Nagesh Kukunoor’s The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case started streaming on SonyLIV on July 4, 2025. Within a day, the show has earned rave reviews as a compelling political thriller that meticulously reconstructs one of India’s most high-profile investigations. The seven-episode series, based on journalist Anirudhya Mitra’s book, Ninety Days, chronicles the intense manhunt that followed the tragic assassination of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, in 1991. The response from critics and viewers has so far been overwhelmingly positive, praising the show’s grounded realism, restrained storytelling, and standout performances.
The Hunt: A journalist’s real-life account of the manhunt to track Rajiv Gandhi’s killers
The Hunt, directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, is based on Anirudhya Mitra’s extensive research and first-hand reporting of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case in Ninety Days. It follows a team of investigators as they track down the mastermind behind it. The story begins on May 21, 1991, when Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a suicide bomber, Dhanu, during a campaign rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. What follows is a high-stakes 90-day manhunt led by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the leadership of IPS officer D.R. Kaarthikeyan.
Throughout the seven episodes, the series follows the SIT as they investigate cities, including Madras, Bangalore, Coimbatore, and even Colombo, as they work to piece together the puzzle behind the conspiracy. The narrative dives deep into the case and gives viewers a glimpse into how intelligence operated in a pre-digital age. As the mystery unfolds, the storyline gradually moves with building tension as the team closes in on the mastermind, Sivarasan.
The Hunt – The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case features some notable faces in the acting world, all of whom have aced their character-driven performances. Actor Amit Sial plays the calm yet determined ‘SIT Chief D.R. Kaarthikeyan’ and Sail Vaid makes a breakthrough performance as ‘Amit Verma’, a North Indian CBI officer fluent in Tamil. Shafeeq Mustafa has also earned significant praise for his masterful portrayal of ‘Sivarasan’, a character that embodies quiet menace. Coming to supporting roles, Bagavathi Perumal (Bucks) and Anjana Balaji offer strong support as part of the investigative unit.
Viewers and critics applaud the direction and writing of The Hunt
Kukunoor’s steady-handed direction plays a central role in ensuring that the screenplay shows a real-life tragedy in its truest form, without turning towards sensationalism. Given its realistic storytelling, viewers can expect a slow-burn narrative that highlights the painstaking research and gruntwork that went on in an era before the internet and modern digital tools.
Critics have noted the director’s brilliant move to keep the show bilingual (Hindi and Tamil) as it added an authentic texture to the storytelling. Viewers have already started flooding social media with their reviews and thoughts about the series. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), one user wrote:
“Firstly, the casting is superb. The actors either have a striking resemblance or have been made up to have a striking resemblance to the real people, especially Sivarasan. Several others like Haribabu and one more, whose name I do not recollect, are aptly cast, with very good acting. The person playing Murugan is also spot-on. Vishwajeet Pradhan as former PM Chandrashekhar is perfect… In case you haven’t watched #TheHuntOnSonyLIV, go watch it now!”
Moneycontrol rated the series 4 out of 5 stars, calling it ‘a gripping chronicle delivered with precision,’ while noting that the series balances its investigative core with emotional weight. SCREEN gave it a solid 3.5 stars, calling it a ‘welcome addition to shows looking back at recent times, which attempt to pinpoint historical and political flashpoints in India with archival documentary footage.’
Final verdict: A must-watch for thriller lovers
The Hunt is not your everyday glossy political drama, but a meticulous and fact-based thriller that brings back a real-life manhunt, highlighting manual surveillance, inter-agency coordination, and emotional costs rather than action-heavy sequences. If you are into immersive and tense thrillers, you won’t want to miss out on this historical time capsule.
Have you watched The Hunt yet?
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