academic institutions
    -What the Election Commission must do to restore credibility
    Perfect for:
    -Students and researchers of Indian politics and democracy
    -Journalists, legal experts, and policy analysts
    -Viewers concerned about elections, citizenship, and civil liberties
    Credits:
    Host: Soni Mishra
    Producer: Kavya Pradeep M
    Editor: Razal Pareed
    Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online...
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    41 min
  • How rich schools keep caste alive - Surinder Jodhka explains

    Published on August 28, 2025

    In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Sociologist and professor Surinder Jodhka speaks about caste, inequality, and education in contemporary India. Drawing on decades of research, Jodhka explores the paradoxes of caste in a democratic nation: even as modernisation and liberalisation promised its decline, caste has become more visible and complex.
    He discusses how caste operates in India’s neoliberal economy, the myth of “castelessness,” and the persistence of privilege across generations. The conversation highlights how private schooling and higher education reproduce inequalities, how affirmative action has reshaped access to opportunity, and why education remains a crucial site for struggles over equality, dignity, and citizenship.
    Context:
    Post-liberalisation India has seen rising aspirations, yet caste-based inequalities endure across schools, universities, and job markets. While affirmative action has enabled new mobility, debates around meritocracy and discrimination continue. Jodhka places these issues within a larger global discussion on inequality and democracy.
    Highlights:
    -Why caste remains central in a democratic India
    -Paradoxes of caste in the neoliberal economy
    -The myth of “castelessness” and its social consequences
    -How private schools reproduce privilege and exclusion
    -Affirmative action, meritocracy, and higher education debates
    -Education as a site of contestation over equality and justice
    -Caste as a global issue in universities abroad
    Perfect for:
    -Students and researchers of sociology, caste, and education
    -Journalists, educators, and policy thinkers
    -Viewers interested in inequality, democracy, and social justice
    Credits:
    Host: Vishal Vasanthakumar
    Producer: Kavya Pradeep M
    Editor: Razal Pareed
    Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online...#surinderjodhka #caste #sociology #education #meritocracy #inequality #socialjustice #indianpolitics #democracy #neoliberalism #highereducation #castelessness #india
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    44 min
  • ECI trust crisis: Why Lokniti-CSDS survey shocks Indian politics | Sanjay Kumar explains

    Published on August 19, 2025

    Sanjay Kumar, co-director of Lokniti-CSDS and a seasoned psephologist, offers a lucid critique of the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls, a first such exercise in over two decades. He notes the need to excise duplicates and update obsolete entries—but warns that the heavy documentation requirements and exclusion of widely held ID proofs (such as Aadhaar, ration cards, and voter ID) risk disenfranchising large segments of voters, especially migrants and those added after 2003. He states that, although the SIR is framed as a lawful effort to ensure accuracy, its implementation—requiring voters to proactively submit forms and supplementary documents—could unfairly penalise many, undermining the very democratic inclusivity it purports to uphold.
    The process's timing and its narrow geographic focus on Bihar have amplified political anxieties that the revision may be leveraged for partisan gain rather than electoral hygiene. Opposition voices, including the INDIA bloc, decry what they view as systemic bias; legal challenges and protests allege the exercise privileges the ruling coalition by selectively excluding likely dissenting voters. Amidst mounting political heat, the Supreme Court intervened on 14 August 2025 with interim directions: the ECI must disclose the names and reasons for deletion of over 65 lakh electors, allow Aadhaar and EPIC to support objections, and publish data at district and booth levels. Kumar’s concerns thus resonate beyond procedural critique—they underscore how administrative reform must tread carefully to reinforce, not erode, democratic legitimacy.
    Credits:
    Interview by Saba Naqvi
    Produced by Abhinav Chakraborty and Saatvika Radhakrishna

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    31 min
  • More than 80 per cent might say they don't have faith in the Election Commission: Manoj Kumar Jha

