Vinay Waikul’s series, propelled by riveting drama and powerful acting, reveals the moral issues that permeate the media.
The second season of The Broken News, which is currently available on streaming services, delves into the diminishing legitimacy of digital and electronic news sources, along with the declining vibrancy of democracy.
Through a multi-camera arrangement, writer Sambit Mishra has skillfully turned the focus towards Indian newsrooms to teach the audience the five Ws and one H of the business of news, providing a wholesome image.
The show is a version of the BBC series Press.
Since news stories should always be presented fresh, the creators have chosen popular headlines, such as “Electoral Bonds,” to show both the liberal and nationalist perspectives on news reporting.
There was a distinct separation between the two sets in the first season. The old school of journalism, where balancing opposing viewpoints is crucial, was mirrored in Ameena Qureshi’s (Sonali Bendre) Awaaz Bharti, while Josh 24X7, which positioned itself as the nationalist station, introduced a new, TRP-led, fast-paced news format.
Josh had purposefully placed Ameena’s outstanding reporter and protege, Radha Bhargav (Shriya Pilgaonkar), in the anti-national position before the end of the first season.
The courageous reporter takes it personally and turns into a reflection of Dipankar in an effort to get revenge on the “system.” She becomes addicted to the instantaneous likes and reels that modern media provides, devoid of context, and loses her sense of fair journalism, turning herself into an instrument of propaganda for the political opponents of the ruling party.
Season 2 of “The Broken News” (Hindi)
Conversely, Dipankar gradually comes to terms with the fact that he has let loose a cacophonous monster by attaching a nationalist perspective to any article that might cast the administration in a negative light. It’s an intriguing trip of two people whose use of the news to settle personal grudges and stroke their inflated egos taints their professionalism.
Despite the audience’s increased interest in clickbait headlines, Ameena remains the lone but strong voice of reason and nonpartisan journalism in the meantime.
Director Vinay Waikul makes strong observations on the news architecture in this three-cornered topic, pointing out that celebrity anchors have severed their connections to on-the-ground reporting, journalistic rigor has been replaced by quick sensationalism, and fact-checking is now considered superfluous labor.
Ameena Qureshi, played by Sonali Bendre
Most significantly, the show doesn’t hold back when talking about the corporate owner—the elephant in the newsroom—whose desire for political favoritism and business interests frequently thwart the pursuit of truth.
Mishra offers each character a short biography, a quirky anecdote, or psychological complexity that gives the sanctimonious newsrooms an emotional weight.
This is made possible by the drama that drives the plot and the convincing performances of Jaideep, Sonali, and Shriya. Additionally, it gives the supporting characters life and helps them fit into the main storyline.
There are sections where it seems like the filmmakers are going backward to deflect criticism of the current administration during election season, all in an effort to demonstrate that both ideological factions have a glass habitat to preserve.
For example, the way the show attempts to corner the opposition by pushing a counter-narrative to the opaqueness of the electoral bonds gives the sense that it is succumbing to the same agenda manipulation and decay that it is criticizing. According to the well-known statement made by Marshall McLuhan, “the medium is the message,” and the OTT platform is the newest influencer.
