Reporting Live - Movie Review

Good Intent, Slack Script

A bridge collapses in Visargaon and children die. Sandhya Yadav (Parineeti Chopra), a reporter with the Mumbai news channel Azaad Bharati, rushes to cover it with her cameraman Vinod Sharma (Deven Bhojani). Shiva kaka (Amol Palekar), a villager whose son died in sand mining, points them to the real story: an illegal sand mafia.

Debutant director Dhruv Tripathi, who co-wrote the film with Mihir Jadhav, picks a subject Indian cinema rarely touches. Sand is called "brown gold" here, and the film makes you see why. At 1 hour 56 minutes, it moves briskly.

Sandhya is fearless and hungry for the truth, and Parineeti plays her with conviction. Vinod is the pragmatic anchor, and the warmth between the two is the best thing in the film.

The newsroom politics are its sharpest idea. Vidur (Adil Hussain), Editor-in-Chief of Azaad Bharati, represents the spirit of journalism and is the most dependable presence on screen. 

Shyam (Shekhar Suman), the channel owner, represents the business side, and he is convincing. Their tussle deserved more screen time.

Velraj (Nassar), the business tycoon, is the weak link. He appears too little to build fear, and the writing gives him no menace until late. The danger does get personal once the duo close in, but the film takes too long to get there. 

The investigation follows familiar turns, and the music and lighting do little to build tension. Then comes the best stretch of the film. The duo are dismissed from the channel, yet they carry on investigating privately and bring the company to public view. 

Would Velraj take that lightly? Will he spare the duo, or hunt them down? Watch the movie to know the climax.

I seriously believe there is scope for a sequel, if the director wishes to. 

However, It would need a lot more gripping screenplay, tighter pace and a villain who is felt in every scene. The foundation is already there: two lovable leads, a live subject and an ending that opens a door.

Critics are split. 

Some find it socially aware and engaging, others call it predictable. Both are right. It is earnest, watchable and let down by writing that plays safe.

Reporting Live is streaming now on Netflix. Watch it for Sandhya and Vinod, and for the final act.