It’s been a while since I binged a new series on the Indian front. While the recent ones picked up from previous seasons, National Award-winning filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor took the bold step and dug deep into the political archives with The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case, for a 7-episode thriller that traces the intense investigation into former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination.
Based on Anirudhya Mitra’s book 90 Days, this series on SonyLiv follows the Special Investigation Team’s (SIT) race against time to uncover the deadly conspiracy and track down the elusive mastermind, Sivarasan, in a high-stakes quest for justice.
All hail Nagesh Kukunoor
Nagesh Kukunoor, who has helmed some of the most peculiar projects such as Hyderabad Blues, Iqbal, Dor, and Modern Love Hyderabad, to name a few, does justice to this one by giving it an off-beat treatment. Unlike some creators today who exploit the OTT medium, Nagesh sticks to his guns, armed with facts. The story picks up after the assassination, and the hunt begins to nab the culprits. If you have watched Madras Cafe (2013) or Mission 90 Days (2007), the timeline for this series might seem familiar. However, this one keeps you on the edge of your seat till the end.
Since the incident occurred in 1991, the treatment reflects the era. It is not your fast-paced, dramatic series with slow-motion or cheesy dialogues. Although Amit Sial as D.R. Kaarthikeyan (Chief of SIT) adds face value, he does the bare minimum in terms of acting. However, the actors who truly steal the show are Sahil Vaid as Amit Verma (SP-CBI), Vidyut Garg as Capt. Ravindran (NSG Commando) and Shafeeq Mustafa as Sivarasan. Not to mention the actors who play Nalini and Dhanu nail it too, kudos to their uncanny resemblance.
The Hunt: To stream or skip?
The Hunt may seem like a slow burn at first, but it gains momentum after the third episode. At no instance will you find sub-par acting or a rushed attempt to summarise the case given its 90-day timeline. It does not let boredom seep in. Nagesh Kukunoor, who is also one of those makers who understands an actor’s temperament, uses his skills to the fullest to deliver a masterpiece.