SonyLIV’s The Hunt – The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case is a gripping political thriller that revisits one of India’s darkest chapters—the 1991 assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Directed by Nagesh Kukunoor and based on Anirudhya Mitra’s investigative book Ninety Days, the series unfolds as a meticulous procedural, chronicling the 90-day manhunt led by the CBI’s Special Investigation Team (SIT).
The show opens with the chilling suicide bombing at Sriperumbudur and wastes no time plunging into the investigation. Amit Sial delivers a restrained yet commanding performance as IGP D.R. Karthikeyan, leading a team of sharp minds including Sahil Vaid, Bagavathi Perumal, and Danish Iqbal. Their pursuit of LTTE mastermind Sivarasan (Shafeeq Mustafa) is layered with psychological warfare, red tape, and moral dilemmas.
Kukunoor’s direction avoids sensationalism, opting instead for a grounded, character-driven narrative. The series excels in its attention to detail—whether it’s the 1990s Tamil Nadu setting captured by Sangram Giri’s cinematography or Tapas Relia’s haunting score. Moments of levity, like agents debating food at a dhaba or militants watching a Rajinikanth film, humanize the story without diluting its gravity.
While the show falters slightly in pacing post-episode five and could benefit from more historical context on the IPKF and LTTE, it remains a compelling watch. The final two episodes, especially the bureaucratic hurdles in the last 36 hours, deliver a tense crescendo.
The Hunt is not just a whodunnit—it’s a how-and-why-dunnit. It’s a rare Indian series that balances political sensitivity with narrative urgency, offering a sobering reminder of the cost of justice and the complexity of truth.
Rating: 3.5/5