While We Watched (2022) User Reviews

An eye opener

[movie_goer82 · 10/10 · 13 September 2022]

This is an eye opener on the current state of Indian news channels in 2022. India is constantly declining on Press freedom index and is currently on 142 place out of 180 countries. This is a matter of shame for largest democracy of the world.

There has been sharp decline in the credibility of the news channels since 2014.

Once media used to report and debate on the real issues faced by the citizen. Now, all toxic debates on religion are done to distract the viewers and polarize them.

The media is now not making it's viewers well informed, but well intolerant.

Ravish Kumar is the only news person left in the mainstream media who is still raising the relevant topics in his prime time. This documentary is all about the right kind of journalism he is doing, and the challenges created by the government to destroy the last ray of hope of Indian journalism.

A Must Watch for all and introspect.

Must watched everyone!

[gudiayadav-05738 · 10/10 · 14 September 2022]

Ravish Kumar is my favourite Journalist. Watch their documentary is great time in my life for me...

This documentary motivate any person who want to do right thing but situations are not good. How Ravish Kumar handling these hard situation as a brave man.. inspiring everyone.

Ravish kumar is icon of indian youth who love journalism. They read him, watch him, and get inspired for doing great work. Their work in Indian Hindi Journalism is milestone for upcoming years.

Ravish Kumar is voice of unemployed youths, farmers, daily workers, women and childrens , contractual workers, even though who working in organised sector but unable to present their view.

In future when modern history of journalism wrote Ravish Kumar shine like sun. Watch this and think why people love him ?

My favourite journalist based film.

[ashukr-31193 · 10/10 · 14 September 2022]

Ravish sir is awesome and his movie is great,his role in Indian media is very important in current situation all other media is not showing true news but ravish always show the truth through his show...and this movie perfectly described it ...iam watching him from last eight years.... this movie going to be blockbuster.....Ravish sir is awesome and his movie is great,his role in Indian media is very important in current situation all other media is not showing true news but ravish always show the truth through his show...and this movie perfectly described it ...iam watching him from last eight years.... this movie going to be blockbuster.....

An honest journalist ravish kumar no one can buy his honesty

[ksiraj-61833 · 10/10 · 17 September 2022]

Ravish Kumar is a brand in itself, his honestly is really worth no one can describe his courage, in this crucial time he also doing good on his primetime he never scared very ferocious This generation needs this kind of journalism and he is true example of journalism he greatest what he is, this documentary is telling everything we must proud this kind of journalist, while other news channel is puppets of bjp government they never bring anything for people they've appreciating modi for no reason but ravish sir is bring truth without any fear he's greatest and thanks to the director who created this documentary and must proud NDTV channel and their journalist and anchor/crew must watch this..

A must watch...!!!!

[rehman-38960 · 10/10 · 10 July 2023]

It's a must watch newsroom drama. Showcase the reality and struggles of journalism. Ravish Kumar in this Documentary is exceptional.

The first 30-40 minutes of the film move very fast. The editing is quick, scenes and locations transition fast. While We Watched gives the feel of a newsroom where different people, with different ideologies and beliefs, work together. Social media will have us believe that everything is black and white, but in the real world, adjustments and compromises have to be made. The film gets into the heart of that.

'While We Watched' is a vivid portrait of a man i.e. Ravish Kumar who reminds us that by knowing you are doing the right thing is its own reward.

A must watch for all

[thekumar-47375 · 10/10 · 30 July 2023]

Democracy is not easy to maintain. Taken for granted, unscrupulous beings find ways to exploit the naive and harrass those who speak the truth.

Strangely, it's not yet made available in ailing democracies of the world.

Also, a good reminder that failing democracies can't tolerate truth.

As journalists continue getting threats and harassment by goons hured by those in power, India has aged back continuously for a decade.

This is just summarising what happens with honest beings and the price one has to pay remaining honest. How ironic, people don't learn from mistakes. It takes a painful reminder.

This film is more important than the Oscars.

