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The British present The Damaged Information was a comedy satire, developed by Mike Bartlett for the BBC over a decade in the past. Vinay Waikul’s Indian present solely borrows the identify and never . It’s really based mostly on one other Mike Bartlett present named The Press. This Indian adaptation trades the satire for thriller as a style. It’s an fascinating selection given thrillers are a dime-a-dozen on the Indian OTT panorama. It maybe makes the job harder for The Damaged Information to differentiate itself regardless of an fascinating premise. The present focusses on the battle for TRPs and tales between two rival information channels and their editors. It begins with promise and thriller but it surely quickly descends into being one thing we’ve got all seen earlier than. The one saving grace is the efficiency of Jaideep Ahlawat, who as soon as once more proves why he’s so extremely regarded for his craft. Additionally learn: Jaideep Ahlawat of Pataal Lok and Sonali Bendre to play warring information anchors in her OTT debut The Damaged Information
The Damaged Information is in regards to the battle between Awaaz Bharti, headed by Amina Qureshi (Sonali Bendre) and Josh 24×7, headed by Deepankar Sanyal (Jaideep). The previous is a extra righteous, sober channel that also believes in issues like journalistic ethics and objectivity whereas the latter is the primary information channel within the nation, just because it sensationalises and sells information like no person else. The story follows the conflict between the 2 channels and their journalists as they attempt to unravel a giant conspiracy brewing proper below their noses.
The Zee5 present is bolder than most different streaming in India proper now. For one, it doesn’t draw back from utilizing actual names of individuals and locations. So you’ve mentions of IIMC, Dawood Ibrahim, and so on. It grounds the collection into actuality and makes it extra genuine. However the true daring transfer on the collection’ half is utilizing related present-day happenings from the true world and weaving them into the narrative. It has references to electoral bonds, cyber surveillance, lynch mobs, Me Too motion, and the political-media nexus. Different exhibits have performed it previously however few have performed it so seamlessly and organically. There’s a scene the place the house minister of the state has a dialog with a journalist on their mango-eating preferences.
The Damaged Information was billed and marketed because the comeback automobile for Sonali Bendre, who’s returning to appearing after a number of years, and most notably for the primary time since her most cancers battle 4 years in the past. On high of that, it’s her OTT debut. And it’s a reputable comeback. Sonali appears to be comfortable as Amina Qureshi, the idealistic editor of Awaaz Bharti and lends some much-needed maturity to the position. It’s refreshing to see her break the mould on display screen and play a personality that’s good however has shades of gray too. However the present doesn’t belong to her. For one, the true protagonist of the present is Shriya Pilgaonkar’s Radha Bhargava, and the true star is Jaideep Ahlawat because the TRP-hungry highly effective journalist Deepankar Sanyal.
Jaideep exudes the arrogance and ambition of Deepankar in each body and he convinces the viewers very quickly that he’s certainly an immoral journalist who will promote everybody and all the things for that massive scoop. The greyness of his character and the zero effort with which Jaideep brings it to the fore, makes The Damaged Information a pleasant watch. Shriya Pilgaonkar must be cautious. She is at risk of being typecast because the perennial idealist crusading towards the corrupt forces. Her Radha Bhargava right here is simply too much like her most up-to-date role–the upright lawyer Kashaf Quaze from Responsible Minds. She is a gifted actor and wishes to seek out extra roles the place she will be able to show her vary.
The Damaged Information falters in what it needs to be. It begins as a present speaking in regards to the farce that 24-hour information channels usually may be. And it establishes itself as a mirror for India’s loud information channels that function choose, jury, and executioner far too usually. However fairly quickly, it turns into an everyday thriller the place the journalists turn into personal eyes to resolve the case. What that does is it makes the present much like many thrillers we’ve got seen on the OTT house. Newsrooms turn into secondary and The Damaged Information’ USP is relegated to the again of the room.
It additionally doesn’t dedicate sufficient time to current us with who these persons are exterior the newsrooms. Other than Jaideep’s character, whose backstory and motivations are very-well sketched out, the present leaves a variety of questions unanswered. All through the eight episodes, which start streaming on Zee5 from June 10, a variety of gaps are left unfilled. And that makes the characters considerably two-dimensional. That, i makes it tougher for the actors to face out and for the present to be memorable and noteworthy. The Damaged Information just isn’t a foul present. However it’s not an incredible one both. What rankles me is that it may have been nice. It had all the suitable components. It simply selected to take the secure route when it comes to presentation and therapy, sacrificing a golden alternative.
Collection: Damaged Information
Director: Vinay Waikul
Solid: Jaideep Ahlawat, Sonali Bendre, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Indraneil Sengupta, Taaruk Raina, Sanjeeta Bhattacharya, Aakash Khurana, and Kiran Kumar
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