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.

'The Hunt' is not just another true-crime series; it's a powerful and refreshingly grounded procedural that trusts its audience. In a world of over-dramatized historical events, this show takes the opposite approach, focusing on the painstaking, pre-internet legwork of the investigation into Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. The decision to use a cast of incredible character actors instead of big-name stars is the show's greatest strength. Amit Sial as the SIT Chief is the quiet, steady anchor in a storm of chaos, and the entire ensemble feels like real people doing an impossible job, not actors playing a part.

The pacing is deliberate, and that's the point. It's a "howdunnit," not a "whodunnit," and the tension comes from the sheer difficulty of the task-chasing down leads across cities with nothing but files, landline phones, and pure instinct. It forces you to appreciate the monumental effort of the investigators. The series avoids easy answers and cinematic shortcuts, presenting the facts and the process with a raw authenticity that is often chilling. It demands your patience, but the payoff is a deep, unsettling understanding of one of India's darkest chapters.

This is not a show you binge-watch casually; it's a show you absorb. It's a history lesson wrapped in a top-tier thriller, and it's one of the most intelligent and important Indian series to come out in years. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates quality filmmaking and a story told with integrity.

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.

Excellent presentation No politics no propaganda. Shot like any other crime thriller .

Best in recent times . Every moment worth watching.

Casting is excellent,the pace of each episode is just right , the research is appropriate for the presentation. The characters are very well presented. It's important for the country to know the character and integrity that existed in that time and in the absence of sophisticated equipment ,it was all left to human coordination and network .the sets are good , the script is well done and has no rhetoric. The music could have been a little subdued and looks a little over but the overall experience more than makes up for it.

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.