[J0RWAL · 10/10 · 20 July 2023]

First of all, political parties do all kind of politics to win elections and it is somewhat acceptable. This is not just in India but everywhere in a democratic country this happen regularly but problem is the role of media in the society. We all have witnessed the kind of hate in the society that was targeted on everyone's mind from all major news outlet. It already brought India few decades behind the rest of the world in terms of common mentality of the society. Also, we should be thankful that there was no large scale riot. Whole India went to the edge of the cliff but somehow managed to not fall down because of journalists like Ravish Kumar, Purna Prasun Abjpai, Abhishar Sharma, etc.

And NDTV which stood against everyone else and continued their reporting clean and unbiased. They tried their best to keep society together.

Prannoy Roy who stood behind the scenes also deserves all the respect.

Eyeopener for largest democracy in the world

[laraibkhan-52225 · 10/10 · 13 September 2022]

OME LATEST NEWS WEB STORIES MORE Kannada CinemaMalayalam CinemaTamil CinemaTelugu CinemaBollywoodOTTTelevisionHollywoodRegional CinemaBIGG BOSSMovie ReviewGossip Home » Entertainment » While We Watched Movie Review:... While We Watched movie review: Vinay Shukla's documentary on Ravish Kumar documents Indian journalism's lone voice Aditya Shrikrishna Published On: 13 Sept 2022 10:00 AM Ravish Kumar in While We Watched Vinay Shukla's documentary paints a picture of struggle and disillusionment that is at the centre of journalism in India. Starcast : Ravish Kumar, Deepak Chaubey, Sushil Bahuguna Director: Vinay Shukla Rating: 3 star Highlights While We Watched documents the daily battle of making peace with doing the right thing while not getting heard or rewarded. While several journalists and activists have been arrested, Ravish Kumar becomes an important if privileged figure just by virtue of being on a television at prime time. Kumar becomes the lone voice with a direct line to a large part of India. Vinay Shukla's documentary While We Watched focuses on the life and work of TV journalist Ravish Kumar of NDTV India, fighting not just the government by asking the right questions under a din of hate while wading through misinformation, but also trying to keep a channel afloat with ratings, censorship and budgetary cuts vying for attention. At the offices of NDTV India, a cake is cut when someone has quit or retiring or leaving the media for greener, more stress-free pastures. Kumar gets out of his modest office to have a slice, smiling only when he must and a world-weary look on his face as his medium is chiselled away by the system. It gets emotional at times like when his producer leaves after almost a decade (he tips his hat to her in that evening's bulletin) or when he wishes he could have run someone's story as a going away present.

The first half hour of While We Watched continues in a blitzkrieg of quick cuts and unannounced change in locations and narrative. The stylistic choice helps with recreating a newsroom (Shukla is following Kumar throughout) and the attritional nature of news in the last few years. An assassination attempt on Umar Khalid is followed by a video of two Hindu nationalists proudly taking responsibility. "How did someone walk into the centre of the nation's capital with a gun?", asks Kumar in disbelief. Next minute, he's listening to a junior colleague talk about the relationship between increasing unemployment and this systemic fostering of hate and youth mobilisation to sustain it.

Movie will shook you

[gauravpalanshu · 10/10 · 13 July 2023]

Wish we can watch more movies like that and it ll open eyes of people those who are living in a well. Movie shows us doing right things gives you so much pain and loneliness.

This documentary motivate any person who want to do right thing but situations are not good. How Ravish Kumar handling these hard situation as a brave man.. inspiring everyone.

I want to watch this movie soon, i don't know where to watch. India really need people like Ravish Kumar, freedom of speech, press and etc.

Ravish Kumar is great journalist all time :)

i wish this movie release in all over India and in all theater.

