The Broken News Review: An enthralling drama which focuses on how the different news channels handle the same story
The Broken News Web Series Review: 3.5 stars
Just watched The Broken News Web Series on Zee5 Premium. So let’s analyze the cast, release date, story, positive/negatives and at last my personal view on this web series.
Cast: Jaideep Ahlawat, Sonali Bendre, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Indraneil Sengupta, Taaruk Raina, Sanjeeta Bhattacharya, Aakash Khurana, Faisal Rashid, Sukhmani Sadana, Srikant Yadav, Dinkar Sharma and Kiran Kumar
Director: Vinay Waikul
Release Date: 10th June 2022 (On Zee5 Premium)
Duration: 8 Episodes/ 35 Minutes
Story: This fictional drama, adapted from acclaimed writer Mike Bartlett’s BBC Studios Press which follows a dynamic group of journalists as they navigate the lives and struggles of two rival news channels.
Set in Mumbai, it focus on the the vicious editor-cum-anchor Dipankar Sanyal (Jaideep Ahlawat) of Josh 24/7 news channel and is only concerned with TRPs. His news channel is the no.1 in the country because it sensationalizes and sells news like nobody else. His channel owner is Ketan Kedia (Akash Khurrana) is the only person who has some control over him.
There is ethical editor-in-chief Amina Quershi (Sonali Bendre) of Awaaz Bharti which is one of the most credible news channels but low on TRPs. His news channel is a more righteous, sober channel that still believes in things like journalistic ethics and objectivity. Channel owner is Radhe Shyam Bansal (Kiran Kumar) who believes not to use money for any news.
Josh 24/7 has Praful Gupta (Jay Upadhyay), reporter Anuj Saxena (Taaruk Raina) and many others in his team while in Awaaz Bharti they have Kamal Wadia (Faisal Rashid), reporter Juhi Shergil (Sanjeeta Bhattacharya) and Pankaj Awasthi (Indraneil Sengupta). Between these two extreme personalities, there’s Radha Bhargava (Shriya Pilgaonkar) who believes in ethical journalism but is frustrated by the severe constraints that have been placed on her.
Dipankar loves her daughter Ahana Sanyal (Nidhie Menon) but about to divorce with his wife Arunima Sanyal (Sukhmani Sadana). She was planning to shift Dubai with Ahana but he wanted to be with her. He is currently living a with a girl Lisa (Shreya Mehta) to whom he paid money to be with her.
Radha is investigating into the death of her roommate-cum-colleague-cum-friend Julia Alvaris. Her investigation takes her to Operation Umbrella which is connected to home minister Atul Shinde (Srikant Yadav) and country one of biggest businessman Nandan Balchandaran (Dinkar Sharma). Radha is ready with the story while Dipankar has been asked to stop by Nandan. For that he ensures to help him to get his daughter from the best lawyers. What happen next is all about this series.
Positives
1. Excellent Performances
2. Climax
3. Screenplay
4. Story
5. Direction
Negatives
1. Length
2. Stretched
3. Unnecessary Sub-plot
Durgesh Tiwary’s View : When I watched the trailer planned to watch on premiere date time because it looks very interesting and engaging. Also I am big fan of Sonali Bendre.
It depicts rivalry between two Indian news channels based in Mumbai Awaaz Bharti News and Josh24/7 News. It reveals the lives, lies, love and struggles of a dynamic group of journalists.
The Broken News is kind of an in depth exploration of the media houses which the world knows nothing about. The only accessible things about them to the world is the frame that they see on Television. What happens Behind the scenes is a different monster altogether. The writing in the show that stars Sonali Bendre tries well to bring an authentic reflection of how a newsroom works and what goes into creating a story that you consume in a few minutes. It presents an unexpectedly gripping take on investigative journalism, with the plot drawing us in further as we go, and a big twist at the end truly shaking things up. The fight of ethical journalism also forms a major chunk of the narrative as the journalists wrestle between crossing the line and chasing the facts.
The show takes an effort to create a reel world that doesn’t brush shoulders with the real world, because we know what the condition of the latter is right now. The basic contrast of ideologies is enough to make you realise that it is indeed not that far away from reality. But what is the good factor is that they never at any point try to hide behind the bush. There is mention of the so called filth in Bollywood, a scam where the Government is putting privacy of its citizens at risk, and a journalist who is trying to sabotage this all. Everything making a good commentary but is subtle as well. The layering of the world doesn’t seem enough. While there is enough to be invested in the newsroom, these characters will finally go home after their working hours, right? And it is the home part of it that the show falls flat. The emotions their personal lives ride on are never explored enough.
The Broken News could’ve easily wrapped things up in 6 episodes instead of 8, or at least trimmed it to 8 episodes of 25-40 minutes each instead of 40 minutes. Additionally, some of the sub-plots are left dangling or feel rushed toward a haphazard conclusion. Halfway through the show fails to tap into any sort of emotions that shocking stories of rape, murder or sexual assault might evoke. It keeps in focus the power dynamics, lead characters’ backstory and newsroom drama that isn’t just enough to keep you hooked. While it does manage to keep you invested in Radha’s quest to always do right, it doesn’t necessarily generate the same reactions in other characters. Overall, series able to deliver another riveting thriller to the viewers. It may be a little low on execution, but it is a step up in terms of story twists and performances. Makers also spills some interesting beans about the upcoming season. My view on this series Highly Recommended.
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