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Crime thriller

Santosh (2024): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Santosh (2024) movie poster

Santosh is a 2024 crime thriller starring Shahana Goswami as Santosh Saini and Sanjay Bishnoi. It runs 2 hours and earned $1.3 million worldwide on a $5 million budget. It earned 2 award nominations, including Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer at the NAACP Image Awards 2025. Critics gave it 75 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10.

IMDb rating
7.1/10
worldwide gross
$1.3M
award nominations
2
Echo Score
82
Santosh (2024) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h (120 min)
Genres
Crime , Drama , Thriller
Original language
Hindi
Budget
$5M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Santosh About?

The premise of Santosh without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

After her husband’s death, Santosh unexpectedly inherits his position as a police constable in a remote region of Northern India. She becomes involved in a sensitive investigation when a young woman from a low-caste family is found raped and murdered, working alongside a progressive, feminist inspector.

Santosh Themes & Keywords

· 26 tags
  • muslim
  • female protagonist
  • cell phone
  • written by director
  • widow
  • india
  • train
  • police officer
  • murder
  • triple f rated
  • hotel
  • innocent killing
+14 more
  • female police officer
  • one word title
  • f rated
  • bicycle
  • death
  • title directed by female
  • dead body
  • morgue
  • well
  • cigarette smoking
  • pastry
  • torture
  • feminism
  • character name in title
Cast & crew

Santosh Cast & Characters

Shahana Goswami leads the cast as Santosh Saini, with Sanjay Bishnoi as Beniwal.

Ratings

Santosh Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Santosh 75 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10. Our Echo Score gives it 82/100, strongest in character & emotion (85) and weakest in story & flow (70).

82 /100

Santosh Echo Score Breakdown

The film delivers a compelling and immersive crime procedural that balances social critique with thoughtful character study. The assured direction and evocative cinematography establish a tense atmosphere, while the lead performance lends emotional nuance. Although the deliberate pacing can slow narrative momentum, the layered screenplay, cohesive sensory design, and ambiguous moral landscape provide lasting engagement. The result is a resonant drama that sustains interest despite its measured unfolding.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 80

    In terms of art and craft, the film’s direction and visual design stand out with assured framing and evocative lighting. The measured editing pace reinforces the investigative atmosphere and the production design foregrounds the story’s social context through carefully rendered settings. Occasionally the deliberate tempo can feel prolonged, but the overall aesthetic cohesion remains compelling.

  • Character & Emotion 85

    When it comes to character and emotion, the lead performance anchors the narrative with subtlety and depth. The protagonist’s restrained reactions convey layers of shock and resolve, while supporting roles reinforce the film’s social tensions. Though the emotional arc occasionally hovers beneath the surface, the portrayals collectively deliver a resonant and nuanced portrait.

  • Story & Flow 70

    When evaluating the story and flow, the film unfolds as a detailed procedural that sustains intrigue through a complex examination of institutional bias. The methodical pacing and layered screenplay encourage reflection on moral ambiguity, although the deliberate tempo can reduce forward momentum for some viewers. Overall, the narrative remains engaging despite its measured unfolding.

  • Sensory Experience 85

    In terms of sensory experience, the film excels with a dynamic score and meticulous sound design that heighten tension throughout key sequences. Visually, the muted color palette and strategic use of shadows create an immersive atmosphere rooted in its setting. This cohesive audio-visual approach consistently reinforces the film’s thematic intensity.

  • Rewatch Factor 80

    When considering rewatch factor, the film’s ambiguous moral landscape encourages subsequent viewings and deeper analysis of character choices. Recurring thematic elements and understated narrative clues reveal additional layers upon reflection. While the deliberate pacing may deter some re-engagement, the persistent grey area and intellectual provocation offer enduring appeal.

Plot

Santosh Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Santosh from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Santosh Saini, the wife of a constable who was killed during a riot, travels to the police headquarters to claim his pension and is brought into service under a government scheme called “compassionate recruitment,” taking a new post in a rural town. While on duty, she overhears a Dalit father speaking about the disappearance of his 15-year-old daughter, Devika Pippal, who had gone missing two days earlier. The father had reported the case before, but his concerns were dismissed. Santosh tells him that he can file a new report with her, and together they visit the police station, where their concerns are again met with mockery and indifference.

Full summary

The whole story of Santosh, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Santosh Box Office & Budget

Santosh grossed $1.3 million worldwide on a $5 million budget, 26% of what it cost. $39,075 came from the US and Canada and $1.2 million (97%) from the rest of the world.

2024 box office

Worldwide gross

$1.3M

26% of its budget back

US & Canada
$39.1K
International
$1.2M
Budget
$5M
US & Canada 3% Rest of the world 97%
Awards

Santosh Awards & Nominations

Santosh earned 2 award nominations, including Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer at the NAACP Image Awards 2025. The 2 nominations come from 2 ceremonies.

2 nominations2 ceremonies

    • Nominated Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer
  • British Academy Film Awards logo
    BAFTA 2025 1 nomination
    • Nominated Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer
Videos

Santosh Trailers & Videos

5 videos: 2 trailers, 1 teaser and 2 featurettes.

Trailer [Subtitled]
  • Trailer Official US Trailer [Subtitled]
  • Teaser In UK Cinemas 21st March [Subtitled]
  • Featurette SANTOSH Aims to Give You Lots to Discuss | TIFF
  • Featurette Mark Kermode reviews Santosh (2024) | BFI Player
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Santosh?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who inherits her late husband's police constable position through the "compassionate recruitment" scheme?

Details

Santosh Also Known As

8 alternative titles, including “Santoš” and “산토쉬 순경”.

Also known as
  • Santoš
  • 산토쉬 순경
  • סנטוש
  • Secretos de un crimen
  • 警上添花
  • 桑托什
  • Santosh: Vozes da Hierarquia
  • Сантош

Seen Santosh?

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Movies Like Santosh

Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Jayanti, Dhokha and Santosh Subramaniam.

FAQ

Santosh FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, cast, box office, ratings, awards, post-credit scenes and language of Santosh, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Santosh?

Santosh runs 2 hours (120 minutes).

When was Santosh released?

Santosh was released on December 27, 2024.

Who is in the cast of Santosh?

Santosh stars Shahana Goswami as Santosh Saini and Sanjay Bishnoi as Beniwal.

How much did Santosh make at the box office?

Santosh grossed $1.3 million worldwide ($39,075 domestic, $1.2 million international) on a budget of $5 million.

How is Santosh rated?

Santosh has 7.1/10 on IMDb and 75 on Metacritic.

Was Santosh nominated for any awards?

Santosh received 2 nominations across 2 ceremonies.

Does Santosh have a post-credit scene?

No. Santosh has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Santosh in?

The original language of Santosh is Hindi.

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