While We Watched

[CinemaSerf · 7/10 · 19 July 2023]

Though I really did not much care for the busyness of this documentary, it does offer us a fascinating - and worrying - glimpse into the state of journalism in this most populated of democracies. It follows acclaimed anchorman Ravish Kumar who fronts the NDTV primetime news slot. His style of investigative reporting is to challenge the establishment on a range of legitimate issues and gradually, we see how the zeal of others makes his life a living hell. He is accused of being a traitor, amongst other things, and has a permanent police bodyguard as the threats to his person, his home and his family are real and violent. It is all the more concerning that, at a time when there is increasing clamour from some quarters for more state regulation around the world, it becomes clear that the state is not averse to a bit of censorship too. Though none of this is specifically proven here, the jamming of their transmissions, the investigations into their staff and the generally threatening nature of those with attitudes opposed to his free thought style of reporting has a chilling effect on not just us watching it, but on his colleagues who find themselves gradually tiring of the constant intimidation and the feeling they are banging their heads against a wall. Vinay Shukla also illustrates quite effectively that whilst the West is banging on about historical racism, the divides in this huge nation are current, visceral and largely based on religious lines - a sort of historically rooted religious sectarianism that is as irrational as it is unpleasant. There is a scene in which Kumar complains about too much information on the screen, and that is a flaw I would level against this production as an whole. It is far too hurried. The style of presentation is repetitive (how many opening links do we need to see?) and the constant use of the competitors broadcasts is effective for a while but loses context - you will probably have to be much more familiar with the Indian television market than I am to fully understand just who is who, and for what they stand - and a few moments of explanation at the top would have helped enormously. That said, though, Kumar comes across as a considered and responsible man determined to keep the agenda based on what actually matters to the people of his country, and not just to the jingoistic - and though set in the vibrancy of India, this could apply just as readily in territories where the media emphasis is capable of corrupting the debate and, potentially, the lives of many.

Important but repetitive

[paul2001sw-1 · 6/10 · 13 January 2024]

In much of the world, democracy is under attack, not from would-be military dicators, but from "populist" politicians who rig the game and push lies through a supportive media. India is one such country, and 'While We Watched' follows Rajesh Kumar, an independent journalist under increasing attack from the Indian state. Unfortunately, it's not such a great documentary. It shows us Kumar fighting depression as the government becomes increasingly assertive and his television station faces financial and legal difficulties. But it doesn't explain those issues in detail, focusing instead on his own emotional reaction. And the journalism we see him do only involves him attacking the pseudo-journalism of others, an important job, but if his channel only showed him complaining (as opposed to reporting), it wouldn't be surprising if no-one was watching. I suspect this is the decision of the film's editors, rather than a full representation of reality; but the framing of Kumar as heroic, isolated, and doomed can gives the viewer the feeling of being lectured (as well as the sense that this might also be the experience of Kumar's viewers as well). Fly-on-the-wall is not the only way of making a documentary, and while the technique is good for conveying a situtation emotionally, in this case, it leads to repetition and a lack of deeper explanation. What we do learn, however, is plenty worrying; one can only hope Kumar and his team can keep up the fight.

Lies & Propaganda

[algotrader-78062 · 1/10 · 25 November 2023]

This documentary is trying to show that 1.4 billion people of India are fools and this self-proclaimed journalist is a beacon of truth. He is nothing but a liar, hate mongerer and the leader of left wing cabal. He was subservient to previous government and was enjoying all the perks of being close to the power. Now those perks and proximity with power has gone, he has gone rogue with the nation. All he is doing is not for any national interest, but his personal interest. So that when government changes, he can enjoy his lifestyle again and proximity with power. He is now looking for a job in various news portal with salary expectations of Rs 2 crors and all the left wing news channels denied him. He's not worth anything. His only viewers and followers are from the so called "Peacful Community".

My personal experience with Ravish Kumar.

[barattdiscord · 10/10 · 23 July 2023]

I am watching him from the age of 12 and I am 25 yrs old right now . He is the one who made me a citizen of the democratic country instead of just an Indian. I have nothing but love admiration and respect for this man. It is sad and sickening to see how the same people, who praised him before 2014, who praised him for the work and questions he asked, but suddenly as soon as they came into power and he started questioning them instead (which is a journalist's job) , he suddenly becomes anti india and baised according to them and a systematic harassment and hate campaign was launched against him calling him traitor Pakistani and what not. Fortunately some people's morale and love of their work specially public service work like journalism is unshakeable and unconditional and he is one of those rare ones who truly showcased that. As an indian, I am proud to have someone like him in our media along with many other but at the same time when I see what he and other good journalists goes through everyday I sometimes feel that we Indians really don't deserve people like them all we deserve is a shouting clowns like Arnab goswami.

