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 guests discuss the power of cults in politics and the power of fans when stars become politicians.

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Audio Timecodes 

00:00:00- Introduction 

00:02:42 - Headlines 

00:13:56 - CJI Gavai Attack  

00:43:02- Power of Cults in Politics

01:09:21 - Recommendations 

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

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

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 compromised business model. He points out that while balance sheets are “artificially protected” through government and corporate advertising, the reality is stark.

Dhanya shares hard lessons on what audiences pay for. While issues like climate change receive constant calls for coverage, they draw little financial support. “Everybody’s always asking why you guys are not reporting on the environment… but that is one fund people hardly pay,” she says. 

Manisha adds that the future role of journalism lies in helping audiences think critically in an “age of reels and feels.” 

“While others can trigger emotions, journalists can provide context, history, and perspective,” she says. 

On the replacement for legacy media, Josy says, “What you people are doing at The News Minute and Newslaundry, to me, is a great laboratory of experiment. You are actually bringing journalism back as the intellectual property for which people should pay,” he says. 

Timecodes

00:00:00 – Introductions and announcements

00:12:26 – Headlines 

00:37:42 -  Discussion on the future of media 

01:28:17 - Recommendations

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Produced by Priyali Dhingra (Newslaundry), Bhuvan Malik (TNM), with production assistance by Ajay.

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

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 capped to make them affordable for common people. They are joined by film producer, writer, and director G Dhananjayan.

Reporting Fund: The Shady Business of Stolen Footage

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Audio Timecodes 

00:00:00- Introduction 

00:01:24 - Reporting Fund 

00:03:30 - Headlines 

00:17:26 - Socio-Education Survey 

00:44:29- Cap on Movie tickets

01:04:31 - Recommendations

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

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

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 be entertained against the Ambanis’ enterprise. The second is an ex parte injunction in favour of the Adani group, allowing them to add any number of URLs to be taken down–YouTube, Instagram, and others, including an episode of South Central. Investigative journalist Saurav Das joins the hosts. 

Reporting Fund: India's Hidden Digital Exploitation

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Audio Timecodes

00:00:00 - Introduction 

00:00:43 - Support TNM 

00:03:36 - Headlines 

00:09:05 - Are Indians safe abroad? 

00:50:45 - Freedom of press at stake? 

1:14:36 - Recommendations

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

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

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 discussion, the hosts discuss how political leaders in the South are navigating the thin line between secularism and faith. They are joined by Dr Meera Velayudhan, a writer, policy analyst, activist, feminist scholar, and former president of IAWS. She is the daughter of Dakshayani Velayudhan, the youngest and only Dalit member of the Constituent Assembly.

Audio Timecodes 

00:00:00- Introductions

00:03:03 - Media Rumble

00:04:47- Headlines

00:09:58 - UAPA: Umar Khalid and Sharjeel 

00:46:50- Southern CMs and Secularism 

 1:20:43 - Recommendations 

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

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

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 unpack the family dynamics, the party calculus, and what Kavitha does next.

In the second part, the panel turns to the new GST regime, where federalism is at the heart of the debate. While consumers see gains from simplified taxation and lower rates, many states flag mounting revenue losses and shrinking fiscal space. 

Audio Timecodes 

00:00:00- Announcement

00:01:28 - Gauri Lankesh 

00:04:41- Headlines

00:10:13 - Kavitha’s BRS Exit 

00:45:40- New GST Regime 

 01:05:47 - Letters 

1:07:25 - Recommendations 

Remembering Gauri Lankesh: Impunity in journalist killings in India 

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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 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 discussion, the panel weighs in on the allegations of sexual misconduct against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil. The hosts are joined by journalists KK Shahina and Sukanya Shaji.

Audio Timecodes 

00:00:00- Introductions

00:01:27 - Support TNM 

00:02:52 - Headlines 

00:08:05 - Dharmasthala Case

00:13:25 - Vantara 

00:41:53- Rahul Mamkootathil allegations

01:11:25 - Recommendations 

Read Nidhi Suresh's Story: Against God’s men: A nun, a bishop, and the trial of India’s Catholic Church

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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 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 second part of the discussion, the hosts discuss the criminal trial of Bishop Franco Mulakkal, a powerful priest of the Catholic church. Franco was tried for rape, based on a complaint by a nun–the first ever such case in the country. They are joined by Nidhi Suresh, who spoke to the survivor nun, to trace her side of the story.

Audio Timecodes 

00:00:00- Introductions

00:03:54 - Headlines 

00:13:35 - Election Commission 

00:51:27 - Nun who took Bishop Franco to court 

01:08:50- Letters 

01:20:32 - Recommendations 

Read Nidhi Suresh's Story: Against God’s men: A nun, a bishop, and the trial of India’s Catholic Church

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

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

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 discussion, the panel discusses the controversy surrounding the 71st National Film Awards and whether the awards are being excessively politicised to suit a Hindu majoritarian agenda. Former journalist and film producer Miriam Joseph joins the hosts to weigh in on whether the Awards have lost their credibility.

Audio Timecodes  

00:00:00- Introductions

00:01:46: Support TNM 

00:06:35 - Headlines 

00:13:44 - Prajwal Revanna Conviction

00:35:15 - National Awards

01:10:43 - Recommendations 

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

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

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 about the trend of right-wing attacks on Christians in the country. In the second part of the discussion, the panel looks at the TCS’s decision to lay off staff and whether big companies can force employees to leave. The panel also weighs in on whether AI plays a part in this, pointing towards an impending employment crisis. The hosts are joined by guests Sriram Rajagopal and A Welkin. 

Audio Timecodes 

00:00:00- Introductions

00:01:54: Support TNM 

00:02:40 - Headlines 

00:10:28 - Attacks on Christians 

00:50:53 - TCS layoffs 

01:24:21 - Recommendations 

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] 

Send your thoughts, suggestions and criticism as well.

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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.