The Broken News Review

Introduction

This fictional drama, an adaptation of the BBC Studio's 'Press' by renowned author Mike Bartlett, follows a vibrant group of journalists as they negotiate the lives and problems of two competing news stations.

Plot

'The Broken News' portrays the struggle between Mumbai-based Indian news outlets, "Awaaz Bharati" and "Josh 24/7". The hardships, lies, love, and lives of a vibrant bunch of journalists are revealed. Amina Qureshi, a highly respectable editor who upholds journalistic standards, is the editor-in-chief of the news organization Awaaz Bharati. However, the channel is constantly broken and bleeding. According to TRPs, Josh 24/7, run by Dipankar Sanyal, is India's top channel, yet it is sensationalist and frequently ignores fact-checking. "Josh" solely cares about viewers and eyes, so they are powerful and consistently make money. Radha Bhargava lies halfway between these two extremes. Amid the never-ending pressure of the news cycle and an industry that strives to stay one step ahead but faces an uncertain future, the show depicts all of their lives as they struggle to strike a balance between work, play, ambition, and integrity.

Review

After watching a few episodes, one can tell what sort of serious drama this is. This eight-part series, created and directed by Vinay Waikul, is a lively tale that keeps the viewers engrossed in the inner workings of a newspaper. The show's two main characters are antagonistic: the ruthless editor-cum-anchor Dipankar Sanyal (Jaideep Ahlawat) of the brand-new channel "Josh 24/7," who is only interested in TRPs, and the moral editor-in-chief Amina Quershi (Sonali Bendre) of "Awaaz Bharti", one of the most reliable news outlets but with low TRPs. Radha Bhargava (Shriya Pilgaonkar), who adheres to ethical journalism but is irritated by the harsh restrictions imposed on her, sits between these extreme characters. All three characters keep the viewers engrossed with their personal and changing

professional dynamics, allowing the audience to experience the thrill of the chase.

The script and adaptation of the BBC Studios program "Press" by celebrated author Mike Bartlett, recreated by Sambit Mishra create an engaging drama that keeps the viewers interested in the inner workings of newsrooms the entire time. By comparing how each channel covers the same issue, the storyline focuses on how these journalists see themselves and the news?Dipakner believes in sensationalizing the news. In contrast, Amina sees it as her moral duty to inform the audience of the truth. The pressure the crew bears before breaking any story is also revealed, as is the reality behind our primetime daily news.

Additionally, Radha's investigation into the death of her roommate-cum-colleague-cum-friend Julia Alvarez, Dipanker's push for Radha to join his channel, Amina's secret affair with a married man Pankaj Awasthi (Indraneil Sengupta), who is also her colleague, and many other stories fill the screenplay. At times, it isn't easy to keep track of all the stories. Overall, it's entertaining, and there's something incredibly satisfying about seeing how breaking news is broken and fed, whether it's the MMS scandal involving Gulnaz Khan (Mugdha Godse) or harassment allegations against famous actor Akhil Kapoor (Sharad Kapoor).

The program stars, Sonali Bendre and Shriya Pilgaonkar, have strong personalities, as Amina and Radha, respectively, have the guts to act morally. In her comeback and OTT debut, Sonali Bendre is credible as an anchor, but her method of breaking the news, particularly during prime time, could be more effective. She portrays a character that is kind and supportive of her coworkers and looks lovely in every scene. Radha, a vengeful and brave investigative journalist who would stop at nothing to tell the janta the truth, is a perfect fit for Shriya Pilgaonkar. Although her arguments with her boss Amina are fascinating, they also make us wonder if we have the same freedom of expression as she does.

The portrayal of Dipankar, who thinks that anything he says becomes news, by Jaideep Ahlawat is excellent. He has the ideal temperament for the role of Dipankar. Ahlawat's demeanor will either make the audience love or hate him, depending on whether he is a pestering boss or a caring father who wants to live with his daughter. Only "Josh 24/7's" owner, Ketan Kedia (Akash Khurana), has authority over him. Other journalists portrayed by Sanjeeta Bhattacharya as Juhi Shergil, Faisal Rashid as Kamal Wadia, and Taaruk Raina as Anuj Saxena play crucial roles as the story's storyline unfolds. Each character did an excellent job convincing the viewer to share their viewpoints.

The settings for both the edit meetings and the newspaper scenes are authentic. If someone has even the tiniest interest in the ethics and practices of the media industry, this presentation will no doubt intrigue them. In conclusion, 'The Broken News' thrives when it emphasizes how numerous news sources cover the same topic.

Conclusion

'The Broken News' is an eight-part series based on the BBC Studios program 'Press' by Mike Bartlett. It follows the struggles of Mumbai-based Indian news outlets, "Awaaz Bharati" and "Josh 24/7," as they navigate the challenges of balancing work, ambition, and integrity. The show follows the lives of Amina Qureshi, the editor-in-chief of Awaaz Bharati, who upholds journalistic standards, and Radha Bhargava, who adheres to ethical journalism. The show's antagonistic characters, including Dipankar Sanyal, a ruthless editor-cum-anchor, and Amina Quershi, reveal the pressures faced by the crew before breaking any story. The show's strong performances from Sonali Bendre and Shriya Pilgaonkar, as well as the portrayal of Dipankar, make it an entertaining and engaging drama. The authenticity of the settings and the characters' portrayals make it an interesting series to watch.