In this Sankranti special of Noorakke Nooru Karnataka, we’re joined by Skandyyman, one of the earliest podcasters in Kannada, and Sowjanya, who began her career in radio before moving into podcasting. These are voices you’ve probably heard before, voices that feel familiar, even if you’ve never seen the faces. They talk about podcasting as a medium — how the names have changed but the format hasn’t. What once existed as radio promos and previews now shows up as teasers and episode drops. The core remains the same: people talking, others listening. Skandyyman reflects on how his North Karnataka accent became central to his podcasting journey. Instead of neutralising or polishing it, he leaned into it — and that genuineness shaped how listeners connected with him. The conversation returns often to this idea of being real: that podcasting works best when voices aren’t trying too hard to fit a mould. They also revisit some of their favourite episodes, moments that stayed with them, and break a few common myths around podcasting — about reach, effort, and what success really looks like. Language and identity enter the conversation without grand claims. Sowjanya recalls a conversation with Jayanth Kaikini, who once remarked that the anxiety of “saving Kannada” is largely a Bangalore idea — travel fifty kilometres and you’ll hear the language spoken with ease and confidence. Languages don’t need to be protected in theory; they only need room to be lived in. The discussion also touches on how cinema, as a medium, has often fixed language and identity into rigid stereotypes, while podcasting allows space for more ordinary, layered voices. So sit back, listen in, and enjoy conversations that remind us why podcasting is such a loved medium. #PodcastersGeQuestionsAa, #NoorakkeNooruKarnataka, #PodcastConversation, #IndianPodcasters, #PodcastCulture, #PodcastingInIndia, #BehindTheMic, #NewMediaIndia, #SankrantiSpecial, #FestiveConversations, #VoicesYouKnow, #ContentCreators

What does the next era of sports look like — and what role will sports media play in shaping it? In this epilogue episode of Game Play Sport, our Indian sports podcast, the three hosts look back at Season 1 — revisiting their favourite episodes, most memorable guests, and the conversations that stayed with them long after recording. The discussion reflects on: The next era of sports and how Indian sport might change over the next decade The role of sports media in shaping narratives, expectations, and public memory The episodes and interviews that best captured the spirit of the season Personal sporting moments, lessons, and turning points for the hosts themselves _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 🎇CHAPTERS 0:52 - Our Greatest Sporting Achievement 2:30 - Our Favourite Episode From The Season 5:07 - Favourite Guests To Interview 7:34 - The Role Of Sports Media 14:00 - Why We Started Game Play Sport 16:50 - "Watching Sports Is Not Enough. You Have To Play Too!" 18:59 - Predictions For the Next Era of Sports _____________________________________________________________________________________________ This episode is both a wrap-up and a pause — a chance to think about where sport is headed, how it is talked about, and why these conversations matter beyond wins and losses. Whether you’re discovering Game Play Sport for the first time or have followed the season closely, this epilogue offers a clear sense of what the show set out to explore — sport as culture, labour, pressure, media, and public life. ▶️ Watch the Game Play Sport Epilogue, only on Radio Azim Premji University. #GamePlaySport, #IndianSports, #IndianSportsPodcast, #SportsPodcastIndia, #FutureOfIndianSports, #SportsConversations, #IndianAthletes, #SportsMedia, #RadioAzimPremjiUniversity, #SportsDiscussion, #IndianSportCulture