RESPECT FOR RAVISH KUMAR

[hsjatt-69661 · 10/10 · 24 July 2023]

Ravish Kumar, the renowned journalist, has undoubtedly been a stalwart in the fight against fake media and the trend of certain media outlets aligning themselves with political interests, particularly the Indian Prime Minister. His fearless and unyielding pursuit of truth and unbiased reporting has set him apart as a great journalist.

Ravish Kumar's unwavering dedication to the cause of unbiased journalism and his courage in challenging the status quo have earned him both admiration and respect. He has been a voice for the voiceless, exposing the manipulative narratives and fake news that can erode the very fabric of society.

To keep democracy alive, it is very important to keep journalism alive.

[rohitroy-07092 · 10/10 · 27 July 2023]

Former Prime Minister of India Chaudhary Charan Singh had said that as long as the journalist does bad things to the government, he is with the public and the day he starts praising the government, then understand that he has been sold.

Today ninety percent media in India is sold.

India is the world's largest democracy, if it wants to become a super power, then the interests and rights of its citizens will have to be protected, if the government does not do this work, then the media will have to raise the voice of the people.

Ravish Kumar has single handedly exposed all the secrets of the Government of India.

If you don't like the story, the problem isn't in the story.

[ujjalkashyapbhuyanassam · 10/10 · 11 September 2023]

The greatest documentary of all time. This story needs to be told. Impressive work done by Vinay Sukla and team. Expecting more such eye opening jo sach ko sach ki tarah se dikhane wale stories. Truly amazing. Storyline, cake cutting, and wo jo haar na maanne wala scene with the fellow journalist at the last, that clip win my heart. Itne gehere andhere mein kahi na kahi ek ujalein ki ummeeed to hain. And also if you can see ravish after NDTV, now he has his own channel to do work he wants to do. Now he has his own Freedom and it's a super costly thing anyone can have. He paid the price and he is free from these things at least for now. So yeah the conversation with the fellow journalist is the beginning of this I guess.

Must watch movie...#RavishTheRealVoice.

[mzr-79953 · 10/10 · 25 July 2023]

That last line.. "Guarantee you will enjoy it, and if you don't, that's a problem with you not the movie"

But I doubt it will resonate with those uncles living in housing society and learning from their whatApp universities....

I have seen Vinay's work in The Insignificant Man, and he is an incredible documentary maker. There is no doubt that the documentary on Ravish would be excellent, but seeing John Oliver praise it wholeheartedly is a badge of honor for Vinay and Ravish's work.

Wow!! Wish the film is available for every Indian to watch and understand the way media is being sold and mauled by ruling party and their corporate buddies.

Must watch for Every Indian

[rohitdhanerwal · 10/10 · 14 September 2023]

Sad reality of India and story of the great man, who didn't win but was on the battlefield.

This movie is not about Ravish, who no doubt is heart and soul of the movie.

It is about India, and the journalism in India.

It should be watched by each and every India, and not only Indians, but the people who want democracy to be the driving force of the international politics This movie shows the communal anchors, who are not journalists but vile hate filled propagandists.

There should be wide audience and reception for this movie so that other vinay shuklas have to courage to dedicate their time and money to speak for the people

This movie is by the people to the people and for the people.

Hats Off to Ravish Kumar

[rahat-raza · 10/10 · 3 September 2023]

Hats Off to Ravish Kumar who stayed with truth and against injustice being against all propaganda, political pressure and stayed to be a free and true voice for India....

Thanks Ravish Jiii you'll be loved always for what you're doing and what you did, And special thanks to Vinay shukla to support Ravish Kumar

Great work Vinay shukla well directed piece of film that includes the crucial times during the struggle which we would have never have observed as closely as you made us.

Ravish Jii the lone ranger against 90 percent media occupied by godi media which just speaks as demanded by the party in power in their favors.

Saccha deshbhakt !!!

