South Central

The News Minute
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Nov 28, 2025 • 1h 20min

The Dileep case and how SIR is unfolding across states | South Central 52

Join Sukanya Shaji, a lawyer-turned-journalist, Azeefa Fathima, Breaking News Head, and Shabbir Ahmed, Tamil Nadu Bureau Chief, as they dissect the high-profile Kerala actor assault case involving Dileep. The guests explore the intricacies of the case, including alleged conspiracies and forensic controversies. They then shift focus to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Tamil Nadu, revealing the chaos on the ground, pressures faced by officials, and potential risks to voter inclusion—all set against a backdrop of political maneuvering.
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40 snips
Nov 14, 2025 • 1h 25min

Sridhar Vembu’s Anti-Vaccine Claim and Privatisation of Govt Hospitals and Medical Colleges | South Central 51

Join Dr. PV Ramesh, a former IAS officer and expert in health policy, and Dr. Sylvia Karpagam, a seasoned public health activist, as they tackle pressing issues in vaccination and health privatization. They dissect billionaire Sridhar Vembu's controversial anti-vaccine claims and the dangers of misinformation. The conversation shifts to the implications of PPPs in healthcare, revealing how privatization can affect medical education and community access. They also discuss the critical need for public trust in medicine and the ethical challenges in clinical trials.
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29 snips
Nov 7, 2025 • 1h 28min

How Kerala says it ended extreme poverty, & inside Zohran Mamdani’s NYC mayoral win | South Central

In this discussion, T.V. Anupama, an IAS officer, shares Kerala's unique strategies for eradicating extreme poverty, detailing their localized identification process and tailored micro-plans for intervention. Freddy Thomas, a law professor, highlights the sustainability of these welfare approaches amidst fiscal challenges. The conversation shifts to Prajwal Bhatt, a journalist who provides insights into Zohran Mamdani's mayoral victory in NYC, emphasizing youth engagement and the dynamics of Indian American support in a politically charged environment.
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38 snips
Oct 31, 2025 • 1h 23min

Why ECI is pushing SIR, Yogendra Yadav explains | What the Bumble & Ranjith cases reveal about consent

Yogendra Yadav, a renowned psephologist and activist, critiques the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR), highlighting flaws and risks of disenfranchising voters through faulty processes. He argues for better methods like house-to-house checks. Sukanya Shaji, a former lawyer and journalist, discusses recent High Court rulings on sexual harassment, revealing how these decisions often undermine justice by quashing complaints at early stages. They emphasize the complexities of consent and the need for a deeper understanding of power dynamics in such cases.
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14 snips
Oct 24, 2025 • 1h 18min

Kerala school hijab row and Andhra–Karnataka fight over Google Centre

Shahina KK, a senior journalist with deep insights into Kerala's communal politics, and Indulekha Aravind, a business journalist specializing in economic issues, share their expertise. They dive into the hijab controversy, framing it as a battle between faith and education rights, while exploring its historical and political roots. The discussion shifts to the debate over Andhra Pradesh's new Google data centre, examining state rivalry and the implications of investment incentives. Both guests highlight critical local dynamics affecting these hot-button issues.
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Oct 17, 2025 • 1h 29min

Why Dashwanth Was Acquitted | RSS Marches, Lathis and Secular Space

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 southern states. They are joined by historian and author V Geetha, and TNM’s Executive Editor Sudipto Mondal.Celebrate Deepavali with us with this special offer: https://pages.razorpay.com/deepavali25 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 thoughts, suggestions and criticism as well.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- Introduction 00:01:35: Diwali Offer00:02:48 - Headlines 00:12:18 - Dashwanth Case  00:43:38- RSS in south India01:24:05- Recommendations Check out the recommendations and references from this episode.Become a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereProduced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali and written by Sukanya Shaji. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Oct 15, 2025 • 49sec

Trailer: South Central

Putting south India at the centre Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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14 snips
Oct 10, 2025 • 1h 13min

Right-wing attack against CJI Gavai | The power of cults in Indian politics

In this discussion, Ajoy Ashirwad, Political Affairs Editor at The Wire, and K Venkataramanan, a veteran journalist, tackle the recent attack on Chief Justice BR Gavai, exploring its caste implications and the disturbing online vilification leading to it. They analyze how the attack aims to intimidate the judiciary in religious debates and highlight inconsistent law enforcement. The conversation shifts to the influence of celebrity culture in politics, examining how star power shapes political futures and the risks posed by star-driven parties devoid of organizational strength.
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23 snips
Oct 5, 2025 • 1h 38min

Hafta x South Central feat. Josy Joseph: A crossover episode on the future of media

Josy Joseph, an award-winning investigative journalist and author, joins a dynamic panel to discuss the shifting landscape of media. He highlights the alarming decline of newspapers and TV due to outdated business models. Dhanya Rajendran tackles the challenges of funding environmental journalism, while Manisha Pande argues for journalism's role in fostering critical thinking amid sensationalism. The conversation dives into the need for innovative, subscription-based journalism and the impact of technology on storytelling, revealing the urgent need for support in independent media.
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Sep 26, 2025 • 1h 8min

Karnataka Socio-Educational Survey Explained | Producers, Access and the Movie Ticket Cap Debate | South Central 45

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 FootageOnce 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 thoughts, suggestions and criticism as well.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- Introduction 00:01:24 - Reporting Fund 00:03:30 - Headlines 00:17:26 - Socio-Education Survey 00:44:29- Cap on Movie tickets01:04:31 - RecommendationsCheck out the recommendations and references from this episode.Become a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereProduced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali and written by Sukanya Shaji. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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