ABOUT THE FILM

LOGLINE

A turbulent newsroom drama intimately chronicling the working days of broadcast journalist Ravish Kumar as he navigates a spiralling world of truth and disinformation. As factual reporting is in freefall globally, While We Watched is a dignified lens into the abyss.

LONG SYNOPSIS

The Prime Time Indian TV journalist, Ravish Kumar, is in trouble.

Famous for his unflinching takedowns of the ruling establishment during his long-running primetime news hour, his nerves have begun to fray from carrying the torch of ‘good journalism’ for too long. In the public eye, Ravish has become a regular fixture, beaming from TV sets and widely shared phone videos. His primetime news bulletin has long been characterized by solid research, verified evidence, vignette-style notes from the field, and a sharp commentary with a touch of rustic sass. In the Indian media landscape, Kumar’s show is a far cry from the new industry standard of high-decibel, polarizing, blustering TV news debates.

As press freedom further disintegrates and self-censorship becomes the new normal, Kumar struggles to stay afloat in the rising tide of his own network’s financial hardships, sinking TRP ratings, and the strain of continuous downsizing. The dangerously deteriorating standard of public discourse finds Ravish at the receiving end of harassment, intimidation, morphed images, threats to his life and even violence against his family.

With a growing target on his back, and the looming threat of his network’s imminent closure, Ravish transforms from a spunky troublemaker into a deeply troubled man, worried for himself, his family, and the soul of his nation.

Director Vinay Shukla

Writers Reshma Ramachandran, Amaan Shaikh, Vinay Shukla, Abhinav Tyagi

Producers Vinay Shukla, Khushboo Ranka, Luke W. Moody

Executive Producers Maxyne Franklin, Jess Search, Beadie Finzi, Vijay Vaidyanathan

Editor Abhinav Tyagi

Cinematographers Amaan Shaikh, Vinay Shukla

Music Joaquin Garcia

Cast Ravish Kumar, Sushil Bahuguna, Deepak Chaubey, Sushil Mohapatra, Swarolipi Sengupta, Saurabh Shukla

FESTIVALS
2022: Toronto International (World Premiere)
2022: Busan
2023: DOC NYC Short List

AWARDS
Amplify Voices Award (Toronto)
Cinephile Award (Busan)
IDA Awards Shortlist
Short List Directing Award; Short List Producing Award (DOC NYC) [first film to ever win both these prestigious awards]

AVAILABLE TERRITORIES
U.S. Only

EXHIBITION FORMATS
DCP