I wrote this review of the documentary, While We Watched directed by Vinay Shukla some time ago, but it never got published. My editors at the time felt it was too bleak in its take on Indian journalism. But I wasn’t trying to be dramatic—I was simply describing what the film lays out with painful honesty. When I first watched it, the film wasn’t widely available. Now that it’s streaming on MUBI, it feels like the right moment to revisit it—and to finally have a deeper conversation about what’s really happening to journalism in India.

While We Watched shines an unflinching spotlight on the unsettling state of journalism in India. The film offers an unvarnished look into the life and work of one of the country’s most respected journalists, Ravish Kumar. Throughout, a deep sense of frustration is etched across Kumar’s face, mirroring the grim realities he confronts in his pursuit of honest reporting.

One of the film’s most telling moments comes during an awards ceremony, where a prominent anchor boldly declares that higher ratings equate to a better show. This candid admission encapsulates the rot at the heart of Indian media—a frenzied obsession with TRPs (Television Rating Points) that routinely eclipses journalistic integrity. As the documentary unfolds, it stirs a gnawing unease, not because it depicts a dystopian future, but because it reflects the harsh truth of the present.

The narrative also delves into Kumar’s personal struggles, painting a poignant portrait of the man behind the anchor desk—a devoted father and husband navigating an increasingly hostile professional landscape. Viewers witness the barrage of threats and vitriol hurled at him, with accusations ranging from “anti-national” to worse. Yet, his commitment to truth remains steadfast, as he continues to shine a light on stories that many would rather keep buried.

What’s particularly devastating is how the film captures a recurring pattern: stories are reported, but nothing changes. This inertia—this failure to convert truth into action—deepens the documentary’s overwhelming sense of despair. A striking motif of cake-cutting ceremonies punctuates the film, each ironically marking a moment of decline, particularly for NDTV, the once-revered news institution. The documentary meticulously charts its slow dismantling, culminating in its acquisition by the Adani Group—a symbolic turning point in the media landscape.

By the film’s end, any flicker of optimism about the future of Indian journalism feels extinguished. While We Watched is not merely a documentary; it’s a haunting elegy for a profession under siege. It serves as a sobering reminder of the urgency with which we must demand media that values truth over spectacle and courage over compliance.

P.S. My Letterboxd handle is @BhumikGrover.