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Bill 2026: BJP’s war on self-identification & KD The Devil song: Why does misogyny still get a free pass? | South Central 67

Mar 20, 2026

Guest

Arvind Narrain, legal activist and founder of the Alternative Law Forum, explains how the Transgender Persons Amendment narrows self-identification and adds medical gatekeeping. Sukanya Shaji, Associate Editor at The News Minute, and Shivani Kawa, TNM senior reporter, dissect the KD: The Devil song controversy, probing item-song mechanics, the male gaze, translation issues and Kannada industry responses.

01:20:40

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insights

INSIGHT

Two Stage Certification Replaces Self Declaration

The bill forces applicants to obtain a certificate from a medical-government board and then seek recognition from a district magistrate.
Arvind highlights this dual-level scrutiny substitutes state control for the previously recognised self-declaration process.

insights

INSIGHT

Coercion Language Echoes Anti Conversion Laws

The amendment uses language like 'coercion, allurement, inducement, deceit and undue influence', mirroring anti-conversion laws.
Arvind and Dhanya warn this gives families and authorities a legal weapon to challenge transitions and support conservative control.

insights

INSIGHT

Existing Identity Certificates Likely Remain Valid

The amendment appears not to state retrospective application, so existing ID recognitions technically remain valid from their issuance.
Arvind notes the law 'doesn't have retrospective application' but community uncertainty remains high about practical effects.

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Why the Transgender Bill Sparks Protests

11:18 • 1min

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Nalsa Judgment and Self-Identification

12:22 • 1min

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How the 2019 Act Defined Transgender

13:23 • 26sec

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Amendment Narrows Who Counts as Transgender

13:50 • 4min

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Replacing Self-Identification With Medical Boards

17:31 • 3min

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Medicalized Language and Harmful Terms

20:08 • 1min

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Coercion Clause Mirrors Anti-Conversion Laws

21:33 • 3min

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No Evidence Given For The Amendment

24:55 • 4min

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Legal Remedies and Supreme Court Jurisprudence

28:29 • 3min

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Politics Behind the Bill

31:40 • 5min

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Community Response and Ground Mobilization

36:30 • 2min

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How People Can Help Fight the Bill

38:47 • 4min

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Transition to Second Topic: KD's Controversial Song

43:15 • 1min

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What Sparked the KD Song Outrage

44:28 • 2min

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Translation, Context and Kannada Originals

46:40 • 2min

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Selective Outrage and Industry Double Standards

49:00 • 2min

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The Male Gaze and Item Song Mechanics

51:15 • 5min

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Female Desire, Feminine Gaze, and Audience Reaction

56:00 • 3min

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Commercial Pressures Fuel Problematic Songs

59:12 • 3min

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Need for Diverse Creators and Perspectives

01:01:57 • 6min

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Regional Industry Critique and Kannada Takeaways

01:08:00 • 6min

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Recommendations and Further Reading

• Mentioned in 6 episodes

A Hymn to Life

Shame Has to Change Sides

Gisèle Pelicot

Judith Perrignon

In this extraordinary memoir, Gisèle Pelicot shares her story of being systematically drugged with tranquilizers for a decade by her ex-husband Dominique Pelicot, who then raped her and arranged for dozens of men contacted online to assault her while she was unconscious. The book chronicles her journey from discovering the abuse in 2020 through the highly publicized 2024 trial in Avignon, where she made the historic decision to waive her anonymity and allow the proceedings to be public. Pelicot's account has inspired millions worldwide and become a rallying point for the movement to end sexual violence against women.

Your Stick Cannot Break My Strength

Sunil Mohan

This memoir chronicles the author's journey as a trans man engaging in activism, crisis intervention, and gender politics in India. It combines personal narrative with political critique, examining masculinity, identity, and community organizing. The book offers insight into the challenges faced by transgender individuals in social and institutional contexts while reflecting on strategies for resilience and resistance. Through candid storytelling and analysis, the author situates personal experiences within broader movements for rights and recognition. The memoir contributes to queer and transgender literature in the Indian context.

Muddu Palani, the woman who had no reason for shame

Manu Pillai

The work examines the life and writings of Muddu Palani, an 18th-century courtesan and poet, highlighting her erotic poetry and cultural contributions. It situates her within historical debates over morality, censorship, and the female voice in South Asian literary history. The piece argues for recognizing Muddu Palani's artistry and the value of female perspectives in literary canons. Through historical analysis and textual examples, it challenges shame-based narratives surrounding women's sexuality. The essay is presented as a corrective to neglect and moralistic readings of women's literary production.

The Muslim Vanishes

Syed Nakhui

The book examines narratives and anxieties around the changing presence and representation of Muslim communities in India. It blends reportage, analysis, and possibly fiction to explore themes of identity, erasure, and cultural memory. The author engages with socio-political developments shaping communal relations and public discourse. The work aims to prompt reflection on how communities are perceived and the consequences of those perceptions. It serves as a provocation to think critically about demographic and cultural narratives.

#2724

• Mentioned in 17 episodes

The Left Hand of Darkness

Ursula K. Le Guin

In this groundbreaking novel, Ursula K. Le Guin delves into the society of Gethen, a planet where the inhabitants are androgynous and only enter a state of sexual arousal once a month. The story follows Genly Ai, an envoy from the Ekumen, as he navigates the complexities of Gethenian culture and politics. The novel is a profound exploration of gender, identity, and the human condition, challenging traditional notions of masculinity and femininity.

#291

• Mentioned in 89 episodes

Greenlights

Matthew McConaughey

Greenlights is a candid and unconventional memoir by Matthew McConaughey. The book blends wild stories, life lessons, and poetic insights, offering a roadmap to catching more 'greenlights'—those moments when everything in life seems to go your way. McConaughey draws on his 36 years of journaling to share his approach to living, which emphasizes recognizing and embracing the greenlights in life, even when they are disguised as yellow or red lights. The book is a celebration of life, gratitude, and self-dedication, and it provides practical advice on navigating life's challenges and finding success and happiness.

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 377 to be struck down. Joining in is also Rumi Harish, a musician and a queer, trans, masculine and social justice activist. In the second part of the episode, the hosts discuss the controversy over the lyrics of the new song from the movie KD: The Devil, and the problematic gaze of ‘item songs’. They are joined by TNM senior reporter Shivani Kava and Associate Editor Sukanya Shaji.

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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Audio Timecodes

00:00:00 - Introductions

00:02:21 - Headlines

00:11:20 - Trans Bill 2026

00:43:16 - KD Song Lyrics

01:13:56 - Recommendations

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

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