EP-390 | John Brittas on Kerala Model, Hindutva Politics, Congress, Communism & Malayalam Cinema

John Brittas wears many hats: parliamentarian, journalist, Managing Director and Chief Editor of Malayalam Communications Limited, which runs Kairali TV and Kairali News. He is currently the CPI(M) Parliamentary Party Leader in the Rajya Sabha.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he speaks about the decline of communism in India and across the world, and why the Left struggles to connect with a wider audience today. He discusses the Kerala model, migration from the state, and Kerala’s social harmony.

He argues that Hindutva politics will not click in Kerala and says the BJP is unlikely to become a major force there in the near future. He also speaks about the Congress and claims it continues to follow a “right-wing economic ideology.”

The conversation also covers the India–US trade deal, the 2008 nuclear deal, the UPA era, Pinarayi Vijayan’s leadership, and the strength of Malayalam cinema.

00:00 – Introduction

01:11 – Why Communism is Failing in India

10:38 – Kerala’s Vibrant Culture

12:28 – How CPI(M) Is So Powerful in Kerala

23:55 – India–US Nuclear Deal

26:15 – India–US Trade Deal

33:08 – The Kerala Ecosystem

36:16 – Why Kerala Supports the Left

40:57 – Can Kerala Inspire a Left Revival?

43:23 – BJP’s Prospects in Kerala

52:55 – Religious Harmony in Kerala

58:20 – BJP’s Mayoral Win

1:05:14 – Life as a Journalist

1:10:56 – Malayalam Cinema

1:14:49 – Political Leadership in India

1:15:56 – Pinarayi Vijayan’s Leadership Style