Parineeti Chopra and Deven Bhojani star in the new Netflix thriller Reporting Live. Parineeti plays a courageous reporter named Sandhya Yadav who investigates a deadly bridge collapse in Visargaon. While the film has an intriguing build-up and strong performances, the plot eventually gets predictable, making the story easy to anticipate.
After playing a distressed mother in Shaque: Trust No One, Parineeti Chopra returns to Netflix with a film, Reporting Live. The actress steps into the shoes of an ambitious and courageous reporter, Sandhya Yadav. Does Dhruv Tripathi's investigative thriller live up to its gripping premise? Let's dive deep into what really works in this movie and what doesn't.
,What is Reporting Live all about?,
Reporting Live opens with a mysterious note where a truck collides with a bike. A few moments later, we are introduced to Sandhya Yadav (Parineeti Chopra), covering an on-ground story with her cameraman/video journalist Vinod Sharma (Deven Bhojani). When their exclusive news report doesn't get a prime-time slot, they move on to cover their next story of a bride collapse in Visargaon. The incident claims the lives of over 10 innocent school students. What seems like an accident eventually turns out to be a bigger conspiracy. Sandhya and Vinod are initially told the accident happened due to a solar eclipse. To get more information, Sandhya and Vinod meet Shiva Kaka (Amol Palekar), who opens up about illegal sand mining in the area and how it could be connected to the bridge collapse.
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Reporting Live has an interesting build-up, but suffers from predictability
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Director Dhruv Tripathi's Reporting Live unfolds one step at a time, gradually building its narrative while keeping us invested from the word go. Dhruv and Mihir Jadhav's screenplay remains focused on its core purpose, keeping away unnecessary distractions and forced elements. Additionally, the colour palette and background score complement the movie's genre. They further enhance its tense atmosphere and investigative appeal.
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However, predictability remains the biggest drawback. While the initial build-up is intriguing with an atmosphere of tension and suspense, the plot eventually becomes predictable. Once Sandhya and Vinod dive deep into the investigation, it becomes easier to anticipate the developments ahead. This eventually leads to the element of surprise diminishing. That said, the sequences leading up to the climax manage to deliver a few shocking moments. The revelation of the sand mafia's identity adds a layer of intrigue. And while Reporting Live suffers from predictability, it remains engaging in parts.
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Parineeti Chopra brings strength, Deven Bhojani is sincere
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When it comes to star cast performances, Parineeti plays Sandhya with conviction, bringing the strength and command to portray a courageous reporter. Her character refuses to step back in her pursuit of truth. On the other hand, Deven Bhojani is sincere as cameraman/video journalist Vinod. He brings restraint to his performance while offering a few moments of humour that provide some relief amid the tense atmosphere.
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As for Amol Palekar, he delivers a noteworthy performance as Shiva Kaka, adding an unexpected twist to the tale. Adil Hussain adds power and authority to Vidur, capturing his role's commanding presence. Shekhar Suman and Samir Kochhar do a decent job and make the most of their limited screen time.
,Is Reporting Live worth watching?,
All in all, Reporting Live benefits from a gripping premise, a relevant take on investigative journalism and sincere performances of the star cast. However, the film's predictable twists and diminishing suspense prevent it from reaching its full potential.