Currently watching: Despatch (2024)
“The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you.” ― David Foster Wallace
Joy, an investigative journalist working for the titular ‘Despatch’ news outlet catches scent of a scandalous beat. Not one to cower but simultaneously a severely deluded man, he veers off course from his flummoxed editor's deadlines and subsequently finds himself entangled in a web of money laundering, match-fixing, et al, all of which trace back to deadly mafia dons/crime ring leaders who pull the strings behind the scene. Apart from chasing underworld kingpins who seem to predict as well as control his every move, Joy is also unable to escape his personal demons. As a result, his relentless pursuit of shady scandalous affairs only further lay bare his own shady nature and misgivings as both a journalist and a husband
The novel concept behind this movie is commendable as it showcases how a journalist can be as scummy as the subject he's reporting on, with the interactions between Joy and the women in his life- be it his ghostwriter, a fellow work colleague/ex , or his wife Shweta, painting a picture of how he only views them as a means of collecting more material for his books or for his exclusive news items. The movie further depicts Joy's personal and professional shortcomings by drawing parallels between the journalist desperately tugging at loose or stray threads in the hopes that his story will automatically come together, just like his estranged spouse who on the other hand hopes their stormy marriage will also 'get better' if they birth a child and 'start a family'. Unfortunately, Joy's relentless efforts only result in the journalist finding himself in a state of confusion over which of his stories will be deemed as newsworthy, and simultaneously avoiding both his wife and his secret paramour when his steamy affair eventually comes to the fore.
'Despatch' also serves as a complex and cautionary character study of a devoted yet conflicted journalist who flew too close to the sun- Particularly highlighting how individuals in the field of media are lured into traps but also can transform into the predators and honeytraps themselves according to the demands of their profession. Even the visuals featured in the movie speak volumes of a once noble profession eroding - As a journalist under house arrest is framed against the backdrop of a vandalized sign on the wall with the words 'Give up the good fight' on it, and in the same scene, a quote by Mahatma Gandhi 'Live as if you were to die tomorrow' hangs on the wall behind Joy too, as if foreshadowing the latter living life on the edge and going to extremes for a scoop, relying on unconventional sources who will betray him. Joy, a veteran in the field is also haunted by his editor's constant demands of high ratings after being displaced upon the advent of digital media, and in the first act itself, he passes by a framed photo at his office, of a juicy and sensational headline that reads 'Headless body found in topless bar ' (a titillating title which pretty much sums up the priorities set at Despatch by the higher-ups who run the roost).
Joy is also in over his head, blurring the lines when it comes to vanity, maintaining and forsaking his journalistic integrity and the movie never sugarcoats nor glorifies this aspect of the character. It addresses the futility of seeking out the truth via undignified methods. As mainstream media outlets opt for the trend of digital, bite-sized 'tweets' to garner more ratings, an already stressed Joy is forced to race against the clock, to fulfil his boss’s desires or even satiate his own ego, with common sense going out the window in a bid to eagerly and blindly follow orders. In one instance be is almost shot on the job in his determination and desperation to click a photo of a suspect, and later he blows his own cover due to an inaptitude regarding technological know-how.
Joy shares a lot in common with the self-serving protagonist from the Jake Gyllenhaal starrer 'Nightcrawler’, and just like Gyllenhaal in the former, Manoj Bajpayee too gets the assignment as usual- effortlessly switching between a naïve bespectacled Joy and an unhinged manipulative beastly version of this character. Co-star Shahana Goswami offers a strong supporting performance as Joy's neglected wife who never gets to tell her side of the story and who herself goes to extremes for her own desires/pursuits. Unfortunately, Arrchita Agarwaal is miscast and quite shrill in her role.
While it boasts many positives, much like its protagonist, as a whole 'Despatch' lacks technical finesse too- As the glaring consistency errors are hard to miss. And while director Kanu Behl 's vision is admirable too, the execution is also as bloated as Joy's ego and the efforts in recreating the similar magic of veteran filmmaker Ram Gopal Verma's old edgy and gritty style of storytelling here unfortunately suffer and are somewhat limited by the aimless direction, unoriginal dialogue and a few unnecessary scenes that pad out its already lengthy running time.
Despite flaws, I'd still recommend watching ‘Despatch’ for the engaging atmosphere, performances and for its themes since it nonetheless proves to be a realistic and very bleak think piece on the current sad state of journalism/media, of guerrilla tactics, so on and so forth, minus the melodrama of the very loud news anchors, sensationalist media outlets or channels that it is a commentary of.
*Despatch is streaming on Zee 5