“The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case”, now streaming on SonyLIV, is a gripping retelling of the 90-day nationwide manhunt that followed the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. But does this political thriller do justice to one of India’s most complex investigations? Let’s find out.
Storyline
On the night of 21st May 1991, Rajiv Gandhi arrived at Sriperumbudur for an election rally. Amid tight security and public cheer, a seemingly harmless woman approached to garland him — and detonated a suicide bomb. The blast shook the entire nation, instantly killing the ex-PM and several others. What followed was one of India’s largest and most high-stakes investigations.
The case is handed over to a CBI Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by IGP D.R. Karthikeyan, a man known for his methodical approach. He hand-picks
DIG Amod Kant, DIG Raju, DSP Raghothaman and SPI Amit Verma – who are accomplished experts in intelligence, interrogation and investigation.
As the team follows leads, interrogates suspects, and leverages their informant network, they come closer to unearthing a carefully planned plot led by Sivarasan, an LTTE operative. Meanwhile, the perpetrators go deeper underground, evading capture and hideouts raided end up with discovery of dead bodies (cyanide consumption) to avoid being interrogated.
Can the SIT catch Sivarasan and expose the full network behind the assassination?
Our critique
Based on the book Ninety Days: The True Story of the Hunt for Rajiv Gandhi’s Assassins, the series delivers a gripping, fact-based procedural that avoids sensationalism. The investigation unfolds in a gripping narrative that keeps the viewer hooked from start to finish.
What stands out is the commitment to realism — archival footage is blended seamlessly, lending authenticity to the storytelling. Public figures are portrayed with convincing likeness, and the direction avoids political bias or dramatized conspiracies, which helps to stay focused on the facts.
The recreation of the early ’90s — from the technology to the political atmosphere — is meticulous. Music and cinematography support the tension and pace well.
A deeper dive into the IPKF’s role in Sri Lanka and the reasons behind LTTE’s hate could have added some more context to the situation.
Screen Performances
Amit Sial impresses as IGP Karthikeyan. Typecast in political roles, here he delivers a strong performance as a man chasing justice.
Sahil Vaid as SPI Amit Verma balances grit with emotion, especially in moments of frustration.
Shafeeq Mustafa as Sivarasan shows various shades, the cold ruthlessness of a trained killer standing out in his darkest.
Danish Iqbal, Girish Sharma, and Bagavathi Perumal play significant roles and do well.
Several cameos are handled convincingly, adding realism without going over-board.
Overall opinion
A tightly-scripted, fact-driven political thriller. The Hunt manages to do full justice to a sensitive chapter of Indian history. Highly recommended.
Our rating
