While We Watched

Independent journalism is under pressure all over the world, and India too, is deep diving into the abyss. The primetime journalist Ravish Kumar, from the news channel NDTV, is trying to stand his ground against a tidal wave of fake news, falling ratings and the resulting cutbacks. But the ground is slipping out under him in a rapidly deteriorating news landscape. The industry standard is falling to high-decibel, polarizing, blustering TV news debates, where evidence is taking a backseat to sentiment.

In this urgent portrait of a newsroom, the camera follows tormented journalist Kumar for two years as he attends editorial meetings, reports on location, and appears on broadcasts. Will the budget cover sending out a journalist? Are there any viewers left who want to hear the fact-based analyses anymore? Will his show survive? Or will it become a swan song of reason—drowning out in sensationalism, misinformation, and ratings-driven editorial decisions?