Nani, the natural star of Telugu cinema, is back in the news with his new film HIT 3 (Hit: The Third Case). Directed by Sailesh Kolanu, this action thriller film was released in theatres on 1 May 2025. In the third installment of the Hit franchise, Nani plays Arjun Sarkar, a ruthless and obsessive police officer. Actors like Srinidhi Shetty, Rao Ramesh, Samuthirakani and Prateik Babbar also play important roles. Mickey J Meyer's music and Sanu John Varghese's cinematography give the film a stunning look. But did the film manage to captivate the audience like the previous installments of the franchise? Let's find out in the review.
Plot Summary
The story of Hit 3 revolves around Arjun Sarkar (Nani) who is a fast-paced and ruthless police officer of the Homicide Intervention Team (HIT) in Visakhapatnam. He is sent to investigate a brutal murder case in Jammu and Kashmir. The story begins in a flashback where Arjun is in jail and he narrates his story to another prisoner. During the investigation, he uncovers a conspiracy that is linked to the dark web and a mysterious site called CTK. This site operates for psychopaths and Arjun's mission is to put an end to it. The story has many twists and turns that take Arjun to various places like Bihar, Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh. His romantic story with Mridula (Srinidhi Shetty) also forms an important part amid the investigation. Does Arjun succeed in his mission and uncover the secret of CTK? This forms the basic plot of the film.
Performance and Highlights
Nani has given his most intense and stylish performance to date in the role of Arjun Sarkar. His role of an angry and emotionally broken police officer keeps the audience captivated. Be it action scenes or deep emotional scenes, Nani dominates everywhere. Especially the pre-climax action scene and her dialogue delivery like “I have been hearing this since the beginning of my career” make the audience applaud. Srinidhi Shetty has given a refreshing performance as Mridula and an unexpected twist in her role makes the story interesting. Rao Ramesh and Samuthirakani have done a good job in their limited roles but Prateik Babbar's villain character was weak. His role did not leave the scary impact that was required for a thriller like this. Some cameos like Adivi Sesh and other actors excited the audience but their presence does not affect the story much.
Technical aspects and direction
Sailesh Kolanu has tried to take the hit franchise to a bigger canvas. The first half of the film moves fast with investigation and light-hearted humor. Scenes like the strained relationship between Arjun and his father (Samuthirakani) and his failure on dating apps give light-hearted entertainment. The second half is full of action and twists especially the last 30 minutes, which thrill the audience. Sanu John Varghese's cinematography is superb, bringing alive the valleys of Kashmir and the jungles of Arunachal. Mickey J Meyer's background score is effective in the second half but remains weak in the first half. Karthika Srinivas' editing makes some scenes seem unnecessarily long, which affects the pacing. The film has received an 'A' certificate as it has open use of violence and abusive language, which may make some viewers uncomfortable.
What is special and what was lacking
Hit 3's biggest strength is Nani's strong performance and the stylish presentation of the film. Arjun's character, who is angry and emotionally broken, takes Nani's acting ability to new heights. The second half of the film, especially the pre-climax and climax scenes, are a treat for action lovers. Some scenes give a glimpse of projects like Squid Game and Hostel, which depict dark web and violent activities. However, the weaknesses of the film are also clearly visible. The lack of depth in the story and weak villain characters make the film average. It lacks the depth of mystery and investigation like the first two hits. The romantic track and some songs slow down the story. Some critics have called it too violent and unnecessarily gory, which is not suitable for family audiences. The attempt to portray social commentary such as the consumption of violent content is commendable but it is not completely effective.
Audience response and box office
The film has received mixed reviews on social media. Many fans have called it "sensational" and "Nani's career best performance". One user wrote, "Nani is on fire as Arjun Sarkar and the last 30 minutes are brilliant". But some called the first half slow and the story predictable. One user said "Lacks the mystery and thrill like the first two hits but Nani's performance makes it worth watching". At the box office, the film grossed Rs 21 crore on the first day and collected Rs 51.40 crore in India in four days. It grossed $1.8 million (approximately Rs. 15.19 crores) in North America, becoming Nani's fourth film to cross this mark. The film grossed Rs. 58.55 crores in India in its first six days, becoming Nani's third highest-grossing film.
Rating and Conclusion
HIT: The Third Case is a film that attracts the audience with Nani's intense performance and stylish action. It tries to be a mass action thriller, different from the previous installments of the franchise but the lack of mystery and investigation makes it average. For Nani fans and action lovers, it is a great experience but those who expect deep mystery and a strong script from the hit series may be a little disappointed. It is for adult audience only due to violence and abusive language. If you want to enjoy Nani's new action avatar and a fast-paced thriller then this film is for you. Our Rating: 3.25/5. It is worth watching for Nani's talent and some great action moments but the lack of a strong story prevents it from being better.