೨೦೦೦ ಇಸವಿ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಅನಿಶ್ಚಿತತೆಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ಬಂದಿತು - Y2K ಭಯ, ಹೊಸ ಮಹತ್ವಾಕಾಂಕ್ಷೆಗಳು, ಹೊಸ ಆತಂಕಗಳು. ಮುಂದಿನ 25 ವರ್ಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ, ಕರ್ನಾಟಕವು ಬದಲಾಗಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಅದು ತನ್ನದೇ ಆದ ಕಥೆಯನ್ನು ಹೇಗೆ ಹೇಳಬೇಕೆಂದು ಕಲಿತಿತು. ನೂರಕ್ಕೆ ನೂರು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಈ ಸಂಚಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ವರ್ಷ ರಾಮಚಂದ್ರ 2000–2025ರ ನಡುವೆ ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕ ನೆನಪಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಉಳಿದಿರುವ ಕ್ಷಣಗಳ ಮೂಲಕ ನೆನಪಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಡಾ. ರಾಜ್‌ಕುಮಾರ್ ಅಪಹರಣದಿಂದ ವಿಜಯ್ ಮಲ್ಯ ಅವರ ಉಗಮ ಮತ್ತು ಪತನದವರೆಗೆ, ರಾಯಲ್ ಚಾಲೆಂಜರ್ಸ್ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಅಭಿಮಾನಿಗಳ ಭಾವನಾತ್ಮಕ ಪ್ರಪಂಚದಿಂದ ರಂಗಶಂಕರದಂತಹ ಸಾಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಕ ಸ್ಥಳಗಳವರೆಗೆ. ದ್ವೀಪ, ಮುಂಗಾರು ಮಳೆ, ಲೂಸಿಯ, ತಿಥಿ ಮತ್ತು ಕೆಜಿಎಫ್‌ನಂತಹ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ರಕ್ಷಿತ್ ಶೆಟ್ಟಿ, ರಾಜ್ ಬಿ. ಶೆಟ್ಟಿ ಮತ್ತು ರಿಷಬ್ ಶೆಟ್ಟಿ ಇವರ ಉದಯದ ಮೂಲಕ ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರರಂಗ ಹೇಗೆ ಹೊಸ ವಿಶ್ವಾಸವನ್ನು ಕಂಡುಕೊಂಡಿತು ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಇದು ಗುರುತಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಈ ವರ್ಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಸದ್ದು ಮಾಡಿದ ರಾರಾ ಸರಸಕು ರಾ ರಾ, ಮುಂಗಾರು ಮಳೆ, ವರಹ ರೂಪಂ, ಬೊಂಬೆ ಹೇಳುತೈತೆ, ಮತ್ತು ಬೆಳಗೆದ್ದು ಯಾರ ಮುಖವ ನಾನು ನೋಡಿದೆ ಮುಂತಾದ ಹಾಡುಗಳನ್ನು ಗುನುಗುತ್ತದೆ ಮತ್ತು ಸಂಗೀತ, ವಿಜ್ಞಾನ, ಪರಿಸರ ವಿಜ್ಞಾನ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ನ್ಯಾಯವನ್ನು ರೂಪಿಸಿದ ಪಂಡಿತ್ ಭೀಮಸೇನ್ ಜೋಶಿ, ಸಿ.ಎನ್.ಆರ್.ರಾವ್, ಸಾಲುಮರದ ತಿಮ್ಮಕ್ಕ, ಹರೀಶ್ ಹಂದೆ, ಮತ್ತು ಬೆಜವಾಡ ವಿಲ್ಸನ್ ಅವರಂತಹ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರನ್ನು ಗೌರವಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಇದು ಕೇವಲ ಪಟ್ಟಿಯಲ್ಲ, ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ನೆನಪು - ಸಾಧನೆಗಳ ಪಕ್ಷಿನೋಟ. ನೀವು ಯಾವ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ, ಹಾಡು ಅಥವಾ ಕ್ಷಣವನ್ನು ಸೇರಿಸಲು ಬಯಸುತ್ತೀರಿ? ಕೆಳಗೆ ಕಾಮೆಂಟ್ ಮಾಡಿ ತಿಳಿಸಿ. From Y2K to Now: Karnataka | The Last 25 Years of Karnataka The turn of the millennium came with uncertainty — the Y2K scare, new ambitions, new anxieties. Over the next 25 years, Karnataka didn’t just change. It learned how to tell its own story. In this episode of Noorakke Nooru Karnataka Varsha Ramachandra looks back at 2000–2025 through moments that stayed in public memory — from the abduction of Dr. Rajkumar to the rise and fall of Vijay Mallya, from the emotional world of Royal Challengers Bangalore fandom to cultural spaces like Rangashankara. It traces how Kannada cinema found new confidence through the rise of the three Rs — Rakshit Shetty, Raj B. Shetty, and Rishab Shetty — alongside films like Dweepa, Mungaru Male, Lucia, Thithi, and KGF, moments when Kannada storytelling stopped explaining itself and began asserting itself. It listens to how Karnataka sounded over these years — through songs like Ra Ra Sarasaku Ra Ra, Mungaru Maleye, Varaha Roopam, Bombe Helutaite, and Belageddu Yaara Mukhava Naanu Nodidde — and honours Kannadigas whose work shaped music, science, ecology, and social justice: Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, C. N. R. Rao, Saalumarada Thimmakka, Harish Hande, and Bezwada Wilson. This is not just a list but a way to remember Karnataka. What film, song, or moment would you like to add? Comment below and let us know #FromY2KtoNow, #HowKarnatakaRemembered, #NoorakkeNooruKarnataka, #KarnatakadaTop25, #Karnataka2000to2025, #KannadaPride, #KannadaCulture, #KannadaCinema, #KannadaMusic, #KannadaLiterature, #DrRajkumar, #VijayMallya, #RCB, #Rangashankara, #RakshitShetty, #RajBShetty, #RishabShetty, #PanditBhimsenJoshi, #CNRRao, #SaalumaradaThimmakka, #HarishHande, #BezwadaWilson, #KGF, #MungaruMale, #LuciaFilm, #Thithi, #KarnatakaHistory, #RadioAzimPremjiUniversity

