The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case

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.

I haven't read the book 80 Days, but after watching The Hunt, I'm convinced this will stand out as one of the most perfect series in the history of Indian OTT. It's not just a retelling - it's a visceral, intelligent, and deeply human portrayal of one of India's darkest chapters.

I still vividly remember the disturbing magazine covers following Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. The traumatic visuals from that day were so intense, I doubt today's media could ever publish such images. Watching this series brought those memories flooding back. The recreation is so detailed that it blurs the line between fiction and documentary.

One particular moment that blew my mind was the poster showing Dhanu and Sivasasan standing just moments before the blast. I couldn't believe it wasn't a real photograph - it was recreated with such eerie perfection, it'll give you chills. That level of precision and storytelling is rare.

I was optimistic before starting the series, and hats off to Nagesh Kukunoor for justifying every bit of that hope. He's crafted something that's not only informative but also emotionally gripping.

The sequence of the shootout between Sivasasan and the NSG commandos instantly took me back to the Doordarshan clips we saw back then - raw, chaotic, and unforgettable. The series handles it with both realism and intensity.

The ending left a lump in my throat. Watching our brave officers and soldiers go through so much, only to face endless delays and bureaucratic hurdles, was disheartening. It's a stark reminder of how often heroes are let down by the very system they serve.

Performance-wise, Amit Sial is terrific as the senior officer - calm, composed, and commanding. But honestly, Sahil Vaid outshone everyone in my view. His portrayal had layers, energy, and raw emotion that stayed with me even after the credits rolled.

SonyLIV and the entire team behind The Hunt deserve every bit of praise. This isn't just a series - it's a benchmark for how true events should be told on screen.

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.

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.

The producers need to really work on emotions, both on screen and the audience in their future series. How can you understand when 50% of the dialogues were in Tamil and I could not even switch on subtitles. Disappointed.

Also I felt the energy was quite weak in the scenes. I could not go beyond 2 episodes due to language barrier. The characters were good and perhaps it would have been better as it progressed but I could not go that far.

Hopefully the producers learn from this and ensure to make the series in just one language going forward. You have lost both audiences with this experiment.