The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case 2025 Movie Review
The Hunt: Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case (SonyLiv, 2025) isn’t just another political thriller-it’s a chilling reminder of a dark day in India’s recent history. Based on Anirudhya Mitra’s investigative account Ninety Days: The True Story of the Hunt for Rajiv Gandhi’s Assassins, this gripping series dramatizes the shocking assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi by the LTTE on 21 May 1991.
For me, this was not just a story on screen-it brought back a flood of personal memories. I was traveling from Calicut to Mumbai on the very night of the assassination and reached the city on 22nd May 1991, only to find the Mumbai railway station under high alert. The atmosphere was tense, uncertain, and unforgettable. Watching the series took me straight back to that moment in time-making the entire experience all the more immersive.
Under the steady direction of Nagesh Kukunoor, The Hunt masterfully unpacks the high-stakes investigation led by the CBI’s Special Investigation Team. The pursuit of Sivarasan, the elusive LTTE mastermind, is detailed with surgical precision. The screenplay blends dramatized sequences with historical insight, drawing viewers deep into the labyrinthine chase that spanned across states and borders.
The performances are one of the show’s strongest assets. Amit Sial, Bagavathi Perumal, Sahil Vaid, and others deliver deeply restrained yet powerful portrayals-never slipping into melodrama. What especially stood out was the authenticity of the female characters: minimal makeup, expressive eyes, and nuanced silences that spoke volumes. Their raw emotion elevated the realism of the narrative.
Costume and production design deserve a special mention. Every detail-from the khadi shirts to the grainy newsreels-felt like stepping back into the early ’90s. The violence, though present, is never excessive or exploitative. There’s no vulgarity, no sensationalism-just an unflinching, respectful lens on a harrowing investigation.
Technically, too, the series delivers. The editing is crisp, the background score never overpowers, and the pacing keeps you hooked throughout. I found myself binge-watching the entire series in a single sitting-drawn in by both its historical gravity and dramatic intensity.
For fans of true-crime, political thrillers, or those who lived through the era, The Hunt is essential viewing. It’s a riveting blend of fact and dramatization, crafted with care and conscience. And for me personally, it served as a powerful reminder of a day that left a lasting impression-not just on the nation, but on my own journey.
