A Review of the Rajiv Gandhi Murder Case: The Hunt

Cast: Amit Sial, Bagavathi Perumal, Sahil Vaid, Anjana Balaji, Shafeeq Mustafa

Creator: Nagesh Kukunoor

Star rating: 4.5 stars

Nagesh Kukunoor's seven-part series, The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case, is jam-packed with information. This gripping and wonderfully objective investigative drama, which is based on Anirudhya Mitra's non-fiction book Ninety Days: The True Story of the Hunt for Rajiv Gandhi's Assassins, keeps viewers enthralled throughout. Since this is a real-world occurrence with real people and locations, the stakes are high, and it's not that difficult to be offended in the first place in 2025.

The concept

The program begins directly with the terrible assassination of Rajiv Gandhi by a suicide bomber at a Congress rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, on May 21, 1991. Later, we will revisit this awful event and learn how the woman who took the action while Rajiv Gandhi was being garlanded at that location was a member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the Sri Lankan separatist rebel group.

The drama is put aside by Kukunoor in order to concentrate on the inquiry that was launched after this catastrophe. CBI officer Kaarthikeyan (Amit Sial, who is excellent) heads up the investigation and assembles a team that includes SP Amit Varma (Sahil Vaid, who gives a standout performance), DSP Ragothaman (Bagavathi Perumal), DIG Amod Kant (Danish Iqbal), DIG Radhavinod Raju (Girish Sharma), and later NSG commando Ravindran (Vidyut Garg in a scene-stealing role).

In addition to their investigation, the drama also follows the parallel path taken by the criminals, with Sivarasan (Shafeeq Mustafa) serving as the brains behind the plot and the events that will occur over the following 90 days. The case becomes tighter with sharp observations and research, and Kukunoor now leaves no room for simple drama. The suspense is expertly managed.

Kukunoor follows every breakthrough without a single distraction while collaborating with cinematographer Sangram Giri. The story's upbeat and no-nonsense demeanor is not established by dramatic close-ups or flashy one-track shots. Although the characterizations leave enough space for them to shine, the interactions are still functional. The ensemble cast's actors each contribute a great deal of depth to make up for the script's decision to advance.

What functions

The show's standout features are its superb editing and historically accurate production design. The program is given so much contextual richness by Somanwita Bhattacharya, Rahul Kurup, and Protiqe Mojoomdar's meticulous attention to the India of landline calls and furniture. On the other hand, Farooq Hundekar's skillful and delicate editing keeps the suspense from increasing at the expense of moderation. The exhibition comes to life and grows as it delves into the web of inquiry, exposing the intricacies of human co-dependency and deception.

The series is notable for its restraint, which is a rare trait in a program where it's so tempting to lean into either heroism or hostility. Kukunoor achieves a truly rare balance of objectivity in this case by refusing to fall for any search for subjective truth. This genre requires distance and a lack of judgment, which can only be achieved when the viewer is given the opportunity to make that choice for themselves. There is no one explanation that can adequately account for the truth, according to The Hunt, which implies that it can be complex and exist in many forms. Nagesh Kukunoor may have produced one of the greatest programs of the year thus far, as this one is consistently captivating.

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