The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case

I watched 'The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case' with my parents over 2 days. Here are my thoughts:

Pros: This series is undoubtedly good, especially since it's based on a novel. I didn't experience a single dull moment, and the actors, including Amit Sial and Sahil Vaid, delivered outstanding performances. The location and casting were very realistic, and Nagesh Kukunoor's direction was top-notch.

Cons: One major issue I faced while watching with my parents was the language barrier. Although I set the language to Hindi, about 50% of the dialogue was in Tamil, 30% in Hindi, and 20% in English. The subtitles were only available in English, which made it difficult for my parents to follow the conversation since they don't know Tamil or English. Despite their interest in the series, they missed out on about 70% of the dialogue. I didn't understand one thing here when you are giving language option of Hindi why you are speaking in Tamil and in English when there was option of Tamil language already.

Additionally, it would have been great if the series had provided more details about what happened to each member captured in the series.

Overall, it's puzzling why the series didn't stick to the chosen language. Despite this, the series is worth watching, especially for its historical significance.

'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 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.

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.

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.