The Hunt Review: A chilling retelling of India's darkest chapter of Rajiv Gandhi's assassination case

India.com

2 days ago

The assassination of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, on May 21, 1991, is one of the darkest chapters of Indian history. It all begins in Tamil Nadu's Sriperumbudur, a political rally that later made shockwaves across the nation. Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Sriperumbudur, and what followed was an explosion that sent the entire nation into a state of shock and mourning. The Hunt , a 7-episode series on Sony LIV, documents how the SIT (Special Investigation Team) tracks down the mastermind behind the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. A 90-Day Manhunt Filled with Stress and Suspense
The 7-episode series covers 90 days of stressful and tedious hunting and tracking down the mastermind behind Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. A special investigation team led by D.R. Kaarthikeyan, played by the brilliant Amit Sial, will keep you on your toes. His objective is to track down the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, and he gets to choose his brightest and top guns in the field.
A Cast That Holds It Together
The director of the series, Nagesh Kukunoor, stars a pleasant cast, starring Sahil Vaid as SP Amit Verma, Girish Sharma as DIG Radhavinod Raju, Vidyut Garg as NSG Captain Ravindran, Bhagavathy Perumal as DSP Ragottham, and Danish Iqbal as DIG Amod Kant. The series also stars Shafiq Mustafa, Anjana Balaji, B. Sai Dinesh, Shruti Jayan, and Gauri Menon in key roles.
A major strength of The Hunt is its dedication to authenticity. Much of the dialogue is in Tamil, which adds realism and immerses the viewer in the South Indian setting. Nagesh Kukunoor's decision to retain linguistic and cultural nuances helps maintain the integrity of the story. A Strong Start That Loses Pace
Talking about the first two episodes, which engage the audience. On the other hand, from episode three, the series starts setting the bar low. As more characters are introduced, it becomes increasingly difficult to follow who's who. The narrative slows down, and the investigative journey begins to feel repetitive, like hitting the fast-forward button through familiar plot points. Moments That Will Leave You Breathless
There are instances where you will scratch your head, intense standoffs, and interrogation scenes. The series explores these moral grey areas, particularly where officers use psychological manipulation to extract information from LTTE operatives. These elements are thoughtfully handled and add depth. Restricted Scope for a Broad Subject
Amit Sial's role, though impactful, is limited. Apart from that, Sahil Vaid, who plays Amit Verma, plays a brilliant role during the crackdown following Rajiv Gandhi's assassination.
Though The Hunt is based on real events, the series delves into the darkest chapter of Indian history. It misses an opportunity to delve deeper into the lives of the SIT officers or the broader socio-political context surrounding the LTTE's operations. It chooses to narrow its focus solely on the assassination. A more expansive narrative could have elevated the story from procedural thriller to historical epic. Final Verdict
Despite a strong cast and gripping premise, The Hunt struggles to maintain pace and character development. The first few episodes promise intensity, but the later ones struggle to deliver a lasting impact. Still, it's a brave attempt at narrating a crucial moment in Indian history and is worth a watch for those intrigued by true-crime thrillers.
Stars: 3.5/5