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The primetime Indian TV journalist, Ravish Kumar, is in trouble.
Famous for his unflinching takedowns of the ruling establishment during his long-running primetime news hour, his nerves have begun to fray from carrying the torch of good journalism for too long. In the public eye, Ravish has become a regular fixture, beaming from TV sets and widely shared phone videos. His primetime news bulletin has long been characterised by solid research, verified evidence, vignette-style notes from the field, and a sharp commentary with a touch of rustic riposte. In the Indian media landscape, Kumar’s show is a far cry from the new industry standard of high-decibel, polarising, blustering TV news debates.
As press freedom further disintegrates and self-censorship becomes the new normal, Kumar struggles to stay afloat in the rising tide of his own network’s financial hardships, sinking television ratings, and the strain of continuous downsizing. The dangerously deteriorating standard of public discourse finds Ravish at the receiving end of harassment, intimidation, morphed images, threats to his life and even violence against his family.
With a growing target on his back, and the looming threat of his network’s imminent closure, Ravish transforms from a spunky troublemaker into a deeply troubled man, worried for himself, his family, and the soul of his nation.
The Garden Cinema View:
Whilst rooted in a specific time and place (the lead up and aftermath of the 2019 Indian general election), While We Watched transcends that framework to confront globally recognisable concerns that envelop press freedom and journalist safety, disinformation and social media, and rising nationalism. Indeed, these strokes are painted so broadly that at times the actual minutiae of this divisive election feel glossed over. At its best, While We Watched resonates with the gripping immediacy of Laura Poitras’ Edward Snowdon documentary Citizenfour but this pace is at times exhaustingly unrelenting. Regardless, this is a timely portrait of a deeply sympathetic and admirable figure who has dedicated his life to journalistic integrity.