While We Watched

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.

About the director: Vinay Shukla

Vinay Shukla is widely regarded as one of the most important filmmakers of our era, an artist who molds the raw clay of society into films that mirror India’s present, its challenges, and its dreams. Fearless in his pursuit of truth, Vinay brings unprecedented access to history’s vital moments, turning them into cinematic landmarks. With groundbreaking works like the Peabody Award-winning While We Watched and the internationally acclaimed An Insignificant Man, he has redefined what is possible for Indian cinema. As co-founder of Memesys and producer of the SHASN board game series, Vinay continues to shape the cultural conversation and inspire a new generation.