    Published on August 19, 2025

    In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Politician and academic Manoj Kumar Jha talks about his new book “In Praise of Coalition Politics and Other Essays on Indian Democracy”, published by Speaking Tiger, and reflects on the future of Indian democracy after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Jha argues that coalition governments are essential to check the “majoritarian temptation” and warns against the erosion of institutions such as the Election Commission.
    Drawing on his parliamentary experience and political analysis, Jha discusses the INDIA alliance, Bihar’s political transition, the significance of the caste census, and why Bihar could once again set the tone for national change. He also speaks on Kashmir post–Article 370, Operation Sindoor, and the RSS’s growing influence in governance and academia.
    Context
    The 2024 elections returned the NDA to power but with reduced numbers, making coalition partners decisive. In Bihar, meanwhile, opposition parties allege that millions have been excluded from the electoral rolls in what they call a “special intensive deletion.” Jha places these developments within a larger debate on federalism, electoral credibility, and the rise of majoritarian politics.
    Highlights:
    -Why coalition politics is vital for democracy in India
    -The 2024 mandate as a check on arrogance and majoritarianism
    -INDIA alliance’s role beyond electoral politics
    -Declining faith in the Election Commission and voter exclusion in Bihar
    -RSS influence on governance, education, and public institutions
    -Kashmir, Article 370, and what the Pahalgam attack reveals
    -Operation Sindoor and India’s global positioning
    Perfect for:
    -Students and observers of Indian politics and democracy
    -Journalists, policy analysts, and civil society members
    -Viewers interested in federalism, elections, and social justice
    Credits:
    Host: Soni mishra
    Camera: Vitasta Kaul and Vedaant Lakhera
    Producers: Vitasta Kaul, Vedaant Lakhera, and Kavya Pradeep M
    Editor: Razal Pareed
    Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online...#manojjha
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    50 min
  • Misunderstanding a story for history is pathetic: Indologist R. Balakrishnan

    Published on May 24, 2025.

    On May 23, 2025, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) asked lead archaeologist K. Amarnath Ramakrishna to revise and resubmit his monumental 982-page report on the first two phases of the Keezhadi excavations. The ASI stated that two external experts had vetted the report and recommended changes to enhance its scientific rigour and authenticity.
    In this episode of Frontline Conversations, indologist and acclaimed author R. Balakrishnan, known for his seminal work "Journey of A Civilization: From Indus to Vagai", shares his insights into this unprecedented development with host R.K. Radhakrishnan. He speaks about the implications of returning a report of such scale and importance, the politics of archaeological narrative-making in India, and the wider significance of the Keezhadi findings for understanding Tamil civilisation and its links to the Indus Valley.
    Balakrishnan places the Keezhadi episode in historical context—from the early announcements of the Indus Valley Civilisation by the ASI in 1924 to the neglected reports of Adichanallur and the Dravidian paradigm in historical linguistics. He draws on decades of research, field visits, and institutional memory to offer a compelling defence of evidence-based history and public stakeholding in archaeological heritage.
    Watch the full video to know more
    Highlights:
    1) Why was the Keezhadi report returned?
    2) What makes Keezhadi’s findings significant?
    3) The role of Tamil Nadu’s archaeological efforts
    4) On delay, politics, and narrative control
    5) Dravidian topocentrism and the significance of “Keeladi”
    6) Can archaeology be misused to rewrite history?
    Credits:
    Interview by R.K. Radhakrishnan
    Camera by Kavya Pradeep M and Mridula V
    Editing by Sumiesh S








    33 min
  • The Truth About Women’s Work in India | Working Girls by Paromita Vohra

    Published on August 15, 2025.

