Is there anti-incumbency after a decade in power? Can the Congress convert its recent momentum into votes? Will the BJP’s targeted strategy pay off? How are voter expectations shifting from welfare to jobs?

In this episode of #LetMeExplain, Pooja Prasanna and Lakshmi Priya travel across Kerala to unpack the 5 big questions that could decide the 2026 verdict.

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So where does this money come from? And how is it actually used?

In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna breaks down the hidden economy of Indian elections, from cash distribution and booth operations to funding networks and voter targeting.

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Kerala BJP vice president and Guruvayur candidate B Gopalakrishnan framed the election around religious identity, raising concerns about whether such appeals violate India’s Model Code of Conduct.

Critics argue that elections are meant to focus on governance and policy — not religious representation. They also point out that constituencies across India, from Ajmer to Velankanni, have long elected representatives from different faiths without controversy.

In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna breaks down what was said, why it may violate election rules, and how religion is being brought into campaign politics.

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The 2026 reset: Assam to Puducherry Election Fund: https://rzp.io/rzp/zTQadhQFFT

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While many political leaders and film stars have congratulated him, critics say honouring someone facing such accusations sends a troubling message to women in the arts and media industries. 

Writers and musicians have also questioned whether his work merits the award. 

In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna breaks down the allegations, the reactions, and why the Jnanpith decision is controversial.

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Opposition parties moved a motion to remove Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, accusing him of partisan conduct, citing suspensions of over 120 MPs and limiting debates. The motion was defeated, but the controversy continues. 

Meanwhile, opposition leaders are preparing a move against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, raising concerns over voter roll revisions and transparency in the Election Commission of India. 

Why are these institutions under scrutiny, and how difficult is it to remove officials holding these positions? Pooja Prasanna explains. 

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But what exactly are TRPs? How do television ratings work in India? And why do these numbers matter so much to news channels?

In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna breaks down the business model behind prime-time television news — from dramatic war graphics and studio “war rooms” to the advertising money that fuels the race for ratings.

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Police arrested Pidathala Satyam Babu, who was later convicted and sentenced to life.

But years later, the Andhra Pradesh High Court criticised the investigation, acquitted him, and ordered a reinvestigation.

The case was handed to the CBI in 2018. Investigators revisited evidence and even exhumed Ayesha’s body more than a decade after her death.

But in 2026, the court accepted the CBI’s closure report, saying there was no evidence to prosecute anyone. Nearly two decades later, the case has no accused.

In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna breaks down how a case that once had a life sentence ended with no one to prosecute.

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From ominous background scores during namaz scenes to “rate cards” straight out of old conspiracy forwards, The Kerala Story 2 doubles down on fear, spectacle and panic. 

Three states. Three women. One sweeping thesis about love, conversion, progressive parenting and who the “real” villains are. 

In this special episode of #LetMeExplain, @PoojaPrasanna4 breaks down the propaganda patterns, the symbolism, the beef controversy, the bulldozer hero entry and why this sequel may be more polished, and more dangerous. 

If you were planning to spend 2 hours and 15 minutes on this film, consider this your alternative.

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We examine the ecosystem behind The Kerala Story films. This includes public statements by an RSS-linked cultural organisation that says it supported the ideation of such movies as part of “nation-building.” We also look at the production house’s CSR donation to a trust run by a figure associated with anti-conversion campaigns. And we explore the wider network that frames interfaith relationships as a threat.

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Produced by Megha Mukundan, Script by Dhanya Rajendran, Inputs by Nandini Chandrashekar, Camera by Ajay R, Edit by Nikhil Sekhar ET, Graphics by Dharini Prabharan

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But this is not just about one festival or one channel.

Across India, a growing number of YouTube platforms are using a similar format: provoke in public, frame suspicion as reporting, upload quickly, and monetise outrage. From Telangana to Karnataka, Tamil Nadu to Kerala, isolated incidents are increasingly communalised online — often without evidence.

In this week’s Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna examines how hate is produced, amplified, defended, and normalised on YouTube, and why the consequences don’t stay online.

