MELBOURNE: A famous journalist in India once defined a journalist – as historian in a hurry. Little did he know what would happen in the technology driven future. Or, maybe, an emerging eco-system where the pursuit of truth is confronted by hostile nationalists. Embedded to technology and ideology, and backed by those in power, pro establishment competitive TV channels rule the roost. Director Vinay Shukla takes us to NDTV’s Ravish Kumar’s newsroom, a dwindling fort with a strong defender.
For those who have worked in a TV channel newsroom know one cannot escape pressure and rush. In fact, these days it is much more. The year here is 2019 and Ravish Kumar’s through his evening ‘Prime Time’, dares his wares. His anti-establishment stories laced with comments annoying those in power and their chums, known as ‘Godi media’ (Godi means lap in Hindi) make him anti-national or anti-patriotic. His phone number emerges on social media leading to massive swearing and filthy words.
Unlike Network (1976), While We Watched is not splashy and commercial. This documentary is purely focussed on Ravish Kumar, the Hindi journalist with a passion for truth. The camera follows him from home to newsroom. Bits with his spouse and daughter are weaved well.
Receiving the 2019 Raman Magsaysay award in 2019, is part of the documentary. “Despite all the perils and aggravations, Ravish has remained consistent in his effort to preserve and widen the space for a critical, socially responsible media. He sums up what he believes a journalist is in the most basic terms: “If you have become the voice of the people, you are a journalist.”, said the Ramon Magasysay Foundation
The documentary clearly brings out Ravish Kumar’s anger at the ‘Godi media’. This is a thread that moves throughout the film. This way he distinguishes himself from them. His stories are always not political but also touch social and economic issues plaguing the common people. If we remain silent, then we run away from truth, he says.
Umar Khalid, urban-naxals, nationalism, Pulwama incident, 2019 elections, the action against NDTV owners, NDTV financial woes, newsroom tensions… is part of the narrative. But the scenario has changed. NDTV is now owned by industrialist Gautam Adani and Ravish Kumar runs the Channel ‘Ravish Kumar Official’ on You Tube.
This simple but powerful documentary rooted in India, is a powerful message for the world. And, historians in a hurry are now in a different world. It speaks for itself.
I give it 4 and half stars out of five.
The documentary can be seen at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) – 2023 (11-20 August, 2023) https://www.iffm.com.au/
