Cast: Bindhu Madhavi, Navdeep
Director: Sri Prawin
Writer: Priyadarshini Ram
Cinematographer: Anantnag Kavuri
Producers: T.G. Vishwa Prasad, Raviteja Dhamaka
Music: Suresh Bobblli
K. Ramya Sree
Plot: Newsense is a story of a few journalists in the Madanapalle area in Andhra Pradesh during late 1990s. This story talks about the dark side of the media in India. A group of six to seven journalists working for various media organisations including local and national media networks, try to fill their pockets by white washing key news and the atrocities done by the powerful in the area. Its core concept is to let the people know what happens if the fourth estate, that is the media, turns corrupt in the world.
Performances: Navdeep plays a reporter for a news channel called Republic, while Bindu Madhavi is a news presenter for a local channel.
Performance-wise, actor Navdeep was in his element and aced the Madanapalle dialect. He is someone who knows how to grab attention. He is a composed man who, although young, is very efficient at handling the toughest of situations with control of words and over people. He played the part pretty well. After watching this six-episode series, it is safe to say that the actor made a gritting come-back with Newsense.
Speaking of Bindhu Madhavi, she didn’t have much of a role in season 1, but we guess she is going to have a meaty role in season 2, as it ends that way. In whatever role she is given, she has done a decent job, except for the dialect which felt very unnatural. However, Navdeep and Bindhu Madhavi shared a sizzling chemistry.
The others did complete justice to what they were asked to do. The villains in the show were well cast.
They literally make you feel like the world in the 1990s.
Technicalities: This is a story set in the 1990s and the cameraman got right with angles, the colours, and the overall setting. The director has driven the story very-well, but he only showed the negative side of journalism, of course that’s the core theme of the series, however, it may bring a negative opinion on journalists as a whole in the country. But he gives a more thorough understanding of the media industry’s day-to-day operations, including the prevalent culture of corruption, the ethical challenges that journalists face, the veracity of the news, and the effects of sensationalism.
The music goes well with the pace of the series. The editing was fine, gripping throughout. A few dialogues looked too preachy, but overall, the series was fine.
Analysis: All the journalists work from a Press club in Madanapalle. They take money from the big-wigs to white wash what they do and share it among themselves.
We get to see some atrocities like an old couple, who are tired of roaming around government offices seeking justice over a land dispute, approach the media so they can bring the issue to limelight. But, the media takes money from the opposition party and suppresses it. Here we see the political dominance and the control politicians have over journalists.
The show offers an unvarnished and sincere look at circumstances where truth is sold, the influence of print media, and the sensationalism of new electronic media.
We get to hear one dialogue in the beginning that says, “The salary these guys pay here isn’t even sufficient to fill fuel in our vehicles.” This dialogue is indeed true in most cases today and the director touched upon many such realistic issues.
It takes you through the harsh world of political journalism and in the most natural way.
There are a few misses and hits, but overall, as a series as the makers promoted, shows the dark world of media today.
Conclusion: One should watch and learn from this gut-wrenching and potent web series. Important issues regarding the function of the media in our society are raised in this series, including the veracity of the news and the effects of sensationalism.