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But the Central Bureau of Investigation has now concluded that there is no evidence she was pressured to convert. Multiple videos recorded at her hospital bed show she spoke about abuse and academic stress not conversion. Only one later video mentioned conversion, and that clip was amplified, triggering protests and communal outrage.

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The Epstein files also offer a look into how he stayed connected to powerful people long after his crimes were known.

In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna explains why Indian names appear in these documents and what the records actually show about figures like Anil Ambani, Hardeep Singh Puri, Ravi Mantha, and Deepak Chopra. None of them are accused of crimes in the files, but the material reveals how Epstein continued to function as a fixer and broker of access.

We also look at how misinformation and AI-generated images are distorting public understanding, and why the real story keeps getting lost: the survivors who were abused, ignored, and failed by institutions for decades.

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One year later, the SIT chargesheet and government lab reports tell a very different story.

Two premier institutions, ICAR National Dairy Research Institute and NDDB CALF, found no animal fat in the ghee samples tested. No lard. No beef tallow. No fish oil. 

Instead, the reports point to vegetable oil adulteration using palm oil and related fats, along with chemical additives to mimic real ghee.

So how did a case of food adulteration turn into a nationwide religious controversy?

In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna breaks down what the chargesheet reveals.

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Mamankam, a gathering in Kerala that once centred on power, trade and multiple communities is now being projected as a “Kerala’s Kumbh Mela.”

Mamankam was not a Hindu pilgrimage. It was a secular, political and ritual assembly where kingship was contested and Muslims were part of its structure.

So what does it mean when Mamankam is rebranded as Kumbh?

In this episode of Let Me Explain, we hit the ground to bring you the real story and unpack how a plural past is being reshaped into a singular religious narrative.

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Producer: by Megha Mukundan, Script: Pooja Prasanna, Megha Mukundan, Reporting: Haritha Manav, Megha Mukundan, Camera: Ajay R, Megha Mukundan, Edit: Nikhil Sekhar ET

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In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna breaks down what really happened behind the NTV controversy, why allegations of business and political rivalries entered the newsroom, and what this episode reveals about media ownership in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

This isn’t just about one channel or one broadcast. It’s about what happens when media houses are owned by powerful business interests, when editorial lines shift with political power, and when journalism turns into leverage instead of public service.

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In a BBC interview, Rahman cautiously used the word “communal” while speaking about why his work in Hindi cinema has reduced in recent years. He did not make an accusation or draw a conclusion. But the reaction to that single word was swift.

Very quickly, the conversation stopped being about music or the industry and became about Rahman’s identity and patriotism.

In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna breaks down what Rahman actually said, how his words were turned around, and why the reaction ended up proving his point. This episode is not just about A.R. Rahman. It is about how easily a conversation about work becomes a test of belonging in India today.

Produced by Bhuvan Malik, Edit by Jaseem Ali, Script by Pooja Prasanna, Camera by Ajay R.

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A six-year research project led by Dr. Felix Pal from the University of Western Australia mapped over 2,500 organisations linked to the Sangh across India and the world. The Caravan magazine fact-checked the data and published it as an interactive map, revealing how the RSS builds influence quietly through social infrastructure rather than just politics.

In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna breaks down how the Sangh operates through schools, hostels, unions, media, and diaspora organisations, shaping communities and narratives both at home and abroad.

Watch to understand how the RSS wields power through everyday institutions and a global network of affiliated organisations.

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In September 2020, Umar Khalid was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for an alleged conspiracy behind the Delhi riots. Five years later, the trial has still not begun. There is no conviction, no verdict, and no finding of guilt. Yet he continues to remain in jail.

In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna unpacks how the UAPA makes bail harder than conviction, how delay turns into punishment, and how protest and political speech are treated as conspiracy.

Produced by Megha Mukundan, Script by Lakshmi Priya, Camera by Ajay R, Edit by Nikhil Sekhar ET

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The claim is being used to suggest a simple story: fiscal failure in one state, discipline in the other.

