Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
There is something rather ironic about Reporting Live. At a time when we are constantly debating the role of journalism, the media’s credibility and its ability to hold the powerful accountable, here is a film that pits two young journalists against a sand mafia, corporate bosses and a system that seems to have forgotten what newsrooms are supposed to do.
The thought is a great one, and the film’s belief that perseverance and honesty can eventually triumph over corruption is certainly worth holding on to. Unfortunately, a banal screenplay and uneven performances prevent this promising story from becoming the gripping newsroom drama it could have been.
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The film opens with Sandhya (Parineeti Chopra) and Vinod (Deven Bhojani), two enthusiastic journalists eager to get their stories on prime time. There is also a bonus at stake because, apparently, breaking news comes with its own employee incentive scheme. When their stories fail to impress the channel’s top bosses, we are introduced to a familiar newsroom conflict: reporters chasing stories while people in boardrooms worry about everything but the news. The film also introduces a senior journalist (Saswata Chatterjee) who is asked to leave because of his relentless pursuit of stories, establishing early on the battle between editorial integrity and corporate interests.
At the centre of this conflict is Adil Hussain’s editor-in-chief, a veteran journalist who has already sold his news channel to a corporate entity. He represents many professionals caught between their commitment to journalism and the realities of working within a system where business interests increasingly dictate editorial decisions.
The plot gathers momentum when a bus carrying schoolchildren and a pregnant teacher plunges into a river after a bridge collapses. The tragedy leads Sandhya and Vinod to investigate the sand mafia and the illegal extraction of sand from lakes and rivers, which can weaken bridges and endanger lives. It is a subject that deserves attention, and Reporting Live makes a sincere attempt to show how a seemingly distant racket can have devastating consequences for ordinary people.
Over the course of nearly a year, Sandhya and Vinod encounter obstacles, find unlikely allies and suffer personal losses before eventually making headway with their investigation. The film’s central idea is simple but effective: journalism requires persistence, and doing the right thing matters even when the system is stacked against you. There is something reassuring about a story that believes honesty and perseverance can make a difference, especially at a time when cynicism about the media comes easily.
The problem, however, is that Reporting Live makes the journey look far too easy. For a film about taking on a powerful and potentially dangerous nexus, there is surprisingly little tension. People appear when needed, circumstances fall into place, and the investigation moves forward with a convenience that makes you wonder whether the sand mafia is really as formidable as the film wants us to believe. You keep waiting for the stakes to rise. Instead, the screenplay moves from one development to another without allowing the struggle or the emotions to sink in.
And that is where the film loses its audience. Sandhya and Vinod are supposed to be passionate journalists, but their conviction rarely translates into a compelling screen experience. Their determination is often stated rather than demonstrated, making it difficult to connect with their mission. Even the personal tragedy that should give the story its emotional punch feels manufactured. The characters suffer, the screenplay expects us to feel their pain, and yet the emotional connection never quite happens. When a film about the human cost of corruption fails to make you feel that cost, something important is missing.
The performances, too, are a mixed bag. Parineeti Chopra has her moments, but her perpetually furrowed brow and the familiar Hindi journalist accent make Sandhya feel more like a constructed screen persona than a believable reporter. Deven Bhojani brings warmth to Vinod and makes him relatively easy to like, although he seems somewhat out of place in the role.
Hussain is the film’s most dependable presence, bringing a sense of lived-in experience to the editor-in-chief. Shekhar Suman, as the corporate boss, is sufficiently vicious in his behaviour, but the character never quite develops into the formidable antagonist this story needs. Amol Palekar also makes a cameo appearance and leaves an impression despite his limited screen time. So does Nassar.
Ultimately, Reporting Live deserves credit for choosing a subject that matters and for its faith in the power of journalism and the importance of asking difficult questions. But good intentions are only the beginning of a good story.
The narrative moves in a straight line, with few genuine surprises, little dramatic tension and no real emotional high when the journalists finally make their breakthrough. You want to applaud Sandhya and Vinod for their persistence, but the film never quite earns that applause.
For a story about reporters determined to make their voices heard, Reporting Live has a rather unfortunate problem of its own. It has something important to say but struggles to make you feel it.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
