The ‘Hit’ series has given Telugu cinema audiences a unique thriller experience. While Vishwak Sen impressed with their performances in the first part and Adivi Sesh in the second part, now Nani has come in his own mass avatar in the third part. Directed by Sailesh Kolanu, ‘Hit: The Third Case’ was released in theaters on May 1, 2025. How much did this action thriller starring Nani and Srinidhi Shetty in the lead roles impress the audience? Let’s see the story, acting, and technical aspects in this review...
What is the story...
The story of ‘Hit 3’ revolves around Arjun Sarkar (Nani). He is the Superintendent of Police in the Homicide Intervention Team (HIT) in Visakhapatnam. Arjun, who is transferred from Kashmir to Visakhapatnam, commits brutal murders and records them in videos and uploads them on a dark website called CTK. His actions arouse the anger of the public and the police. However, Arjun is running a secret operation behind these murders. His goal is to bust a network of psycho killers on the dark web called CTK. In this process, he solves murder cases in Bihar, Jaipur, and Arunachal Pradesh. How does Arjun complete this mission? What is the role of Mridula (Srinidhi Shetty) in his life? What are the dark secrets behind these murders? All these are key elements of the story.
Actors' Performance
Nani shines in the role of Arjun Sarkar in a way that has not been seen before in his career. His body language, dialogue delivery, and screen presence in the action scenes are amazing. Nani especially impressed the youth with his mass dialogues and eloquent speeches. He played his role with shades of grey perfectly.
Srinidhi Shetty gave a good performance in the role of Mridula. However, the lack of screen time for her role and the lack of a strong romantic track were a bit disappointing. Among the supporting actors, Rao Ramesh, Samuthirakani, Prateek Babbar, and Surya Srinivas impressed in their roles. Samuthirakani acted well in comedy and emotional scenes as Nani's father. Although Prateek Babbar was impressive in the role of the villain, if his character had been stronger, the tension between the hero and the villain would have increased even more.
The cameos of star heroes like Adivi Sesh and Karthi added extra charm to the film. Especially when they appeared on screen, there was a lot of buzz in the theaters.
Movie Analysis
The first two films in the ‘Hit’ series focused on the concepts of ‘What Happened’ and ‘Who Did It’. But ‘Hit 3’ came with the concept of ‘How It Happened’. The film was more of an action drama than an investigative thriller. The investigation drama is well-set in the first half, but in the second half, the film becomes more thrilling with ‘Squid Game’-style action scenes and game format.
However, the film’s minus points are that the story is somewhat predictable, the villain character is weak, and the romantic track does not show much impact. Due to the violence, bloodshed, and vulgar dialogues, this film, which received an ‘A’ certificate, is not very suitable for the family audience.
The film relies heavily on Nani’s character. The energy and swag shown by Nani as Arjun Sarkar made the film stand out. The action sequences set in Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh locations and the stylish presentation gave the film a grand look.
Technical aspects
Sanu John Varghese's cinematography is amazing. He captures the locations of Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh wonderfully. Every frame is a visual treat. Mickey J. Meyer's music received a mixed response. The background score in the second half is good, but it could have been better in the first half. The songs are not very impressive. Karthika Srinivas' editing is average. The film would have been even stronger if it had been trimmed by 15 minutes. The production values are high, produced by Prashanthi Tipirneni and Nani under the banner of Wall Poster Cinema and Unanimous Productions, this film looks visually rich.
Plus points
Nani's excellent performance, Arjun Sarkar's character design.
Stylish action scenes, grand visuals.
Cinematography in Kashmir and Arunachal locations.
Adivi Sesh, Karthi have cameos.
Thrilling game sequences in the second half.
Minus points
Weak villain character.
Stretched first half, romantic track.
Excessive violence, cheesy dialogues.
Lack of investigative depth.
Ordinary music, background score.
Verdict
‘Hit 3’ is a stylish action thriller, a treat for Nani fans and those who love mass action films. Less of an investigative thriller and more of an action drama, this film has given a new flavor to the ‘Hit’ series. Nani’s performance, thrilling scenes in the second half, and visuals make the film stand out. However, excessive violence, a weak villain, and lack of investigation are some of the disappointments. For action lovers and Nani fans, this film is a must-see in the theater. However, this film may not be a good fit for family audiences.
Rating: 3.25/5