പരിനീതി ചോപ്ര നായികയാകുന്ന 'റിപ്പോർട്ടിംഗ് ലൈവ്' ഒരു മികച്ച പ്രമേയം കൈകാര്യം ചെയ്യുന്നുണ്ടെങ്കിലും തിരക്കഥയിലെ പ്രവചനാത്മകത ചിത്രത്തിന് തിരിച്ചടിയാകുന്നു. അഭിനേതാക്കളുടെ മികച്ച പ്രകടനം ചിത്രത്തെ കാണാവുന്നതാക്കുന്നുണ്ടെങ്കിലും, ഒരു ഇൻവെസ്റ്റിഗേറ്റീവ് ത്രില്ലറിന് വേണ്ട ആവേശവും ഉദ്വേഗവും ഇതിൽ തീരെ കുറവാണ്.
But that's about it. The story is decidedly predictable, with the reason behind Sandhya's boss suppressing the sand-mining expose becoming apparent well before it should. The writing by Mihir Jadhav and Dhruv Tripathi does have its tender moments, particularly in depicting the bond between Sandhya and Vinod. The actors deserve credit for bringing warmth to their equation. However, the film misses out on the very thing its premise promises: the thrill and tension of an investigation that puts everything at stake.
The antagonist, played by Nasser, is another case of the familiar taking precedence over the unexpected. In the OTT age, when viewers have access to stories from across the world, predictability can be poison. The background score doesn't help matters either, lacking the punch required to heighten the tension and becoming repetitive after a point.
Performance-wise, Parineeti Chopra does a decent job, while Deven Bhojani is wonderful, making you genuinely feel for his character. Shekhar Suman fits the role of the cunning businessman perfectly. Adil Hussain, meanwhile, has an effortless likeability about him.
Final thoughts
Ultimately, Reporting Live is a case of a promising premise let down by predictable writing. The brisk pace and solid performances make it watchable, but the film never quite builds the tension its subject demands. If Scoop showed how a journalist's pursuit of a story could make for compelling drama, Reporting Live is content with merely telling one. In a story about journalists chasing the truth, that's a rather underwhelming scoop.