What makes doctors begin their careers in rural India—and keep going for three decades? Dr. John and Mercy John reveal why they stayed—and how their work transformed healthcare in Bissam Cuttack, Odisha. In this episode of The Health Worker, host Ram G. Vallath from the Azim Premji Foundation brings you the story of Dr. John “Johnny” Oommen (MD, CMC Vellore) and Mercy John, who chose to serve the tribal communities of Bissam Cuttack, Odisha, instead of pursuing lucrative careers in India or abroad. For three decades, they've tackled challenges most doctors in India never face—infant mortality rates of 200 per 1,000, under-five mortality touching 350 per 1,000, high birth rates & high death rates, zero healthcare infrastructure, and communities where seeing a doctor meant traveling hours. What you'll discover: - Why these doctors chose rural Odisha over high-paying urban positions - How they built a healthcare system from scratch in Bissam Cuttack - The real impact of 30 years of commitment to rural medicine - What keeps healthcare workers motivated in India's most challenging regions - How they built a nursing workforce when faculty was impossible to find - How community-led malaria control saved children’s lives About the Health Worker Series: Exploring the lives and choices of healthcare professionals serving India's rural communities, where dedication meets extraordinary challenges. For more inspiring and informative content on India Public Health, visit us at 🎙️ More conversations on democracy, culture & society: Subscribe to Radio Azim Premji University for podcasts exploring India's biggest questions—from education and science to constitutional values and social change. #RuralHealthcare, #DoctorsOfIndia, #HealthcareHeroes, #TribalHealth, #CommunityHealth, #PublicHealthIndia, #HealthcareInIndia, #DoctorsWhoServe, #HealthWorker, #HealthcareEquity, #RuralIndia, #HealthcareStories, #FrontlineHealth, #MedicalEthics #odisha #ruralodisha

Is India chasing the right dream when it comes to sports — or have we lost our way? In this explosive finale of Game Play Sport on Radio Azim Premji University, our 3 sports hosts Rahul De, Arvind Bharathi B N & Kailash Kaushik take on ten outspoken students in a high-stakes, Jubilee-style Surrounded debate. From malls replacing playgrounds to Esports players being called athletes, this episode unpacks the biggest ideological battles shaping India’s sporting culture today. 🔥 Debates Inside the Episode Malls Over Maidaans: Are we trading childhood play for consumerism? One Gold Medalist vs a Billion Active People: What counts as national success? Medals Over Motion: Why are young athletes burning out? Esports: Athletes, addicts, or the future of Indian sport? This is not just about games. It’s about public health, youth identity, and whether India values movement or medals more. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Special thanks to all the students of Azim Premji University who participated! 🎙 Featuring Rahul De • Arvind Bharathi • Kailash Kaushik ✨ A Radio Azim Premji University Original 👇 Comment below: Are we building a healthier nation — or just chasing podiums? #GamePlaySport #Surrounded #SportsDebate #IndianSports #YouthSports #EsportsIndia #PlaygroundsVsMalls #SportsCulture #FitIndia #KheloIndia #SportsEducation #MedalsVsMovement #jubilee #neerajchopra

India competes across the world — at the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and countless individual tournaments — with delegations far smaller than its population and talent pool suggest. The real issue isn’t performance. It’s the harsh, uneven journey that pushes most young athletes out long before they enter any official system. In this episode of Game Play Sport, we follow the story of Raziya Khan, midfielder for Odisha FC, who first discovered football when Teach For India fellows brought the sport into her school. Her earliest memory is of playing football with a bottle filled with stones — a symbol of how little infrastructure existed, and how much imagination was required to dream. From there, Raziya travelled hours every day to reach practice, balanced schoolwork with training, and carried the emotional load of wanting something her environment wasn’t designed to support. Her journey mirrors what athletes in individual sports face too — from runners training before sunrise, to wrestlers and boxers commuting long distances, to badminton and athletics hopefuls fighting for basic access. We explore why India sends small teams to global events, why many talented children leave sport before they ever compete, and what it would take to build a sporting pipeline worthy of India’s size and ambition. Listen to the full episode and rethink the journey behind every athlete we celebrate. #IndianSports #Olympics #AsianGames #CommonwealthGames #WorldChampionships #RaziyaKhan #OdishaFC #WomenInSport #IndividualSports #FootballIndia #TeachForIndia #SportsAccess #SportsForChange #AzimPremjiUniversity

