The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case

The Hunt is a gripping and well-crafted crime thriller that brings the intense 90-day manhunt for Rajiv Gandhi's assassins to life. The storytelling is engaging, with strong performances, especially by Amit Sial as D. R. Kaarthikeyan, and a commendable focus on historical accuracy. The series keeps you hooked with its procedural depth and emotional weight.

However, the language experience was a letdown. Despite selecting the Hindi version, over 70% of the dialogue is in Tamil, with only English subtitles available and no Hindi subtitle option. This made it challenging for Hindi-speaking viewers to fully immerse themselves without constantly reading subtitles. I urge Sony LIV to add Hindi subtitles or clearly indicate the heavy Tamil dialogue in the Hindi version to set better expectations. Overall, it's a must-watch for true crime fans, but the language barrier could be improved for a wider audience.

I deducted one star because the real incident of 21st May, which was central to the story, wasn't portrayed with the depth and realism it deserved. The sequence felt rushed and lacked the emotional intensity expected from such a historic moment. Additionally, the Hindi version was a major letdown though promoted as Hindi, around 98% of the dialogues were still in Tamil. As a result, I had to rely entirely on subtitles, which took away from the actors' performances. Suggestion: If offering multiple language versions, please ensure proper dubbing so viewers can fully engage with the content in their preferred language.

Anwar Says: A nostalgic story for the audience of 55 plus , sticking to basics, no non-sense and simultaneously revealing some facts, which at least I didn't know. For instance, the suicide bombers made a dry run on Mr. V P Singh before assassinating Rajiv Gandhi or they had Plan-B ready. Another distinguishing feature is that real names with real identities were used and I am surprised that in 2025 , censorship authorities have passed and this shows the brilliance of Nagesh Kukanoor.

Two more commendable features of this web series are casting and cinematography. Amit Sial as SIT chief is top class, as always but two more actors are worth following are Sahil Vaid as SP Amit and One Eyed Jack ( Marlon Brando fame)-Sivrasan played by Shafeeq Mustafa, the blue eyed boy of LTTE chief Prabhakaran. Shooting in the actual roads and lanes and making a 90 days hunt with landline phones, fax and no internet and latest gadgets look like a dream in the present context.

Nagesh has said in an interview that One thinks that he knows about Rajiv Gandhi assassination but he doesn't. Watch it and then you would know, he is right.

#SonyLIV #anwarsays #rajivgandhi #ltte #Jaffna #NageshKukunoor #AmitSial #mustwatch #thehunt.

It was too interesting and engage that I binge-watched the whole series in one sitting. All the actors have done their jobs excellently. No over-acting or extra drama. The no-makeup look of the female actors who communicated with their eyes more than with their dialogues was amazing. The costumes were perfect. Although there was violence here and there, there was zero vulgarity. The dramatised version of one of the most sensational assassination cases of India brought before my eyes the real events that happened in 1991 when I was a schoolgirl. If you are a fan of crime thrillers, please go for it without any second thoughts!

As a teenager in 1991, I followed the Rajiv Gandhi assassination using newspaper cuttings - so I was already invested (read this review with that bias)

The Hunt is the television equivalent of a promising student who aces the midterm but bombs the final. It's a series that knows exactly what it wants to be, until it doesn't.

The Good News First: E 1 & 6 are genuinely excellent television. Kukunoor's direction in these episodes shows what happens when authentic procedural storytelling meets cinematic craftsmanship. Amit Sial's performance as Kaarthikeyan is consistently strong throughout, anchoring even the weaker episodes with his committed portrayal.

The Pacing Problem: Here's where things get messy. The Hunt suffers from classic limited series syndrome... too much story for too few episodes, yet somehow still managing to feel padded. Ep 1 hooks you brilliantly, Ep 2 stumbles slightly, Ep 3 recovers nicely, Ep 4 hits cruise control, Ep 5 finds its groove again, Ep 6 delivers a masterclass, and Episode 7... well, let's just say it exists.

This isn't random: it's a series that never quite figured out its rhythm. The investigation's natural pace doesn't align with television's need for consistent dramatic beats, creating a frustrating stop-start momentum that undermines the overall experience.

What Works: The authenticity feels genuine without being dry. The supporting cast, particularly in Tamil Nadu sequences, creates believable chemistry. Production values remain solid throughout, and the historical respectfulness never feels like a burden.

What Doesn't: The dialogue switching between languages remains jarring across all episodes. More critically, the series peaks too early... Ep 6's excellence makes the finale feel even more disappointing by comparison.

The Verdict: The Hunt is good television that could have been great. It's worth watching for Sial's performance and those standout episodes, but it's also a masterclass in how uneven pacing can derail otherwise solid storytelling.

Bottom Line: A series that proves authenticity and good intentions aren't enough without consistent execution. The Hunt gets more right than wrong, but those wrongs sting more because you can see how great it COULD HAVE been.