The Latest Breaking News from Dhanya Rajendran

South Central 67: Trans Bill 2026, BJP’s war on self-identification, KD song and misogyny

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…

Newslaundry · Mar 22

South Central 66: LPG crisis fears and why Opposition wants impeachment of CEC Gyanesh Kumar

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. 

Newslaundry · Mar 15

South Central 65: The doctor who went to court to donate kidney and Iran-Israel war

In the first segment of this week’s South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna speak to senior gynaecologist Dr Thankam Subramonian, who recently approached the Karnataka HC to altruistically donate a kidney after being denied permission by a medical committee. 

Newslaundry · Mar 8

South Central 59: Cinema, politics and the war on film critics

In this episode, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna discuss the organised hate campaigns against film reviewers in the country. The discussion spans themes including the communal profiling of actors and reviewers and delves into whether fan culture catalyses the polarisation of films based on nationalism, religion, and gender politics.…

Newslaundry · Jan 25

South Central 58: Franco to Rahul Mamkootathil, power rewrites consent | Karnataka’s stuck govt

In the first session of the episode, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna discuss the intersection of consent, agency and institutional power in sexual assault cases, like in the cases of Kerala MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, acquitted Bishop Franco Mulakkal, ex-BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar and more. The hosts are joined by…

Newslaundry · Jan 18

South Central 57: Chandrababu Naidu’s RSS shift and the Kochi Biennale controversy

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna first discuss the recent political developments in Andhra Pradesh, including CM Chandrababu Naidu’s growing affiliation with the BJP. They are joined by Professor K Nageshwar, a politician, academic, and political analyst.

Newslaundry · Jan 11

South Central 56: 10-minute delivery at what cost? Understanding gig worker rights

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna first discuss the strike by gig workers on December 25th and 31st, what their demands are and whether the existing framework of payouts and stipulated minimum delivery time violates their rights.

Newslaundry · Jan 4

Hafta x South Central: Highs & lows of media in 2025, influencers in news, Arnab’s ‘turnaround’

For this special year-ender episode, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri and Manisha Pande and The News Minute’s Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna are joined by columnist and media critic Santosh Desai.  

Newslaundry · Dec 27, 2025

South Central 55: Census, Delimitation & MGNREGA Pushback

In this year-ender episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna discuss federalism and how it has fared in India. They are joined by economist and scholar Rathin Roy, and TNM’s Associate Editor Nandini Chandrasekhar.

Newslaundry · Dec 21, 2025

South Central 54: The state of investigative journalism in 2025

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna discuss whether investigative journalism is becoming one of the most endangered professions in India, or whether that is a misplaced fear. Looking back at 2025, the conversation focuses on how much space investigative reporting still has, the risks…

Newslaundry · Dec 14, 2025