# DSP (டிஎஸ்பி) (film)
**DSP** (டிஎஸ்பி) is a 2022 Indian Tamil-language action comedy film written and directed by Ponram, starring [Vijay Sethupathi](https://www.edgepedia.org/vijay-sethupathi) as a police officer named Vascodagama who returns to his hometown of Dindigul to settle scores with the rowdy Muttai Ravi.[1](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/dsp/dsp-review.html) It was produced by Kaarthekeyen Santhanam under Stone Bench Films, the banner of director [Karthik Subbaraj](https://www.edgepedia.org/karthik-subbaraj), and released in theaters on 2 December 2022.[1](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/dsp/dsp-review.html) • [2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/6911/2022-dsp)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Title and language | DSP (டிஎஸ்பி), a Tamil action comedy written and directed by Ponram[1](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/dsp/dsp-review.html) |
| Release | Theatrical release on 2 December 2022; CBFC certified UA on 25 November 2022 with a listed length of 145.39 minutes[2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/6911/2022-dsp) • [3](https://www.cbfcindia.gov.in/cbfcAdmin/assets/pdf/CC_Issued_2022.pdf) |
| Lead cast | Vijay Sethupathi as M. Vascodagama, Anukreethy Vas as Annapoorani, Prabhakar as Muttai Ravi[4](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/dsp) |
| Key crew | Music by D Imman; cinematography by Dinesh Krishnan B and Venkatesh S; editing by Vivek Harshan[1](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/dsp/dsp-review.html) |
| Production | Kaarthekeyen Santhanam for Stone Bench Films; shooting wrapped in February 2022[1](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/dsp/dsp-review.html) • [5](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2022/Feb/16/vjs-46-vijay-sethupathi-ponram-film-wraps-up-shoot-29784.html) |
| Streaming | Available on Netflix, Sun Nxt, and VI movies and tv in India[4](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/dsp) |
| Reception | IMDb 3.6/10; published critic ratings ranged from 1.5 to 2.5 out of 5[4](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/dsp) • [6](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/dsp-movie-review-vijay-sethupathi-8302392/) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Vascodagama is the son of a flower seller in Dindigul, a town in southern [Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-nadu), where his father Murugapandi runs a flower business and leads the local flower association.[7](https://www.netflixmovies.com/dsp-2022) His father wants him to find a government job rather than fight injustice, and during his job hunt he comes across 'Muttai' Ravi, the henchman of the local MLA, and locks horns with him.[8](https://www.theweek.in/review/movies/2022/12/02/dsp-review-vijay-sethupathi-police-movie-vasco-da-gama.html) A tussle with Ravi forces Vascodagama into exile, and he joins the police force, returning to his hometown as a Deputy Superintendent of Police to take on Ravi, who in the meantime has grown into a political figure.[1](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/dsp/dsp-review.html) Along the way he falls in love with Annapoorani, who helps run her family's sweet shop.[7](https://www.netflixmovies.com/dsp-2022)
The villain's nickname has an explanation in the film: Ravi is called Muttai, which means egg, because his family supplies eggs to the area.[9](https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/movies/regional-cinema/story/dsp-movie-review-vijay-sethupathis-talent-is-wasted-in-this-ponram-film-2304466-2022-12-02) The hero's name, by contrast, is never explained on screen; director Ponram said in an interview that [Vasco da Gama](https://www.edgepedia.org/vasco-da-gama) was the character name and was initially considered as the film's title.[10](https://www.ottplay.com/interview/exclusive-ponram-the-thought-of-casting-vijay-sethupathi-came-to-my-mind-after-i-finished-writing-for-the-film/975db430c2425)
## Production
The film was Vijay Sethupathi's 46th lead role and was tentatively titled VJS 46 during production.[11](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vijay-sethupathi-ponram-movie-titled-dsp-first-look-out-now/articleshow/95433384.cms) Shooting wrapped in February 2022 at Chengalpattu, with Anukreethy Vas, winner of Miss India World 2018, cast as the female lead.[5](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2022/Feb/16/vjs-46-vijay-sethupathi-ponram-film-wraps-up-shoot-29784.html) Ponram said the multiple postponements of shooting caused by [COVID-19 lockdowns](https://www.edgepedia.org/covid-19-lockdowns) were a challenge; the first schedule was completed before the initial lockdown, and later schedules were shot between subsequent lockdowns.[10](https://www.ottplay.com/interview/exclusive-ponram-the-thought-of-casting-vijay-sethupathi-came-to-my-mind-after-i-finished-writing-for-the-film/975db430c2425)
The title DSP was chosen because many characters address the protagonist by that rank, and the team felt it was a catchy title.[10](https://www.ottplay.com/interview/exclusive-ponram-the-thought-of-casting-vijay-sethupathi-came-to-my-mind-after-i-finished-writing-for-the-film/975db430c2425) The first look poster, showing Sethupathi in police uniform on a Royal Enfield motorcycle, was released on 10 November 2022.[11](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vijay-sethupathi-ponram-movie-titled-dsp-first-look-out-now/articleshow/95433384.cms)
D Imman composed the music, working with lyricists Yugabharathi, Ponram, and Vijay Muthupandi.[1](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/dsp/dsp-review.html) The peppy track Nalla Irumaa was sung by [Udit Narayan](https://www.edgepedia.org/udit-narayan); Ponram said the Bollywood singer's involvement came out of a conversation with Imman and marked Narayan's return to Tamil playback after a short hiatus.[10](https://www.ottplay.com/interview/exclusive-ponram-the-thought-of-casting-vijay-sethupathi-came-to-my-mind-after-i-finished-writing-for-the-film/975db430c2425)
