The Latest Breaking News from South Central

South Central 43: Umar Khalid’s UAPA bail rejection and southern leaders' secularism dilemma

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna 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…

Newslaundry · Sep 14, 2025

South Central 42: Kavitha’s exit from BRS, states push back on GST

In this week’s South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna discuss K Kavitha’s suspension and resignation from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) after she claimed that her cousins Harish Rao and Santosh were responsible for corruption in the Kaleshwaram project. They are joined by political and policy consultant Tara…

Newslaundry · Sep 7, 2025

South Central 40: Election Commission’s credibility crisis and the nun who took Bishop Franco to court

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…

Newslaundry · Aug 24, 2025

South Central 35: Vijay Mallya’s half-truths and Kingfisher’s fall, Bharat Mata controversy in Kerala

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath first discuss the Vijay Mallya podcast and why political patronage for big businessmen is detrimental. Joining them is senior business journalist Sucheta Dalal.

Newslaundry · Jul 13, 2025

South Central 34: Karnataka’s DKS-Siddaramaiah tussle and RSS hypocrisy on Preamble

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath first discuss the tussle between DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah over the state’s Chief Minister-ship. 

Newslaundry · Jul 6, 2025

South Central 33: The CBFC’s absurd demand of 127 cuts for Punjab 95, director Honey Trehan speaks

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Leena Reghunath first discuss the controversy around director Honey Trehan’s film Punjab 95, starring Diljit Dosanjh, based on the life and death of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. The film’s release has been stalled by the Central Board of…

Newslaundry · Jun 29, 2025

South Central 32: Why the BJP fears Keezhadi and the angle ignored in Sonam Raghuvanshi case

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna, discuss the political resistance to the Keezhadi excavation report and why the findings are seen as inconvenient by the BJP government with journalist Sivapriyan ETB. Lawyer and author Rohin Bhatt joins the podcast in the second half to…

Newslaundry · Jun 22, 2025

South Central 31: Chinmayi Sripaada’s Thug Life performance and follow-up of Bengaluru stampede

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath discuss the Bengaluru Chinnaswamy stampede with senior journalist Nandini Chandrasekhar. They weigh in on whether the Karnataka government is scapegoating the police and evading responsibility.

Newslaundry · Jun 15, 2025

South Central 30: RCB’s post-win tragedy and Kamal Haasan’s Kannada origin row

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath discuss RCB's long-awaited IPL victory and the tragic deaths that followed in the stampede at the franchise’s success meet in Bengaluru. Sports journalist Venkat Ananth weighs in on the discussion with important pointers about fandom, the…

Newslaundry · Jun 8, 2025

South Central 29: BJP’s Muslim messaging and can you really separate art from the artist?

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath discuss the dichotomy of the BJP’s Muslim-messaging within India and abroad. In the second section, they also talk about whether art can be truly separated from the artist. Joining the discussion are The Wire’s editor Seema…

Newslaundry · Jun 1, 2025