    In this episode of Frontline Conversations, filmmaker and writer Paromita Vohra discusses her latest documentary “Working Girls”, which explores the invisible labour of women across India—from erotic dancers in Madurai to domestic workers in Mumbai.
    Vohra blends humour, animation, and music to create a film that invites curiosity rather than guilt. The documentary, based on the Laws of Social Reproduction research project, examines how law defines women’s work, the politics of care, and the value society assigns to different forms of labour.
    Vohra reflects on her journey from 2002’s “Unlimited Girls”, which captured young women’s personal feminist freedom, to today’s feminist discourse dominated by elite voices. She critiques the homogenisation of Indian documentaries, the dominance of foreign funding, and the erasure of distinctive political and artistic styles. For her, the aim is not to “challenge” the dominant narrative, but to make it irrelevant by uncovering the hundreds of other narratives that exist.
    Chapters:
    0:00 – Intro: Paromita Vohra and "Working Girls"
    0:52 – “Laws of Social Reproduction” project
    3:05 – Scope, locations and filmmaking process
    11:12 – Vohra’s distinct documentary approach
    19:27 – Marginalisation vs dominant narratives
    28:14 – Why the title "Working Girls"
    33:48 – AI’s impact on documentary filmmaking
    Highlights
    -How “Working Girls” reframes our understanding of work, care, and women’s rights
    -Why Vohra believes humour and pleasure belong in political cinema
    -The politics of recognition: why some women’s labour is legal and valued, and others’ invisibilised
    -Why she refuses to measure marginalised women only against dominant narratives
    -The link between ASHA workers’ struggles and broader systemic inequalities
    -How India’s documentary form has become homogenised and what’s been lost
    -The shift in feminism from the liberalisation era to today’s elite online discourse
    Perfect for:
    -Viewers interested in gender, labour rights, and feminist cinema
    -Students of sociology, gender studies, law, and political science
    -Anyone interested in documentary filmmaking
    -Citizens questioning dominant narratives and exploring multiple perspectives
    -Anyone curious about the untold stories of women’s work in India
    Credits:
    Interview by Mridula Vijayarangakumar
    Produced by Kavya Pradeep M and Mridula Vijayarangakumar
    Edited by Razal Pareed
    Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online...
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    40 min
  • What’s happening in Bihar is a template for how elections will be conducted across India: Dipankar

    Published on July 23, 2025.

    In this episode of Frontline Conversations, CPI(ML) Liberation leader Dipankar talks about major changes in India’s election process, starting with Bihar. Dipankar criticises what he calls the “biggest constitutional attack” in decades, pointing to voter exclusion and the politicisation of the Election Commission.
    With over 40 years of grassroots work, Dipankar explains how changes to voter lists, centralised control, and growing lawlessness are hurting Indian democracy and why Bihar may be the first to push back.He also talks about the INDIA alliance, Nitish Kumar’s decline, the BJP’s plans in Bihar, and the Left’s strong local presence.
    Context
    As Bihar prepares for Assembly Election later this year, a contentious debate has been triggered over the Election Commission of India's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which is a pilot project that critics fear could disenfranchise millions of the State's most vulnerable citizens. Dipankar frames this as part of a broader redesign of democracy under the Modi government.
    Chapters:
    00:00 – Concerns over EC’s pilot project in Bihar
    01:00 – CPI(ML)’s work on the ground
    01:55 – What’s really happening in Bihar
    04:17 – Why BJP is out of power in Bihar
    06:37 – Redesigning Indian democracy
    08:35 – The ideology behind the redesign
    09:26 – Challenges for the Left in Bihar
    10:18 – Migration and Bihar’s labour crisis
    11:52 – Bihar polls and BJP’s gameplan
    13:21 – BJP’s South Bihar focus
    14:15 – Chirag Paswan and Bihar politics
    16:55 – Why Bihar’s core issues are ignored
    17:44 – RJD and the shape of the opposition
    19:03 – Inside Bihar’s political alliances
    20:09 – Can the opposition unite?
    22:24 – Structural flaws in the Election Commission
    24:16 – What Bihar’s Muslims are saying
    26:07 – 40 years of CPI(ML) in Bihar
    27:51 – Bihar’s youth and their aspirations
    29:51 – AIMIM’s role in the State
    31:34 – Security lapses in Bihar
    33:47 – How Kashmir shapes India’s foreign policy
    36:41 – Closing thoughts
    Highlights:
    -Why Bihar’s electoral roll revision is more than a bureaucratic update
    -The link between digital exclusion and disenfranchisement
    -Election Commission’s changing role and centralisation of power
    -Bihar’s legacy of democratic resistance and why that matters now
    -The future of Nitish Kumar, Chirag Paswan, and BJP’s Bihar strategy
    -The challenges and potential of the INDIA alliance
    -India’s silence on Gaza and the cost of aligning with Netanyahu and Trump
    Perfect for:
    -Political observers and students of Indian democracy
    -Journalists, policy analysts, and human rights defenders
    -Viewers interested in federalism, elections, and social justice
    Credits:
    Host: Saba Naqvi
    Produced by Vitasta Kaul and Vedaant Lakhera
    Editor: Razal Pareed
    Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online...
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    37 min
  • Don’t focus on the idea that only export-led manufacturing creates jobs: Raghuram Rajan

    Published on July 21, 2026.

