Nagesh Kukunoor has presented the story of a major political figure's assassination in this web series with remarkable impact, without any political bias or agenda. The show neither leans towards any ideology nor leaves room for anyone to exploit it for their own benefit.
Entertainment: The new web series The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case, released on Sony LIV, presents a highly sensitive and historically significant case in an extremely balanced and factual manner. The assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 shook the entire nation. Much has been written and said about this high-profile case, but this series, directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, dares to present it from a fresh perspective.
How is the series?
The story is based on the book Ninety Days by author Aniruddha Mitra. The narrative begins with the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi and then follows the investigation agencies' efforts, the attempts to connect the clues, and the unveiling of an international conspiracy. This seven-episode series repeatedly compels the audience to ponder how such a major conspiracy was executed in a democratic country and what level of professional investigation methods were required to solve it.
The most remarkable aspect is that no political agenda is imposed anywhere in this entire story. Neither does the series defend any party, nor does it point fingers at anyone. It is purely an investigation drama based on facts, showing how a professional investigation team solved the case with their hard work and patience.
Direction and Acting
Nagesh Kukunoor's direction has always been close to reality, and here too, he has filmed this case in a very measured manner without creating sensationalized drama. No sloganeering, no emotional manipulation — just facts, and the b fabric of the story built on those facts. Speaking of acting, Amit Sial's work is truly outstanding.
In the role of D.R. Karthikeyan (SIT chief), he has brought to life the image of a composed, calm, and professional officer. No overacting, no unnecessary heroism — Amit Sial has shown how a true leader leads his team with a cool head. Actors like Sahil Vaid, Bhagwati Perumal, Danish Iqbal, Girish Sharma, and Vidyut Garg have also portrayed their characters with great truthfulness and honesty. Bhagwati Perumal (Raghothaman) brings complete authenticity with Tamil dialogues, making this case appear even more real.
The series' cinematography, background music, and art direction are also commendable. The atmosphere of the 90s, the language of the police stations, the setting of the case files — everything is created in such detail that you feel as if you are standing right there where this case was being solved. The use of original footage in between makes the series even more effective.
The best point of the screenplay is that despite its fast pace, it never feels boring. The seven episodes of 50-50 minutes each are watched one after another. Even Tamil language dialogues are included, which require you to pay attention to read the subtitles, but they also give it an authentic flavor.
Nagesh Kukunoor has shown great understanding in presenting this sensitive subject without sensationalism. He gave ample space to each character, and made the story itself the real hero. This shows how mature a director can be when he wants to show only the truth instead of imposing an agenda.
