“Capturing Reality Is Harder Than You Think”: Raghav Khanna on Unbroken
Last Friday saw a host of new releases, but one documentary stood out on the marquee: Unbroken: The Unmukt Chand Story, directed by Raghav Khanna. Known for his work on Modern Masters: SS Rajamouli and for leading Netflix’s documentary slate across the Asia-Pacific region, Khanna opened up in an exclusive conversation with SCREEN about his latest project and the evolving landscape of documentary filmmaking in India.
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A Golden Age for Documentaries?
Raghav Khanna believes Indian documentaries are entering a golden era. He noted that the growing interest in real-life stories and the availability of global streaming platforms have created a space for documentaries to thrive. “A filmmaker can’t disguise non-coherence and call it art,” he said. “The audience has become discerning, and honesty in storytelling is key.”
Why Unmukt Chand?
Raghav Khanna explained what drew him to the story of the former junior cricket sensation. “Those who follow cricket closely remember the flamboyance with which Unmukt won the U-19 World Cup in 2012, beating Australia on their home turf. He was widely tipped to be the ‘next big thing,’ even compared to Virat Kohli, who was just emerging at that time,” Khanna said.
However, Unmukt’s career took unexpected turns. “Then you remember him for that infamous Brett Lee delivery in the IPL, which, according to many, derailed his career. Over the years, he faded from public memory. And suddenly, in 2021, I read that he was retiring from Indian cricket. That struck me—how was this young prodigy from just 6-7 years ago now stepping away from the game?”
Khanna travelled to the U.S. to meet Unmukt, who was trying to find his footing in the emerging American cricket scene. “I realized there was a human story here, a story of resilience and broken dreams,” he said.