Last updated: 8 May 2026


Justice Is Their Crime
Hindi · Action, Crime, Thriller
2h 21m · 18 May 2012
Music: Bappi Lahiri, Dharam Sandeep, Dharam Bhatt | DOP: Harshraj Shroff, Sapan Narula, M Ravichandran Thevar, Siddhartha More, Zaryan Patel | Writer: Nilesh Girkar
Ratings
Our Rating
2
Department revolves around the story of two police officers who operate outside the law to fight crime in Mumbai. The film explores the dynamics of power, loyalty, and corruption within the police force and the underworld. It delves into the grey areas of morality where the protagonists use unconventional and often violent methods to achieve justice, blurring the lines between right and wrong.
Department attempts to present a gritty and raw portrayal of the Mumbai underworld and the police officers who navigate it. The content is intense, with a focus on action and crime drama, but the story lacks depth and coherence at times, making it difficult to fully engage with the narrative. The screenplay is uneven, with moments of strong tension interspersed with slower, less impactful scenes.
The pacing of the film is inconsistent; the first half is relatively engaging with a build-up of the central conflict, but the second half loses momentum due to repetitive sequences and a lack of narrative progression. The songs and music by Bappi Lahiri, Dharam Sandeep, and Dharam Bhatt do not significantly enhance the film, with the background score failing to create the desired atmosphere or emotional impact.
Overall, Department struggles to balance its action elements with a compelling story, resulting in a film that feels disjointed and underwhelming despite its star cast and ambitious premise.
Amitabh Bachchan: Commanding presence but limited scope in a largely underwritten role.
Sanjay Dutt: Fits the tough cop image well but lacks depth.
Rana Daggubati: Shows promise but is overshadowed by the film's weak script.
Lakshmi Manchu: Adequate in a supporting role.
Deepak Tijori: Minor role with limited impact.
Anjana Sukhani: Brief appearance with little character development.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Ram Gopal Varma's direction tries to capture the dark and violent world of Mumbai's underworld but falls short due to a fragmented script and lack of narrative cohesion. His writing does not provide enough depth or clarity, resulting in a film that feels disjointed and less impactful than intended.
| Source | Rating |
|---|---|
| 2.75 / 5 | |
| 2.50 / 5 | |
| 2.50 / 5 |
Our Rating
No collection data available yet.
No centers data available.
No awards data available.
| Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Positive | 20% |
| Neutral | 30% |
| Negative | 50% |
Critics generally found Department to be a disappointing effort from Ram Gopal Varma, citing its weak screenplay and inconsistent pacing as major drawbacks. While the performances of Amitabh Bachchan and Sanjay Dutt were appreciated, the film failed to engage audiences due to its lack of narrative depth and ineffective use of music and background score.
Final Box-Office Result
Department released on 18 May 2012 (2012).
Department is declared a DISASTER at the box office.
Department is available on Netflix. OTT date will be updated soon.
Department directed by Ram Gopal Varma. Produced by Ram Gopal Varma.
Department stars Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Rana Daggubati, Lakshmi Manchu, Deepak Tijori.
Tollybo rates Department 2/5. Verdict: DISASTER.
Music for Department composed by Bappi Lahiri, Dharam Sandeep, Dharam Bhatt.
Department — Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller, Runtime: 141 minutes, Language: Hindi.