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‘Despatch’ – Manoj Bajpayee film is thriller with journalist who is no straight ‘hero’, says director Kanu Behl

‘Despatch’ – Manoj Bajpayee film is thriller with journalist who is no straight ‘hero’, says director Kanu Behl

Directed by Kanu Behl, ‘Despatch’ stars Manoj Bajpayee as a journalist caught in a high-stakes investigation into a £800 million scandal (₹8000K/$875m). Set against the backdrop of India’s changing media landscape, the film explores the clash between traditional journalism and digital disruption. Produced by Ronnie Screwvala under RSVP Movies, ‘Despatch’ releases on Zee 5 today. In this exclusive interview for www.asianculturevulture.com, Behl reflects on the making of the film and his collaboration with celebrated actor Bajpayee

By Tatiana Rosenstein

www.asianculturevulture.com (ACV): The last time we spoke, it was at Cannes for ‘Agra’ (2023). I wonder, at that point, what phase was ‘Despatch’ in?
Kanu Behl (KB): At that time, we were just finishing post-production while ‘Agra’ was being showcased at Cannes. It’s interesting because ‘Agra’ was such a dark, surreal film, while ‘Despatch’ also veers in a similarly dark direction, yet it’s different in its own way. Both are psychological and explore darker themes, but I feel ‘Despatch’ is more grounded. ‘Agra’ was steeped in surrealism, while ‘Despatch’ has a more procedural approach to the tension and narrative. It’s a kind of thriller, but I didn’t originally think of it as such.

Kanu Behl

ACV: Why are you drawn to thrillers?
KB: To be honest, I never categorised ‘Despatch’ as a thriller. If anything, it’s more of a character study. What really interested me was trying to tell a Faustian tale. When I started developing the idea, I was disturbed by the one-dimensional way journalists are portrayed in films. Either they’re these heroic figures, always fighting for the greater good, or they’re shown as morally corrupt crooks, looking to exploit stories for personal gain. I wanted to explore why nobody ever looks at journalists in a more nuanced, complex way. I also realised, after 18 months of research with cops, lawyers, journalists, and even people from the underworld, that the stories I was chasing always seemed to trail off. Nothing felt definitive. There was always this fog around who’s at the heart of these events. That’s part of the reason ‘Despatch’ became so important for us – to reflect that sense of opacity.

Manoj Bajpayee (left) in ‘Despatch

ACV: You talk of this ‘fog’ of information but in this age of social media and internet access and almost constant connectivity, isn’t it easier to find out what’s going on?
KB: That’s an interesting point. Theoretically, yes, the internet and social media should make things more transparent. We’re more connected than ever, yet systems remain so opaque. There are vast amounts of money stored in tax havens that we never hear about, and this continues to be protected under layers of secrecy. Why is that? Why do these tax havens even exist? If social media truly has the power to democratise information, why are these financial systems allowed to remain so closed off? Even something like the recent Indian general elections is an example of this. The term “YouTube election” became popular because people are now turning to YouTube for their news, increasingly distrustful of mainstream media. TV news is often seen as being controlled by those in power, and so social media – despite its flaws – is becoming the alternative. But that in itself is worrying. It speaks to a larger issue of media manipulation and the distrust of traditional sources of information, which is something I feel is happening worldwide, not just in India.

ACV: We like to see more films where journalists are heroes (tongue in cheek) and I’ve noticed that many Indian journalists don’t introduce themselves as such but as film critic, entertainment editor, or just writer…
KB: I see your point, but I slightly disagree. Growing up in India, I’ve seen a fair number of films where journalists are depicted positively. One of my original inspirations for ‘Despatch’ was the 1986 film ‘New Delhi Times’, starring Shashi Kapoor. I was about 10 or 11 when I first saw it, and it made a lasting impact on me. The film showed journalism in a positive light, and it’s one of the earliest films I can remember that portrayed journalists as real people with complexities. But yes, in Bollywood, journalists are often relegated to secondary roles, and when they appear in these smaller parts, they’re typically shown as manipulative figures looking to profit from stories. That portrayal, especially in mainstream cinema, has contributed to the stigma around journalism.

ACV: You said you wanted to challenge the idea that individuals are pwerless against a system. Do you believe a single person can change anything?
KB: I don’t think one person can change everything, but I do believe that change can start with one person. History is full of examples where small actions have led to significant change. Look at what happened in Bangladesh – a protest started by a handful of people led to a major shift. It’s a reminder that change is possible, even if it seems impossible at first.

ACV: You’ve cast Manoj Bajpayee in the lead role, and his character is named Joy. Given the themes of greed, ambition, and hubris, how do you think Manoj brought something special to the character?
KB: Once the script was finished, he was the first actor I thought of. I’m fortunate that Manoj responded to the script immediately. He’s been in the industry for over 30 years and still brings such incredible energy and commitment to each part. He’s all about the work. In ‘Despatch’, it was the small moments—his body language, the subtleties in his eyes—that brought depth to Joy. The character could easily have become overdramatic, but Manoj dialled it down, making sure it stayed grounded. He says so much with minimal dialogue; the pauses, the silences, are as important as the words. It’s interesting that Joy’s name contrasts with his character, especially since he’s constantly chasing something that ultimately destroys him.

‘Despatch’ is out on Zee 5 from today (December 13) …

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Written by Asian Culture Vulture