‘Despatch’ trailer: Manoj Bajpayee’s crime journalist ventures into troubled waters in this investigative thriller

Manoj Bajpayee in a still from ‘Despatch’
| Photo Credit: ZEE5/YouTube

Streaming platform ZEE5 on Tuesday (December 3) unveiled the trailer of its much-awaited original film Despatch, headlined by Manoj Bajpayee. Directed by Kanu Behl, the film premieres on the platform on December 13.

The trailer introduces Manoj as Joy Bag, a crime journalist who ventures intro troubled waters when he attempts to uncover a 2G spectrum scam. Joy soon realises that he might be in over his head when he uncovers a corrupt network of powerful people who threaten to silence him.

“Crime journalist Joy Bag sets out on a perilous journey to uncover the truth behind a sinister scam, unknowingly placing his life in grave danger. With mounting threats from unknown enemies urging him to abandon the case, Joy’s pursuit of a breaking story becomes a dangerous game. But as the stakes rise, Joy finds himself caught in a storm far bigger than he anticipated. Despatch explores Joy’s turbulent struggle as he navigates the complex seas of media corruption, power battles, and personal difficulties. Will he expose the dark secrets of Mumbai’s criminal underworld, or will the truth destroy him first?” reads the official logline of the film.

Despatch premiered at the MAMI Film Festival 2024, before a screening at the 55th International Film Festival of India. The film also stars Shahana Goswami, Arrchita Agarwaal, Ritu Parna Sen, Dilip Shankar, Riju Bajaj and others in supporting roles.

In a statement, Manoj said he’s sure the film will keep the viewers hooked to the screen. “I have undergone intense prep work for this role and Kanu is a tough taskmaster who has pushed us beyond our comfort to deliver our absolute best, so we hope that this movie strikes a chord with the viewers and pushes us to do better,” he said.

Director Kanu Behl shared, “I began working on Despatch in 2016, and after immersive research, we uncovered a treasure trove of untold, jaw-dropping stories about the world of journalism, particularly those navigating the dangerous Mumbai underworld. Our goal was not to create just a thriller, but to dive into the flawed, human side of investigative journalism—showing the raw, gritty truth behind the headlines. Once the script was in place, we knew no one but Manoj Bajpayee could bring the character of Joy Bag to life – and he is nothing short of spectacular in the film. With an extraordinary cast including Shahana Goswami and Arrchita Agarwal, I can say that Despatch is an electrifying ride that I can’t wait for audiences to experience!”

Produced by Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP Movies, the film has a screenplay written by Behl and Ishani Banerjee.