By:
Taran
Adarsh,
IndiaFM
Saturday,
October
06,
2007
It's
all
about
TRPs.
To
hell
with
ethics,
principles,
morals
and
scruples.
The
competition
amongst
TV
channels
is
so
fierce
across
the
globe
that
what
eventually
matters
is
laying
your
hands
on
any
story
that
attracts
eyeballs
and
which,
in
turn,
translates
into
ratings.
In
an
effort
to
outdo
each
other,
TV
channels
have
started
resorting
to
gimmicks
and
sensationalism.
Scandals,
gossip,
controversies,
brawls,
kickbacks…
get
priority
over
noble
issues.
It's
Breaking
News
bares
all
that
goes
behind
sting
operations
and
the
ways
and
means
some
channel
heads
stoop
to,
to
attract
eyeballs.
It's
Breaking
News
says
it
all
in
the
most
simplistic
fashion,
without
using
the
technical
jargon,
and
coupled
with
an
engrossing
story,
catches
the
attention
of
the
viewer.
But
there's
a
flip
side
as
well.
Frankly,
a
subject
like
this
isn't
everyone's
cup
of
tea.
It
caters
to
a
small
segment
of
moviegoers
who
savour
realistic
cinema.
Also
--
this
is
strictly
from
the
business
point
of
view
--
there's
not
much
awareness
about
the
film
and
the
fact
that
it's
pitted
against
multiple
releases
and
timed
during
the
holy
month
of
Ramzan,
the
effort
might
unnoticed.
Vidya
[Koel
Purie]
is
a
dynamic
news
correspondent
who
is
forced
to
quit
entertainment
and
cover
crime.
Gradually,
she
gets
a
knack
of
it
and
starts
getting
addicted
to
the
thrill
and
ecstasy
of
the
job.
One
fine
day,
she
receives
a
call
from
a
girl
called
Sangeeta,
from
Pune,
who
is
a
victim
of
repeated
sexual
abuses
by
a
top
cop
[Harsh
Chhaya].
Vidya,
with
her
team,
chalks
out
a
plan
for
a
sting
operation
and
is
all
ready
to
cover
the
event,
but,
unfortunately,
it
is
the
DIG
[Vinay
Apte],
who
falls
prey
to
their
sting
operation.
The
entire
episode
of
'live
rape'
trouble
Vidya
and
her
cameraman
Rafiq
[Atul
Parchure].
Vidya
had
committed
to
Sangeeta
that
this
footage
would
not
be
telecast,
but
she
is
traumatized
to
see
the
telecast
of
the
whole
footage
'as
it
is'
in
her
news
channel.
Bugged
with
the
whole
system,
she
leaves
for
her
uncle's
place
[Virendra
Saxena],
who
had
been
insisting
her
to
visit
his
press.
There,
she
apprehends
the
genuine
power
and
nuance
of
journalism
and
gets
the
spur
to
fight
back
the
system.
With
close
friend
Bala
[Abhimanyu
Singh],
a
crime
correspondent
in
a
rival
channel,
and
Rafiq,
she
decides
to
get
the
victim
justice.
It"s
Breaking
News
mirrors
the
behind-the-scenes
tamasha
that
takes
place
before
a
scandal
is
unleashed
to
the
viewers.
The
first
sting
operation
[a
minister's
daughter
is
kept
under
house
arrest]
looks
amateurish,
but
the
second
sting
operation
--
of
a
helpless
girl
being
used
by
cops
--
is
brilliantly
executed.
While
the
first
hour
is
involving
and
rarely
loses
the
grip,
the
second
hour
is
problematic.
The
story
takes
a
long
time
to
reach
the
conclusion,
although
the
helpless
girl's
'settlement'
is
an
interesting
development.
But
the
story
doesn't
end
there;
there's
one
more
sting
operation,
which,
though
well
executed,
adds
to
the
length
of
the
film.
Director
Vishal
Inamdar
has
the
potential
to
grow
as
a
storyteller,
but
he
should
keep
the
length
of
his
story
in
check.
There's
just
one
song
in
the
narrative
[Kaushal
Inamdar],
which
is
okay.
The
background
score
is
appropriate.
Cinematography
is
of
standard.
Koel
Purie
is
efficient
yet
again.
Abhimanyu
Singh
is
decent.
Vinay
Apte
looks
convincing.
Atul
Parchure
is
in
form.
Harsh
Chhaya
shows
his
evil
side
with
flourish.
Virendra
Saxena
is
all
right.
The
actress
enacting
the
role
of
the
victim
is
effective.
On
the
whole,
It"s
Breaking
News
has
noble
intentions,
but
the
release
period
isn't
right.
Multiple
releases
in
the
week
+
lack
of
pre-release
buzz
+
Ramzan
period
will
curtail
its
prospects.