In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna first discuss the NEET exam paper leak and the subsequent developments. 

They are joined by educationist and the founder of Career 360, Maheshwer Peri and TNM Associate Editor Nandini Chandrashekar. In the second part of the discussions, the hosts discuss the austerity measures announced by PM Modi, including a ban on exports and judicious use of oil and gas. 

They are joined by journalist and founder of India’s first data journalism initiative IndiaSpend, Govindraj Ethiraj.

Audio timecodes

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:01:50 - Headlines 

00:10:49 - Exam paper leaks in India

00:40:25 - PM Modi's announcements on austerity

1:11:45 - Recommendations

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In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna discuss the political developments in Tamil Nadu and the national implications of the fallout between DMK and Congress. They are joined by TNM’s Tamil Nadu bureau chief, Shabbir Ahmed, journalist and political analyst Rasheed Kidwai, and K Venkataramanan, a senior journalist who was previously with The Hindu.

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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 - Introduction

00:03:58 - Headlines

00:14:04 - Kerala & Tamil Nadu exit polls

00:51:25 - India slips in Press Freedom Index

1:18:15 - Recommendations

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Produced by Jaseem Ali, Megha Mukundan, edited by Jaseem Ali, written by Sukanya Shaji, Camera by Ajay R

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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.

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Audio Timecodes 

00:00:00 - Introductions 

00:01:59 - Headlines 

00:08:55 - Delimitation 

00:40:23 - Telangana Caste Survey

01:12:17 - Recommendations

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Produced & edited by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Vignesh Manickam & written by Sukanya Shaji.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/zTQadhQFFT

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Audio Timecodes 

00:00:00 - Introductions 

00:03:40 - Delimitation

00:12:50 - Tamil Nadu Elections

01:06:51 - Recommendations

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Produced & edited by Bhuvan Malik, written by Sukanya Shaji.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/zTQadhQFFT

Once a month, we will invite one TNM subscriber to the show. Write to us on what you would like to speak about to [email protected] 

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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 Elections

00:46:56 - Bennix-Jayaraj Case

01:03:46 - Recommendations

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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/zTQadhQFFT

Once a month, we will invite one TNM subscriber to the show. Write to us on what you would like to speak about to [email protected] 

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Audio Timecodes

00:00:00 - Introductions

00:02:29 - Headlines

00:11:23 - New IT Rules

00:39:32 - Kerala Elections

01:20:21 - Recommendations

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Produced by Ajay R & Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/zTQadhQFFT

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Audio Timecodes

00:00:00 - Introductions

00:02:22 - Headlines

00:09:27 - Kerala Elections

00:51:39 - Trans Bill Horror

01:11:57 - Recommendations

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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 [email protected] 

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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

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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali, written by Sukanya Shaji.  

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 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.

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Audio Timecodes 

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:03:22 - Headlines 

00:13:57- LPG Fears

00:51:05-CEC Impeachment 

1:14:11 - Recommendations

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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali, written by Sukanya Shaji.

Check out the recommendations and references from this episode.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.