India is home to over half a billion gamers — from PUBG to Valorant, from mobile cricket to FIFA — yet still struggles to find its footing in the global esports arena. In this episode of Game Play Sport, Aravind, Kailash, and Rahul sit down with Ram Seshadri, producer and avid gamer, and Sudhen Wahengbam,esports commentator, to explore why India’s massive gaming population hasn’t translated into world-class esports success. The discussion journeys through India’s unique gaming culture — from cyber cafés to the era of mobile dominance — and asks tough questions: Why do micro-transaction models that work elsewhere fail here? How did the Waves OTT Summit and the Asian Games put esports on the national map? And what can India learn from countries like Brazil, Denmark, and South Korea, where esports athletes like FalleN are celebrated like traditional sports heroes? Ram unpacks the landscape of modern esports — fighter games,first person shooter games,, battle royales, sports games, multiplayer online battle arena (MUBA), and real-time strategy games — explaining why India’s fragmented digital infrastructure and low per-user spending make sustainability difficult. Sudhen reflects on perception and policy: how parental anxiety, uneven regulation, and limited institutional backing hold the ecosystem back. Yet both see hope in the mobile gaming revolution, where India already leads the world in downloads. Listen to the podcast “Can India Become a Global Esports Powerhouse?” and discover what it will take for India to turn play into purpose, and gamers into athletes.

What if that catchy Bollywood song you grew up humming wasn’t Bollywood at all? In this episode of Unboxed, Amit Basole is joined by Sharmadip Basu and Kalyani K from Azim Premji University to uncover the incredible story of Chutney Music — a genre born from migration, memory, and musical remixing. It begins in 1980s Bengal, where a young Sharmadip first hears Kaise Bani Phulouri Bina Chutney Kaise Bani — thinking it’s just another filmi tune. Years later, in an Indo-Caribbean neighbourhood in New York, he realises it’s actually by Sundar Popo, the father of Chutney Music. That revelation opens up an oceanic history — from indentured labourers (Girmitiyas) who sailed from Bihar and Awadh after 1835, to the birth of a new sound that blended Bhojpuri folk with Caribbean rhythm. Together, Amit, Sharmadip, and Kalyani trace how artists like Rasika Dindial (Lazy Man) and Drupatee Ramgoonai (Roll Up de Tassa) turned this hybrid sound into a stage for self-expression — where Hindi met Creole, and women found their voice in song. Watch now to explore how a tune travelled across oceans — and came back as Chutney Music, reshaping Bollywood, diaspora identity, and the very meaning of rhythm. #ChutneyMusic #UnboxedPodcast #AzimPremjiUniversity #SundarPopo #KaiseBani #DrupateeRamgoonai #RasikaDindial #CaribbeanMusic #BhojpuriFolk #Soca #Calypso #DiasporaMusic #BollywoodMusic #IndianDiaspora #MigrationStories #Unboxed #AmitBasole #CulturalFusion #Girmitiyas

Dream11’s fall has reignited a major debate in India’s gaming world — is it skill or gambling? With the new Online Gaming Bill 2025, the government is redrawing boundaries around real money gaming, raising crucial questions for players, companies, and policymakers alike. In this episode of Game Play Sport by Radio Azim Premji University, we explore: What the Online Gaming Bill 2025 really means Why Dream11’s fall changed the real money gaming landscape How to distinguish gaming vs gambling in India’s digital era The future of fantasy sports, e-gaming, and play for profit 🎧 A deep dive into ethics, law, and the economics of play in India. #Dream11 #OnlineGamingBill #RealMoneyGaming #GamblingVsGaming #FantasySports #MPL #OnlineGamingIndia #DigitalIndia #SportsEconomy #GamePlaySport #RadioAzimPremjiUniversity #GamingInIndia #GamingRegulation #India2025

Are We Killing the Joy of Play? Are we pushing kids too hard, too soon? In this episode of Game Play Sport, Arvind, Kailash and Rahul talk with Chelston Pinto about why India’s sports education system needs more unstructured play and age-appropriate training and how Indian kids are burning out and what needs to be done to fix it. Discover how the National Education Policy puts sports at the heart of schooling, why early specialization can harm kids, and what even Neeraj Chopra’s injuries teach us about overtraining. Learn how schools, parents and workplaces can create spaces for kids to run, climb and kick — and make movement a lifelong habit. The episode also explores the Long-Term Athlete Development model — starting with pure movement and fun in the early years (0–6), building fundamental strength and coordination (6–9), and only then introducing structured, non-competitive play after 10. He explains why boys and girls need separate training post-puberty as they peak at different ages and develop differently. Early sports specialization — especially without a foundation of unstructured play — can lead to injuries, burnout and even kids walking away from sports altogether. Watch “Are We Killing the Joy of Play?" and find out how to raise healthier, happier kids here. Special thanks to Chelston Pinto for the interview. Discover more shows in English, Hindi, and Kannada: https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/radio-azim-premji-university Follow us on Instagram: @radioazimpremjiuniv Credits: Akshay Ramuhalli, Bruce Lee Mani, Gorveck Thokchom, Kishor Mandal, Kruthika Rao, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Ram Seshadri, Sananda Dasgupta, Sanoob Puliyanchali, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar.