The assassination of Rajiv Gandhi remains one of the darkest days in India’s political history — a moment that shook the nation and reshaped its future. Sony LIV’s The Hunt revisits this turbulent chapter, adapting Anirudhya Mitra’s Ninety Days into a taut procedural thriller that balances sensitivity with suspense. Though the show starts on uneven footing, it gradually tightens its grip, evolving into a compelling account of India’s high-stakes investigation.

The series opens in 1991 Tamil Nadu, capturing the tension of Rajiv Gandhi’s final day as he campaigns in Sriperumbudur. The looming presence of LTTE operative Sivarasan (Shafeeq Mustafa) and his trained cell sets an unsettling tone. When the suicide bomber executes the attack, one unlikely survivor emerges — a camera carrying incriminating propaganda photographs. That single object becomes the turning point of the narrative.

From here, the spotlight shifts to Deputy Inspector Kaarthikeyan (Amit Sial), who leads a tight, determined investigative team portrayed by Sahil Vaid, Bagavathi Perumal, Danish Iqbal and others. Their work begins slowly, with early episodes struggling under the weight of exposition and mixed-language dialogues — including moments where the Tamil-speaking Kaarthikeyan inexplicably addresses colleagues in Hindi. But once the pieces start falling into place, the series gains momentum.

Directors Nagesh Kukunoor, Rohit Banawlikar, and Sriram Rajan steer the middle episodes with precision, crafting tense interrogations and sharply escalating stakes. What begins as a broad political puzzle becomes a focused, determined chase — “the hunt” in every sense. The LTTE’s early taunt, The Gandhi family is very unlucky,” serves as a chilling reminder of the era’s volatility, but the creators wisely avoid overextending into geopolitical commentary.

Instead, the narrative stays rooted in the mechanics of investigation: the clues, the dead ends, the surveillance, and the relentless pursuit that finally unraveled one of India’s most complex conspiracies. While the show doesn’t claim to decode every political layer behind the assassination, it succeeds where it matters most — honoring the painstaking work of those who sought justice for a fallen leader.

In all, The Hunt is a respectful, quietly gripping procedural that grows stronger as it progresses. It may start off tentative, but it ultimately justifies its existence through its sincerity, restraint, and dedication to the truth.

Quirky OTT Releases to Explore Next

Kaildhar Laapata (ZEE5):

Abhishek Bachchan stars in a heartfelt drama about an elderly man who overhears his family plotting to abandon him, setting off an emotional journey.

Do Patti (Netflix):

Two sisters’ carefully managed lives fall apart when a determined cop uncovers a twisted chain of lies that threatens everything they’ve built.

Good Wife (JioHotstar):

Tarunika, a lawyer-turned-homemaker, faces turmoil when a sudden family scandal pulls her back into a world she thought she’d left behind.

Detective Sherdil (ZEE5):

Diljit Dosanjh plays an eccentric detective investigating a mysterious death that unfolds into an unexpected adventure.

In The Lost Lands (Lionsgate Play):

A fast-paced fantasy action tale based on a short story by George R.R. Martin, filled with mythical quests and dark magic.