Film Update: While We Watched

POV’s Digital Curator Anthony Yooshin Kim caught up with While We Watched filmmaker Vinay Shukla to provide a window into the making of his film and reflect on the journey since the cameras stopped rolling.

Vinay Shukla stands tall in the Indian documentary realm, consistently challenging narratives and reshaping the non-fiction cinema landscape. His groundbreaking debut in 2016, An Insignificant Man, set anti-censorship precedents and was met with international acclaim. His award-winning short film Bureaucracy Sonata further solidified his stance as an influential voice in film. Celebrated by leading festivals worldwide, and with partnerships from giants like Sundance and IDFA, Shukla’s work has undeniably resonated globally.

Venturing beyond cinema, he produced the globally recognized board game series, SHASN. Now, his highly anticipated second feature, While We Watched, which premiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, brings the world of journalism into sharp focus, particularly through the lens of the tenacious Ravish Kumar.

“In 2018, I was watching the news one day and I came across a Ravish Kumar news broadcast,” recalls Shukla. The content, more than the familiar face, seized him. “Ravish was actively criticizing not just the government but also his audiences. In fact, he was asking them to stop watching TV completely.” This irony resonated deeply with Shukla, propelling his decision to capture this narrative on film.

The magnitude of the story he was about to tell crystallized early in the filming process. “During our first shoot, I witnessed a farewell cake being sliced in the newsroom as one of Ravish’s colleagues bid adieu. It was a tense, dramatic moment, revealing the tumultuous relationship between journalists and their profession in today’s world.”

Shukla’s exploration into the world of journalism unveiled stark contrasts. “The bustling newsrooms we see on TV don’t reflect the reality. Real-life newsrooms are rife with silent tensions and unspoken dilemmas.” This insight guided Shukla’s direction, aiming to capture the raw emotions and struggles within these spaces.

Shukla’s filmmaking approach is about seeking “larger systemic solutions driven forward by intelligent empathy.” His intended audience? “Very often, it’s my family and friends. They are the ones I aim to touch with my work.”

The film’s aftermath saw Ravish Kumar shift to YouTube, amassing over 7 million subscribers. Kumar’s sentiments about the documentary were reflective, even melancholic. “He shared how the film was a mirror to his struggles, feeling like a haunting journey back into his past.”

Shukla aspires for While We Watched to bridge the disconnect many feel towards today’s news landscape. “I aim to rekindle interest and understanding, urging people to appreciate the stakes within the news ecosystem.”

Now, Shukla is ardently working to ensure his documentary reaches a broader Indian audience. “We’re in the process of identifying the right distribution channels for it.”

As While We Watched unfolds, it challenges us not just to consume but to contemplate— what price are we willing to pay for truth in an overloaded information era?

While We Watched premiered on Monday, September 4th and is available to stream through December 3rd.