Kerala: Shibimol KG Reports on CM Pinarayi Vijayan's Attack on Congress-BJP 'Tango' in Mattathur

Renowned filmmaker Sudha Kongara joins RD India Today to discuss her latest cinematic venture, Parasakthi, and her 26-year journey in the industry. Reflecting on the challenges of being a female director, Kongara highlights the 'male saviour' trope she navigated in Irudhi Suttru and expresses deep gratitude to actor Madhavan for his support during a career low. The conversation delves into the intense online harassment she faced following the release of Parasakthi, where she notes, "If you cannot kill a woman's dreams, you character assassinate her." Kongara also addresses the rigorous 20-day censorship battle involving 25 cuts to her film, which explores the 1960s anti-Hindi imposition student movement. Despite the hurdles, she emphasizes the importance of linguistic identity, stating that mother tongue and mother are inseparable. The director also clarifies her admiration for actor Vijay, dismissing rumors of a political clash despite their films' overlapping schedules.

On this India Today special report, the focus is on the escalating political battle in West Bengal between the BJP and the TMC. BJP spokesperson Dr. Chaturupa highlights the 'electric atmosphere' following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit, claiming the TMC is suffering from a 'fear psychosis' regarding the identification of non-Indian voters. She stated, 'The people who are on the roads, who have created these riots specifically for places as of the last 48 hours, are all the people who are going to be thrown out from the voters' list.' Political analyst Manojit Mondal countered these claims, accusing the BJP of using infiltration as a political tool and criticizing the Election Commission's SIR exercise for harassing genuine citizens. The debate further delved into allegations of corruption, demographic changes, and the recent incidents of violence in the state, reflecting the high-stakes environment ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.

This report provides an inside scoop on the crucial Congress meeting regarding the upcoming Tamil Nadu elections. Sources indicate that the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) remains firmly in favour of continuing its alliance with the DMK. The state party unit has reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of local leader Praveen Chakravarty. Furthermore, the committee is not supporting Lok Sabha MP Manickam Tagore’s demand for a power-sharing arrangement with the DMK. The speaker notes, 'Tamil Nadu Congress committee remains in favor of being in alliance with the DMK,' highlighting a preference for stability over the internal calls for cabinet berths. This development comes amidst intense speculation regarding the survival of the alliance and the influence of local leadership on the party's electoral strategy in the state.

In an interview with India Today, an interviewee discusses the escalating tensions in Iran and the potential for a transition of power. The speaker asserts that the current situation is not merely a call for regime change but a movement for the 'liberation of a nation from a foreign occupying murderous regime.' Highlighting the ongoing violence, the speaker notes, 'The regime has not stopped executing, lynching, killing people for the last 47 years.' The discussion covers the role of international intervention, the significance of the 'Javid Shah' slogans, and the position of Reza Pahlavi as a transitional leader. The interviewee argues that the Iranian people are determined to succeed regardless of international assistance, though they warn that a lack of support could lead to more bloodshed. The conversation also touches upon the economic impact of strikes and the rejection of the current Islamic leadership in favour of Iranian identity and self-determination.