Amit Sial, Sahil Vaid and co
The best thing about this Nagesh Kukunoor directed web series is the multiple perspectives. This includes both the special investigative team and also the perpetrators behind the assassination of late Rajiv Gandhi. The quote of “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter,” has been explored well
Starcast: Amit Sial, Sahil Vaid, Bhagavati Perumal, Girish Sharma, Shafeeq Mustafa and others
Genre: Crime thriller
Director: Nagesh Kukunoor
Story: Rohit G. Banawilkar, Nagesh Kukunoor and Sriram Rajan
Based on: Ninety Days: The True story of the Hunt For Rajeev Gandhi Assassins
Producers: Nagesh Kukunoor and Sameer Nair
Production Companies: Applause Entertainment and Kukunoor movies
Cinematography: Sangram Giri
No of episodes: 7
Streaming site: SonyLIV
2025 has been a fantastic year for Applause Entertainment with consecutive hit web shows starting from Black Warrant and Criminal Justice Season 4, now their latest web show The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case has opened to rave reviews. The Hunt truly deserves all the praise that has come its way. The broad storyline of this Nagesh Kukunoor directorial has shades of Shoojit Sircar’s Madras Cafe also based on the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, however the tone and also the timeline varies significantly. Madras Cafe was about the events leading up to the assassination of Rajeev Gandhi due to India’s intervention in SriLankan’s Civil War. This web series though focuses on the manhunt following the assassination. Apart from being an investigative thriller Nagesh Kukunoor and his writers have also dwelt into the political tensions.
Madras Cafe directed by Shoojit Sircar
A major strength of The Hunt web series is the depiction of numerous challenges faced by the CBI team. How the squad gradually assembles all the pieces to track down the LTTE operatives in a terrain where the LTTE has widespread sympathy has been wonderfully written and enacted. The constant game of wits between the two sides plays out in a gripping fashion keeping the viewers thoroughly engrossed about the outcome.
Nagesh Kukunoor also deserves praise for the balance of intense moments with the personal side. There is a portion of the feared Sivarasan and the aid Suba (Gouri Padamkumar) enjoying a Rajinikanth movie like any normal couple. Similarly, there is a scene of Subha painting her nail while guarding the hideout with a rifle. These moments are lovely to watch. On the other hand, you have two investigators exchanging their views on the food in North versus South, this is just before meeting an informant. This juxtaposition of the professional investigation and some carefree moments makes the show very enjoyable.
Through the track of LTTE supporters Nagesh Kukunoor along with his writer’s dwell into how the armed rebels are considered heroes by the local population. This is where the theme of one person’s hero being another person’s terrorist comes. The viewers also see the officers doing certain things that don’t align with their personal beliefs. The web series at no point takes sides leaving the viewers to make their own judgments.
Mention must also be made of Sangram Giri’s cinematography. He does a very fine job in capturing the atmospherics of 1990’s Tamil Naidu. There is in a lived-in feel. Specific mention must be made of his work in the tension filled last moments.
The mixture of characters conversing in Hindi and Tamil also doesn’t get jarring due to the fluent pronunciation. Sahil Vaid in a breakthrough act nails his Tamil dialogues, breaking out of hero’s best friend mold Sahil gives a very good account of himself. Amit Sial as DR Kartikeyan too brings in the both the required gravitas and authority as per the requirement. Bhagavati Perumal is also good however the two actors who stand out the most in the supporting roles are Shafeeq Mustafa and Gouri Padmakumar. They play their roles to absolute perfection capturing the various nuances.
Sahil Vaid in a breakthrough act
Shafeeq Mustafa and Gouri Padamkumar
While gripping for most part The Hunt could have benefitted with more contextual set up about IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force). Also, Rajiv Gandhi’s involvement for those not aware needed a little more detailing. The last episodes also somewhat drag making you wish Nagesh Kukunoor had wrapped things more crisply.
Final word: The Hunt: The Rajeev Gandhi Assassination Case is a binge worthy watch for fans of layered thrillers featuring psychological warfare
