HIT: THE THIRD CASE MOVIE REVIEW
Cast: Nani, Srinidhi Shetty, Surya Srinivas, Adil Pala, Rao Ramesh, Samuthirakani, Komalee Prasad, Prateik Babbar
Director: Sailesh Kolanu
Right off the bat, HIT: The Third Case presents itself with serious polish. It looks expansive, sounds sharp, and carries the unmistakable swagger of a big-ticket commercial thriller. Think high-end production values wrapped around a familiar framework – smooth, competent, but maybe lacking that distinctive bite.
The premise drops us into a grim scenario: SP Arjun Sarkaar (Nani, radiating peak cool-cop energy) is hunting a killer with a gruesome signature – victims hung upside down, throats slit. This macabre act, it turns out, is the entry ticket into a cult. To infiltrate, Arjun must play their game, staging a couple of (conveniently targeted) murders himself to get inside. It’s a dark path for our hero, setting up a potentially gritty undercover story.
Director Sailesh Kolanu ensures the film looks the part, with slick visuals from DOP Sanu John Varghese and a driving score by Mickey J. Meyer elevating the proceedings. And Nani? He’s the undeniable centre of gravity here. The film orbits entirely around his intense performance and action prowess. Which is just as well, because there’s precious little room for anyone else. Supporting players, including Srinidhi Shetty (fulfilling the standard heroine slot), are largely sidelined. It’s the Nani show, through and through.
This singular focus might work if the opposition was compelling, but that’s where the case file gets thin. The villain, Alpha (Prateik Babbar), orchestrates his cult recruitment via the dark web, demanding murder videos for entry into his vaguely defined haven of “freedom.” He comes across less as a menacing mastermind and more as a generic, plastic antagonist. When the villain lacks threat and the cult members are just faceless fodder for action sequences, the suspense evaporates. You never doubt Nani will prevail, which deflates the tension considerably.
So, HIT 3 delivers a technically proficient, visually appealing package, running smoothly on Nani’s undeniable star power. It’s a showcase for him, backed by solid production craft. Peel back that glossy layer, though, and the narrative feels underdeveloped. It offers little substance to remember once the investigation concludes.