But is that really how numbers are read?

In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna puts the debt figures in context. Because debt, by itself, tells us very little. What matters is how large an economy is, how fast it is growing, how much revenue it raises, and what that borrowing is used for.

Produced by Megha Mukundan, Script by Pooja Prasanna, Camera by Ajay R, Edit by Nikhil Sekhar ET, Graphics by Dharini Prabharan

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Much of this money came from large corporate donors, many operating in sectors heavily dependent on government contracts, approvals, subsidies, or regulation. This includes major business groups such as L&T, Tata Group, Megha Engineering (MEIL), and Mahindra Group.

Many donors were also the companies under regulatory scrutiny, or recipients of major government contracts.

What does it say about quid pro quo? What does this level of financial dominance mean for electoral competition and democratic accountability? Pooja Prasanna explains in this week’s Let Me Explain. 

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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, Script by Pooja Prasanna, Edited by Dharini Prabaharan.

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The 2017 actor assault verdict has split Kerala. While six men were convicted for abducting and sexually assaulting an actor, Dileep, the alleged mastermind was acquitted of conspiracy charges. 

Protests followed, and the survivor issued a public statement saying justice felt incomplete. In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna breaks down what the court accepted, what it rejected, and why proving criminal conspiracy is so difficult under Indian law. 

➡️ Read our coverage of the case here: https://www.thenewsminute.com/topic/tnm-special-stories-kerala-actor-assault-case

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TNM’s reporter was on the ground documenting how activists from BJP, RSS, Hindu Munnani and other right-wing groups mobilised from across Tamil Nadu. How did this mobilisation happen? What is the controversial court order? Pooja Prasanna explains in this week’s Let Me Explain.

Read our ground reports here: 

https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/ground-report-the-organised-sangh-mobilisation-behind-the-thirupurakundram-unrest

https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/ayodhya-of-the-south-a-timeline-of-time-immemorial

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Produced by Megha Mukundan, Script by Pooja Prasanna, Research by Azeefa Fathima, Reporting by Abhishek Vijayan, Camera by Ajay R, Satish, Edit by Nikhil Sekhar ET, Dharini Prabharan

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This episode looks closely at both sides of the story: the opportunities that factory work has created for women, and the deep inequalities that continue to structure their labour. Through ground reports and conversations with workers, union organisers, and economists, we unpack what Tamil Nadu’s model has achieved and what still remains unresolved.

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In Karnataka, the five guarantee schemes — Shakti, Gruha Lakshmi, Gruha Jyoti, Anna Bhagya and Yuva Nidhi — have reshaped how women move, work, spend and decide. Two major studies now give us the clearest picture of what changed on the ground. A 151% rise in women’s bus travel. Better spending on food and healthcare. Reduced household stress. New access to work and education.

In the 100th episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna travels across Karnataka to understand how intentional welfare has shifted women’s lives and what it means for public policy.

Let Me Explain just turned 100! A hundred attempts to cut through noise. A hundred times we asked the questions that needed asking.

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From travelling in unreserved train coaches to lifting the trophy before packed stands, this is a story of grit, resilience, and history rewritten.

But behind the celebrations lies another story, of unequal pay, limited matches, and a cricketing system that still treats women as an afterthought.

In this week’s Let Me Explain, Dhanya Rajendran looks beyond the trophy to trace the long, uneven journey of women’s cricket in India — from the forgotten years of the WCAI to the billion-rupee WPL — and asks whether this World Cup win will finally bring the change Indian cricket has long owed its women.

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In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna breaks down how the BJP–JD(S) alliance is transforming old Mysuru into a new political and communal battleground, and what it means for Karnataka politics.

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Produced by Megha Mukundan, Script by Pooja Prasanna, Edited by Nikhil Sekhar ET, graphics by Vignesh Manickam, Camera by Ajay R

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From the Warangal acid attack case in 2008 to the Disha case in 2019, Sajjanar has come to symbolise “instant justice.” But when a man accused of extra-judicial killings is rewarded, what does that say about our justice system?

