Despatch is a 2024 Indian Hindi-language crime drama directed by Kanu Behl and produced by Ronnie Screwvala under RSVP Movies. Starring Manoj Bajpayee and Shahana Goswami, the film follows a gripping narrative set against the backdrop of investigative journalism. Released on 13 December 2024 on ZEE5, it received mixed-to-negative reviews and was showcased at the International Film Festival of India and the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.
Cast and Crew
- Director: Kanu Behl
- Writer: Kanu Behl, Ishani Banerjee, Vipin Agnihotri
- Producer: Ronnie Screwvala
- Star Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Shahana Goswami
- Cinematography: Siddharth Diwan
- Editor: Samarth Dixit
- Production company: RSVP Movies
- Genres: Action, Drama, Thriller
- Distributor: ZEE5
- Release dates: 21 November 2024 (IFFI), 13 December 2024
- Running time:151 minutes
- Country: India
- Language: Hindi
Despatch movie 2024 Trailer
Film Star Cast
- Manoj Bajpayee as Joy Bag
- Shahana Goswami as Shweta Bag
- Arrchita Agarwaal as Prerna Prakash
- Anand Alkunte as S.I Bhonsle
- Riju Bajaj as Tarun Khaitan
- Purnendu Bhattacharya as Mallick
- Prithvik Pratap as Jeethu Vishwas
- Veena Mehta as Joy’s Mother
- Ajay Purkar as Prasad
- Purnima Rathod as Mrs. Verma
- Parvati Sehgal as Varsha Rajput
- Rituparna Sen as Noori Rai (as Rii Sen)
- Mamik Singh as Silva
- Kabir Sadanand as Wadhwa
Story of the film
As news goes online, seasoned crime journalist Joy is in danger of being outdated. Determining to uncover the next major story while balancing the pressures of his personal life, Joy embarks on an uncompromising journey through the depths of Mumbai, unveiling its secrets. Joy learns about a significant secret that could endanger his life while pursuing his journalism career.
Production
Development
Following a thorough investigation of the Mumbai underworld and crime journalism in particular, the project got underway in 2016. Kanu Behl, who is well-known for his highly regarded films like Titli and Agra, directed the movie. As a crime journalist, Manoj Bajpayee was cast.
Release
The film was presented at the International Film Festival of India in Goa and the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, where it received accolades for its story and acting. In November 2022, the official teaser for the film was revealed, and the trailer was released on December 3, 2024.
Review
Critics gave the movie reviews that ranged from mixed to unfavorable.
Despatch is effective in its depiction of crime journalism and explores the value of information that can save or end lives,” stated Times of India reviewer Dhaval Roy, who gave it a rating of 3/5 stars. It’s a worthwhile one-time viewing despite its tempo and somber tone.
Despatch is a picture that demands our undivided attention and, ultimately, our respect for being what it is, according to Times Now’s Subhash K. Jha, who gave it a rating of 3.5 out of 5.
References
- Wikipedia contributors. (2025f, August 6). Despatch (film). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Despatch_(film)
- Despatch (2024) ⭐ 4.4 | Action, Drama, Thriller. (2024, December 13). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15260176/
