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Karnataka’s ban on teenage mobile use and Kerala Story 2’s divisive agenda | South Central Episode 64

Feb 27, 2026

Guest

NP Ashley, professor and writer, critiques Kerala Story 2 as political propaganda. Adhira S Magesh, a Grade 9 karate black belt and baker, shares a teenager’s take on phone bans and online life. Sama Adil, child psychologist, discusses adolescent mental health, screen time and counseling. They debate practical limits, regulation versus prohibition, misinformation spread, misogyny in film narratives, and civic responses to polarising media.

01:22:58

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INSIGHT

Platform Rules Clash With Global Tech Power

Platform regulation faces geopolitical and commercial pushback: big tech will resist measures that cut revenue or demand verified IDs.
Tara warns Indian regulation must reckon with global companies threatening retaliation and ID-based workarounds.

insights

INSIGHT

Teens Use Social Media For Learning And Identity

Teenagers often view social media as learning and self-expression spaces rather than threats; banning would cut useful learning paths like YouTube baking tutorials.
Adhira credits YouTube for inspiring her baking and career ideas, arguing wholesale bans limit growth.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Anonymous Apps Fuel Peer Cyberbullying

Adhira describes 'Not Gonna Lie', an anonymous messaging app in her group that facilitated cruel anonymous comments and public posting of responses.
She recounts how classmates read hurtful anonymous messages about peers, illustrating modern cyberbullying mechanics.

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Karnataka mobile ban proposal introduced

09:35 • 1min

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Why adults panic about kids' screen time

10:50 • 44sec

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A teenager's view on bans and workarounds

11:34 • 37sec

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Psychologist rejects panic bans

12:11 • 2min

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Can platforms enforce age limits like Australia?

13:56 • 5min

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Regulation vs. prohibition for devices

18:29 • 2min

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What teens would miss and misuse online

20:52 • 3min

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Screen time, gaming and counseling needs

24:00 • 6min

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Would banning phones improve family communication?

29:50 • 54sec

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Separating screen time from harmful content

30:44 • 2min

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Teen insight: why online life matters

33:11 • 2min

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Targeted restrictions not full bans

35:10 • 5min

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Parental choices shape lifelong habits

40:00 • 4min

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Closing the mobile ban discussion

43:40 • 15sec

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Introducing Kerala Story 2 debate

43:55 • 54sec

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Ashley: film is anti-Kerala propaganda

44:49 • 4min

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How propaganda shifts goalposts

49:08 • 1min

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Free speech vs hate speech tension

50:30 • 4min

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Organized networks behind the film

54:08 • 2min

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Rhinoceritis: normalizing mass demonization

55:41 • 5min

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Film's misogyny and women’s agency

01:00:13 • 6min

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Endgame: militarization and homogenization

01:05:48 • 5min

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Why counter-propaganda struggles

01:11:01 • 1min

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Who opposes the film and how

01:12:03 • 4min

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Final reflections on threats and responses

01:16:30 • 3min

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Recommendations and closing picks

We the People of India

Decoding a Nation's Symbols

T.M. Krishna

T. M. Krishna's 'We the People of India: Decoding a Nation's Symbols' examines the origins, histories, and cultural significances of the symbols that define modern India, from the flag to the emblem and beyond. Drawing on his experiences as an artist and public intellectual, Krishna interrogates how these symbols have been used, appropriated, and reimagined across political contexts. The book blends historical research with contemporary commentary to consider how symbols shape national identity and civic life. Through accessible prose and critical reflection, Krishna encourages readers to reconsider taken-for-granted narratives about nationhood and belonging. The work aims to foster a more inclusive and reflective understanding of India's pluralistic traditions and constitutional values.

The Illicit Happiness of Other People

Jeet Thayil

Jeet Thayil's 'The Illicit Happiness of Other People' is a poignant novel about the aftermath of a young man's suicide and its effects on his family, particularly his father and the surrounding urban milieu. The narrative blends dark humor and lyrical observation to probe themes of loss, longing, and the quest for meaning amidst personal tragedy. Thayil's writing captures the textures of city life and the inner turmoil of characters wrestling with guilt and bewilderment. The novel earned critical acclaim for its emotional honesty and stylistic grace, further establishing Thayil as an important contemporary voice in Indian English literature. Its spare yet evocative prose offers a moving study of human frailty and the complexities of familial love.

#849

• Mentioned in 42 episodes

The Shining

Stephen King

In 'The Shining,' Stephen King tells the story of the Torrance family—Jack, Wendy, and their young son Danny—who move into the isolated Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies. Jack, a recovering alcoholic and aspiring writer, takes the job as the hotel's winter caretaker to overcome his personal demons and reconnect with his family. However, the hotel, with its dark and violent history, exerts a malevolent influence on Jack, exploiting his weaknesses and threatening his family. Danny, who possesses psychic abilities known as 'the shining,' is particularly vulnerable to the hotel's supernatural forces. As the winter isolates them, the family faces terrifying events that culminate in a tragic confrontation with the hotel's evil presence.

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A History of Nazi Germany

William L. Shirer

This book is a monumental study based on extensive documentation, including testimony from Nazi leaders and concentration camp inmates, diaries of officials, transcripts of secret conferences, army orders, and private letters. Shirer spent five and a half years sifting through this massive documentation to create a definitive record of one of the most frightening chapters in human history. The book explores how Hitler's regime came to power, its impact on Germany and the world, and its eventual downfall. It is widely acclaimed as the definitive work on Nazi Germany and has won several awards, including the National Book Award for Nonfiction.

The man who loved children

Christina Stead

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Bonnie Garmus

Lessons in Chemistry follows Elizabeth Zott, a self-taught chemist working in the 1950s and 1960s, a time when women were undervalued in the scientific community. After being forced out of her doctoral program and facing numerous challenges, Elizabeth finds herself as the reluctant star of a popular TV cooking show called 'Supper at Six.' Her unique approach to cooking, combining chemistry with everyday life, proves revolutionary and inspires women to challenge societal norms. The book is a humorous, observant, and vibrant tale of a woman who refuses to accept the status quo and instead dares to change it.

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna first discuss the Karnataka government’s plan to ban teenagers from using mobile phones. They are joined by policy researcher Tara Krishnaswamy, child psychologist Sama Adil, and Adhira S Magesh, a teenager who is a Karate black belt holder and enthusiastic baker. In the second part of the discussion, the hosts delve into the upcoming film The Kerala Story 2 and its polarising politics. They are joined by professor, writer, and activist NP Ashley.

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

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Check out the recommendations and references from this episode.

Audio Timecodes

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:01:15 - Headlines

00:09:32- Mobile Ban

00:43:49 - Kerala Story 2

1:19:57 - Recommendations

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

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