This is not just one man’s story. It’s about a country that celebrates vengeance as justice, and the growing impunity of those in uniform.

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Produced by Megha Mukundan, edited by Nikhil Sekhar ET, script by Lakshmi Priya, research by Anjana Meenakshi, camera by Ajay R

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In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna unpacks how Suresh Gopi took his mass-hero energy from the movie set to Parliament. From his image as a generous philanthropist who built homes and funded surgeries, to his temper with journalists and theatrics in political life — this is the story of an actor who never really left the screen.

Why did Kerala, a state known for its strong secular politics, vote for the BJP? How did Suresh Gopi’s emotional connect and celebrity appeal achieve what decades of political strategy couldn’t? And what happens when the line between reel and real starts to blur?

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Produced by Megha Mukundan, edited by Nikhil Sekhar ET, script & research by Lakshmi Priya, camera by Ajay R

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In Madhya Pradesh, doctors raised warnings weeks before tests confirmed contamination in the drug ‘Coldrif’, but state and central regulators cleared the drug as safe. Tamil Nadu’s lab later found nearly 50% DEG. 

This isn’t India’s first such tragedy — similar cough syrup deaths have occurred since 1972. In this week’s Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna explains how repeated negligence, weak regulation, and political influence continue to let poisonous medicines reach patients. 

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Produced by Megha Mukundan, research by Maria Teresa Raju, script by Lakshmi Priya, Edited by Nikhil Sekhar ET, graphics by Vignesh Manickam, camera by Ajay R

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But Karur is not an isolated accident. From RCB’s victory parade in Bengaluru to Pushpa 2 promotions in Hyderabad, to temple festivals to the Mahakumbh Mela—India’s obsession with massive crowds keeps ending in stampedes.

Why do organisers and leaders chase head-counts while neglecting safety? Why are guidelines ignored despite decades of repeated disasters? And why does accountability vanish the moment lives are lost?

In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna breaks down the anatomy of a stampede: What went wrong at Vijay’s rally, how India repeatedly fails at crowd safety, and what it will take to prevent the next disaster.

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In this week’s Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna dives into why India’s over-reliance on Trump’s personal rapport backfired, how high tariffs are affecting Indian exports, and why Indian IT companies and workers face a double whammy with new outsourcing taxes on the horizon. This is not just about diplomacy, it’s about jobs, livelihoods, and the global future of India’s workforce.

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Why has the BJP failed to make real inroads in Tamil Nadu, even as it dominates much of India? From Dravidian politics and Tamil identity to Murugan yatras and cultural strategies, Pooja Prasanna unpacks why the state resists BJP’s playbook in this episode of Let Me Explain; the history, the ideological clash, and BJP’s current game plan as Tamil Nadu heads to the polls.

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Producer: Megha Mukundan

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Critics argue that her identity and past remarks make her unfit for the role, while supporters see it as a step toward inclusivity. But at its core, this controversy raises deep questions about religion, culture, and identity in Karnataka. 

From historical clashes to modern political posturing, Pooja Prasanna unpacks the complexities surrounding Mysuru’s most iconic event, in this week’s Let Me Explain.

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Produced by Megha Mukundan, script by Lakshmi Priya and Pooja Prasanna, camera by Ajay R, edited by Nikhil Sekhar ET, graphics by Dharini Prabharan.

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From X Spaces where Malayali right-wing voices urge Hindus to “arm themselves,” to YouTube’s Hindutva Pop songs with lyrics that glorify violence and rack up millions of monetised views, hate is being amplified, monetised, and often slipping past platform checks.

Unchecked sexist tirades, conspiracy theories, and calls for violence spill out from these spaces into the real world, amplified by media outlets, legitimised by repetition, and turned into political currency.

This week on Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna unpacks how hate spreads from chatrooms to streets, the role of platforms in fuelling and profiting from it, and what the law and the Supreme Court have said about the threat it poses to India’s secular fabric.

