Bag, in his impulsivity, stumbles across scenes – especially action sequences and ‘undercover’ missions he isn’t qualified for – and Bajpayee knows how to find the balance between a ‘hero’ and a trapped animal. This is a difficult role – films have mostly delegated the ‘media figure’ into contrasting boxes. One is the determined, honest journalist who is fueled by ambition and the noble desire to speak truth to power and the other is the ‘vulture’ – preying upon everyone necessary to get the ‘scoop’. But Bag is different – he is neither – and that makes this character complex.
The issue with the film, however, is that the screenplay isn’t complex. This is a journalist trying to uncover the 2G scam and yes, we are told there are big, bad powers to look out for but the story doesn’t manage to feel engaging enough to actually make those stakes apparent. The film wants to capture Bag’s desperation – he doesn’t have the answers so neither do…