Manoj Bajpayee’s Despatch to have OTT premiere on December 13; Watch trailer

What happens when the pursuit of breaking news leads you straight into danger? ZEE5 Global’s highly anticipated investigative crime thriller, Despatch is about to answer that question in the most thrilling way possible. After debuting at the prestigious MAMI Film Festival 2024, followed by a special screening at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Despatch is all set to premiere on ZEE5 Global on December 13.

Produced by Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP Movies and directed by Kanu Behl, Despatch stars Manoj Bajpayee as Joy Bag, a crime journalist who becomes embroiled in a dangerous investigation that threatens to unravel his life. The film also stars Shahana Goswami, Arrchita Agarwaal, Ritu Parna Sen, Dilip Shankar, Riju Bajaj and others in supporting roles.

The exciting yet intriguing trailer gives a sneak peek into the gripping tale of a journalist’s descent into darkness, offering a bold and unfiltered take on crime and society.

Plot

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?

Speaking about his role, Manoj Bajpayee said: “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.”

“After multiple festival rounds like MAMI, IFFI and JFF, we are incredibly excited for the release of Despatch on ZEE5 Global. My association with ZEE5 Global goes a long way and post the success of Dial 100, Silence and Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, we are thrilled to bring forth another engaging and entertaining film which is sure to keep the viewers hooked to the screen,” he added.

Director Kanu Behl shared he began working on Despatch in 2016, and after immersive research, the team “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!” he said.

Ronnie Screwvala of RSVP Movies said: “With Despatch, we are thrilled to present a gripping narrative that pushes the boundaries of storytelling in Indian cinema. Manoj Bajpayee’s stellar performance accompanied by Shahana Goswami and Arrchita Agarwal’s ace acting presented together by Kanu Behl’s unique vision have brought an edge to this exciting tale. Our long standing collaboration with ZEE5 Global has been instrumental in ensuring such bold stories reach a global audience, reaffirming our commitment to delivering premium content to viewers everywhere.”

Manish Kalra, Chief Business Officer ZEE5 stated: “ZEE5 is deeply committed to bringing audiences across the globe original content that not only entertains but also sparks meaningful dialogue. Cinema’s power to connect through compelling storytelling is at the heart of what we do, and our latest release, Despatch is a perfect example. Manoj Bajpayee’s outstanding performance, combined with Kanu Behl’s direction, has made this project one we’re incredibly proud of. We look forward to bringing this impactful film to a wider global audience as we continue to push boundaries in content creation.”