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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, script by Lakshmi Priya, camera by Ajay R, edited by Dharini Prabhaharan ET, graphics by Vignesh Manickam.

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From Padosan (1968) to Shah Rukh Khan’s “curd noodles” in Ra.One, and now Janhvi Kapoor’s “Thekkapetta Sundari” which literally means “dumped beauty” in Param Sundari, the tropes remain the same. 

Loud voices, broken Hindi, exaggerated accents, and token visuals of jasmine and coconuts are passed off as representation. This week on Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna unpacks Bollywood’s long history of stereotyping, the cultural hierarchy it reflects, and the few times Hindi cinema got it right — when characters were written and performed with context and care.

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But can underground car-only corridors really solve congestion? Critics warn it could drain ₹85,000 crore, worsen the city’s ecology, and undermine public transport investments. From flooding risks to environmental concerns, and from hefty tolls to Metro ridership losses, the plan has drawn sharp opposition. 

In this episode of Let Me Explain, @poojaprasanna68 examines the red flags, the alternatives, and why Bengaluru’s real fix may lie in buses, Metro, and suburban rail—not tunnels.

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This week on Let Me Explain, we hit the ground in Mahadevapura, and Kerala’s Thrissur, uncovering fake voters in a single address and duplicate EPIC IDs across states. From a brewery with 68 voters to IDs active in three states, the rot runs deep.

If the rolls are flawed, the game is rigged before the first vote is cast.

How did these anomalies go unchecked by the Election Commission? What does it mean for our democracy? Pooja Prasanna brings you the full picture from the ground in this week’s Let Me Explain.

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His remarks are not an isolated misstep, and it is not the first time he has landed in controversy. It comes from a long pattern of exclusion in Malayalam cinema - right from its first heroine Rosy being outcasted for her caste. 

In this week’s Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna examines the caste lines in Malayalam and Tamil cinema, traces the history and breaks down the moments when the industries challenged caste norms. 

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On July 31, 2025, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) uncovered partial human remains from a site near the Nethravathi river in Dharmasthala. This location was among 13 identified by a former sanitation worker who alleged he had buried unidentified bodies there between 1995 and 2014.

How many sites are being examined? What do official records show about unidentified deaths in the area? What have local authorities said about burial practices? 

In this episode of Let Me Explain, TNM’s Pooja Prasanna and Shivani Kava report on the confirmed findings, official statements, and next steps in the investigation.

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In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna breaks down Dhankhar’s dramatic exit and how he turned what was supposed to be a neutral constitutional role into a highly polarising one. 

From defending the RSS and attacking the judiciary to shutting down Opposition demands, we look at his controversial tenure and the questions his resignation raises.

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Producer: Megha Mukundan

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GFX: Vignesh Manickam

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Script: Lakshmi Priya

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This isn’t the first controversy involving the temple. In 2012, a teenager named Sowjanya was raped and murdered in Ujire, a village in Dakshina Kannada district. But each time media houses and activists raised their voices, they were silenced using gag orders and ex parte injunctions.

In this special episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna and Shivani Kava travel to Dharmasthala to break down the new allegations, speak to families of the missing, and examine how legal restrictions have stifled media coverage and public discourse over the years.

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In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna breaks down the new allegations and explains how the media and activists have been restrained by courts over the years.

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But this is not an isolated incident. From Punjab 95, to Santosh, Nasir, and Sitaare Zameen Par, a disturbing pattern is emerging: films that challenge caste, state power, or religious ideas are being stalled or sliced up. 

In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna looks at how the Central Board of Film Certification is quietly censoring the truth. It’s not just films under the knife — it’s freedom of expression.

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But the excavation has also been caught in a political storm. Lead archaeologist K Amarnath Ramakrishna has faced multiple transfers, including one just weeks after he refused to revise his report. So what’s at stake here? Why are findings from a 6-metre-deep trench in Tamil Nadu making headlines? 

Here is the full episode to understand why this dig could change the way we see Indian history.

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