## Release and reception
DSP was certified UA by the [Central Board of Film Certification](https://www.edgepedia.org/central-board-of-film-certification) on 25 November 2022 and released theatrically on 2 December 2022.[3](https://www.cbfcindia.gov.in/cbfcAdmin/assets/pdf/CC_Issued_2022.pdf) • [2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/6911/2022-dsp) Reported runtimes differ across databases: [JustWatch](https://www.edgepedia.org/justwatch) and Rotten Tomatoes list 2 hours 24 minutes, [Behindwoods](https://www.edgepedia.org/behindwoods) lists 2 hours 26 minutes, and The Times of India lists 2 hours 2 minutes.[4](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/dsp) • [1](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/dsp/dsp-review.html) • [12](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/dsp/movie-review/95933494.cms)
**Critical response was negative.** [The Indian Express](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-indian-express) gave 1.5 out of 5, calling the film generic and its comedy ineffective.[6](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/dsp-movie-review-vijay-sethupathi-8302392/) [The Week](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-week) gave 2 out of 5, describing it as a typical honest-cop-versus-politician drama devoid of novelty, while noting that Prabhakar's villain was convincing.[8](https://www.theweek.in/review/movies/2022/12/02/dsp-review-vijay-sethupathi-police-movie-vasco-da-gama.html) Cinema Express gave 2.5 out of 5, crediting an effective Vijay Sethupathi and a convincing Prabhakar with keeping the template commercial film afloat.[13](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/review/2022/dec/03/dsp-movie-review-vijay-sethupathi-prabhakar-anchor-ponrams-middling-attempt-to-get-back-on-track-37305.html) The News Minute criticized the film for valorizing police brutality and treating it as comedy.[14](https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/dsp-review-ardent-vijay-sethupathi-fans-cop-drama-letdown-170550) Audience scores were similarly low: IMDb registered 3.6 out of 10 from about 1,400 votes, and TamilMDb records that the film received negative reviews from critics and audiences.[4](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/dsp) • [2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/6911/2022-dsp)
## Streaming
In India the film streams by subscription on Netflix, Sun Nxt, and VI movies and tv; JustWatch reported no free streaming options as of its latest check.[4](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/dsp) [Availability](https://www.edgepedia.org/availability) varies by country: it is included with Netflix and Sun Nxt subscriptions in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Jordan, while Flicks reported no available streaming platforms in the United Kingdom.[15](https://ottasia.com/title/movie/806920/dsp?country=MY) • [16](https://www.flicks.co.uk/movie/dsp/)
## References
1. [DSP (aka) DSP Movie review, Behindwoods](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/dsp/dsp-review.html)
2. [DSP (2022), TamilMDb](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/6911/2022-dsp)
3. [List of feature films certified in 2022, Central Board of Film Certification](https://www.cbfcindia.gov.in/cbfcAdmin/assets/pdf/CC_Issued_2022.pdf)
4. [DSP streaming: where to watch movie online?, JustWatch (India)](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/dsp)
5. [VJS 46: Vijay Sethupathi-Ponram film wraps up shoot, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2022/Feb/16/vjs-46-vijay-sethupathi-ponram-film-wraps-up-shoot-29784.html)
6. [DSP movie review: Vijay Sethupathi's latest is as generic as it can get, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/dsp-movie-review-vijay-sethupathi-8302392/)
7. [DSP (2022) on Netflix, NetflixMovies.com](https://www.netflixmovies.com/dsp-2022)
8. ['DSP' review: A revenge drama that fails to impress, The Week](https://www.theweek.in/review/movies/2022/12/02/dsp-review-vijay-sethupathi-police-movie-vasco-da-gama.html)
9. [DSP movie review: Vijay Sethupathi's talent is wasted in this Ponram film, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/movies/regional-cinema/story/dsp-movie-review-vijay-sethupathis-talent-is-wasted-in-this-ponram-film-2304466-2022-12-02)
10. [Exclusive! Ponram interview, OTTPlay](https://www.ottplay.com/interview/exclusive-ponram-the-thought-of-casting-vijay-sethupathi-came-to-my-mind-after-i-finished-writing-for-the-film/975db430c2425)
11. [Vijay Sethupathi - Ponram movie titled 'DSP'; first look out now!, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vijay-sethupathi-ponram-movie-titled-dsp-first-look-out-now/articleshow/95433384.cms)
12. [DSP Movie Review, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/dsp/movie-review/95933494.cms)
13. [DSP Movie Review: Vijay Sethupathi, Prabhakar anchor Ponram's middling attempt to get back on track, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/review/2022/dec/03/dsp-movie-review-vijay-sethupathi-prabhakar-anchor-ponrams-middling-attempt-to-get-back-on-track-37305.html)
14. [DSP review: For ardent Vijay Sethupathi fans, this cop drama is a letdown, The News Minute](https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/dsp-review-ardent-vijay-sethupathi-fans-cop-drama-letdown-170550)
15. [Where to watch DSP (2022) in Malaysia, OTTASIA](https://ottasia.com/title/movie/806920/dsp?country=MY)
16. [DSP | Where to watch streaming and online in the UK, Flicks](https://www.flicks.co.uk/movie/dsp/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Tamil films of the 2020s › Tamil films of 2022 and 2023*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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