[itsmayank-44977 · 10/10 · 11 September 2023]

It is a documentary, not a movie.

It is a story of true journalist, who is honest, brave and my favourite so I will be biased :), even though people threatened him, his family, his daughters he stood and did what needed to be done from a profession.(still doing). Even he lost that job also.

This doc will give you GOOSEBUMPS GREATER INSIGHT AND COURAGE. Although it is just a glimpse of Ravish.

In this era he stood, what a man with morals!

But Is just based on 3-4 years of him and before covid.

Even though I am just writing review which I never do. I am afraid to praise him atleast publicly or on social media ( we all know why haha). He bought sense into me and I thankful to him that he saved me. Although I was also the one who abused him everywhere on social media once but it is so hard to praise him publicly.

And I am not harsh on anything, it will not be promoted here no matter what because we all know. So watch it by other means:). Ott release will even surprise me..

Overall worth every second, go for it.

Danke!!

Mirror of current situation

[nikhileshpandey-31102 · 10/10 · 10 September 2023]

This was just not another real life inspired movie. This is real life in India.. A ruling party destroying the 4th pillar of democracy while helping their rich businessman friends get richer on the cost of destroying the livelihoods of innumerous people.

Media has become so insensitive and deaf that the cries of common man are ignored by them. 24/7 they spread their propogandas for the ruling government.

Anyone who tries to fight back is a traitor or a lier and is being ridiculed at 9 pm daily.. These so called henchmen of the government have singlehandedly destroyed the condition of India and accepted to become puppets/servants to the government.

Not all battles are fought for victory. Some are fought simply to tell the world that someone was there on the battlefield - Ravish Kumar

[darkside-02733 · 10/10 · 13 September 2023]

Through the years and times yet to come we will need to determine where do we stand as individuals, society, family and a nation. Why have we failed to support democracy which entirely lie in our hands? Why don't we at least now navigate this very essential problem? What we have been taught? What education is supposed to mean? These are very natural questions we have no choice but to ask ourselves. The biggest act of patriotism is to question one's government, Right now there is nothing more rational than to ask ourselves, the people around us, the politicians and most of all the journalists, what is the india they envision?

Sad reality of Indian Main Stream Media.

[hutashnkk · 10/10 · 11 September 2023]

First of all, I watched this movie for free on a video hosting platform as the producers were unable to find any distributor in India. I felt kind of sad about this as I had no way to pay the team to show him my gratitude to them.

Let's come to my view on this documentary, I assure you at least once you will have tears in your eyes after watching the sorry state of Indian mainstream media in this documentary. The nuances this movie sheds light on are amazing. I urge everyone interested to watch this document that will be preserved for future generations as a repository to show them that when all of the mainstream media of India lost their spine, there was one who fought bravely.

Canary in the Coal Mine

[DavoZed · 10/10 · 22 October 2023]

A remarkable, fly on the wall documentary about one man's and one TV network's attempt to push back against the forces of fascism in their country.

India is a warning sign to all democratic countries who are facing right wing, populist, anti-democratic political movements.

Our democracies will not survive unless we fight back strenuously.

India is ahead of many countries in this regard but they are not as far advanced as Hungary, Turkey and Brazil.

If you care about the future of democracy in your own country, please watch this documentary and then get involved in supporting the survival of democracy at home.

Thank you.

Banned in India

[mohammedrashidabbasi · 10/10 · 17 September 2023]

The movie has been banned in India for a clear reason-it presents an unvarnished depiction of the eroding state of democracy in the country. Rather than glorifying Ravish Kumar, it portrays him as an ordinary journalist bravely fighting against formidable odds to uphold genuine journalism in India. The film shines a light on how the media in India has, regrettably, become an instrument of the government, perpetuating falsehoods and propaganda. Instead of addressing crucial issues, many news channels in India now peddle senseless content under the guise of nationalism. Anyone who dares to speak out against corruption involving figures like Modi and Adani is unfairly branded as anti-national. It's noteworthy that NDTV, where Ravish Kumar once worked, is now under the ownership of Modi's associate, Adani. Consequently, the landscape of independent news channels in India has been significantly altered.