    In this episode of Frontline Conversations, economist and former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan offers an analysis of India’s economic direction, both at home and globally. In a broad conversation with senior journalist Sukumar Muralidharan, Rajan talks about global trade barriers, India’s industrial policy, and the challenges to achieving inclusive growth.

    He explains why India’s population advantage could be wasted, why high-value services might shape the country’s future more than manufacturing, and why real reform needs more decentralisation and competition. He also addresses growing concerns around data suppression, rising market risks, and the erosion of democratic accountability.

    Context:

    India stands at a crossroads: its economy is growing, but not fast enough to lift millions out of poverty before the country ages. Global challenges like the US trade barriers and changing trade patterns, along with domestic issues like unclear rules, powerful elites, and few new jobs, are holding India back. Raghuram Rajan shares a hopeful view on how India can change its growth path to become more competitive, fair, and prepared for the future.


    Chapters:

    00:00 – Protectionism in Washington, DC: What it means for India

    00:45 – Why the US is turning inward on trade

    02:50 – Tariffs, China, and shifting trade dynamics

    06:55 – The real cost of tariffs and trade tensions

    08:12 – India's trade policy and economic headwinds

    13:55 – Fixing India’s growth strategy: Manufacturing vs services


    Highlights:

    -Why the US tariffs aren’t just posturing and what they mean for India

    -How India’s protectionism creates uncertainty for business

    -Why India’s population dividend may be slipping away

    -Manufacturing’s limits and why services might hold the key

    -A strong case for decentralisation and community-level governance

    -The dangers of data suppression and state-led narrative control


    Perfect for:

    -Students and scholars of economics and development

    -Viewers interested in India’s economic and political trajectory

    -Policy professionals, journalists, and think tank researchers

    -Citizens seeking insight into governance, growth, and reform


    Credits:

    Host: Sukumar Muralidharan

    Produced by Kavya Pradeep M. and Saatvika Radhakrishna

    Assistant Producer: Zara Zafia

    Editor: Razal Pareed


    Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online...

    50 min
  • Cricket's interests are perennially at risk of being secondary to political interests: Gideon Haigh

    Published on July 17, 2025.

    In this episode of Frontline Conversations, veteran cricket writer Gideon Haigh speaks about his new book “Indian Summers”, a chronicle of over a century of India-Australia cricket. Haigh reflects on the evolution of one of modern cricket’s fiercest rivalries—from the epic 2001 Eden Gardens Test to India's back-to-back series wins in Australia. He discusses why Virat Kohli is a media magnet, what makes Pat Cummins a unique captain, and how India has become cricket’s commercial hegemon.
    Haigh also talks about the growing political influence in cricket administration, the influence of the BCCI and Jay Shah’s role. He ends with a defence of Test cricket as the most complex and rewarding format in the sport.
    Context:
    Over the last two decades, India and Australia have emerged as the twin centres of power in international cricket—on the pitch and off it. India’s rise as a cricketing superpower has reshaped the game’s finances, culture, and diplomacy. As Australia adapts to this shift, the India-Australia rivalry is not just sporting—it’s symbolic of cricket’s new world order. Gideon Haigh’s insights come at a moment when the sport stands at the crossroads of tradition, money, and global politics.
    Highlights:
    -Why India vs Australia is the future of Test cricket
    -How Virat Kohli redefined India’s cricketing image in Australia
    -Why Pat Cummins is a departure from the Aussie captain archetype
    -Cricket journalism in the digital age and the challenge of independence
    -Haigh’s critique of Jay Shah and the political capture of cricket
    -Can Indian players in global leagues fix world cricket inequality?
    -What Saudi investment could mean for cricket’s future
    Perfect for:
    -Cricket fans following India-Australia rivalry
    -Readers of Gideon Haigh and cricket literature
    -Those interested in sports, politics, and media
    -Viewers tracking BCCI’s global influence
    -Students of sports journalism
    Credits:
    Host: Aditya Mani Jha
    Producer: Kavya Pradeep M.
    Assistant Producer: Mridula Vijayarangakumar
    Editor: Razal Pareed

    Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online...

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    27 min

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