HIT: The 3rd Case

Nani serves as the heart of the film - this time he confronts a ruthless syndicate called CTK which believes in killing people brutally and selling their organs - this group has a registered website and the killings are executed following due procedures - will he be able to apprehend them and stop the massacre - will he be able to mend ties with his dad - action is over the top - running time needs to be reduced by 15 minutes - audiences should brace themselves for the fourth installment.

#HITTheThirdCase rating 3/5, director Sailesh Kolanu, heroine Srinidhi Shetty, released in cinemas on 1 May 2025.

As expected, the movie is more of a brutal action thriller with survival element, than a procedural investigative thriller, so yeah, that's bit disappointing I had so many apprehensions about Nani's portrayal in this movie, but surprisingly, he's the major asset of the film, he get the attitude and pitch of the character right, though lacks the physique to make those action scenes look believable, nothing much to speak about rest of the cast First half is good, keeps you hooked throughout, despite the lack of high. But the second half is a bummer, becoming a survival drama with heavy dose of violence, and one too many cameos Technically, movie lacks technical finesse, cinematography by Sanu Varghese is so shaky in those action scenes, which already look so routine and nothing outstanding, second half needed some editing by Karthika Srinivas, music and BGM by Mickey are generic and Dull.

Coming to Sailesh Kolanu, his major strengths are attention to details in those investigations, sadly he deviated from them since Saindhav and HIT 3 suffers the same fate

BOTTOMLINE: WATCH FOR NANI WITH EXPECTATIONS IN CHECK.

Hit 3: One of the craziest and most violent movie in the Indian movie history!

Director takes us through a genre of Kill Bill and John Wick, with a blend of investigative psycho thriller and a touch of Indian romance.

Nani goes berserk with full fledge violence ripping and cutting baddies apart. One of his best in terms of anger, blood boiling emotions and hair rising action sequences.

Srinidhi Shetty plays a pivotal role.

The plot keeps you hooked till the end and background music is terrific.

Few pleasant surprises in the climax that gives you pure goosebumps.

It is only for 18+ audience as it has plenty of gore. Not for faint hearted or eye closing audience!

HIT was a suspense, murder mystery thriller.

This was more of an action movie.

I was promised Biryani, I got Korean fire noodles.

It's not bad, but it was not what was promised.

This is not subverting expectations.

And this too fell into the recent trend of gore-action, follows in the same path as leo, kill, marco etc.

What next?

We went from blood, hitting women, dismembering body parts, killing kids, what's next?

Audience will get used to this too.

And to give the shock factor, the makers will have to up the violence. So what's next?

Yes, people may like it. Movie will make money.

But it's not my cup of tea.

If i want tea, I'll go buy tea, don't sell me coffee, and ask wasn't it nice.

TLDR: If you're a fan of HIT series, you can treat it as a normal movie and skip.

If you just want to watch a movie, you can consider it.

HIT 3 is the third installment in the HIT series, and this time, Natural Star Nani plays the lead. Nani has been on a solid streak lately-not just as an actor delivering back-to-back hits, but also as a producer, backing films like Court. He has that relatable, common-man charm, and he often says he listens to stories as an audience member first, not with any box office calculations in mind.

However, lately, he seems to be making a serious effort to rebrand himself as an action hero-with films like Dasara, Saripodhaa Sanivaaram, and now HIT 3. This film feels like another attempt in that direction, but unlike his earlier efforts, it doesn't quite land.

In his previous films, the strength of the story helped audiences accept him in intense roles. But HIT 3 lacks that grip. It feels like a mashup of various recent movies and internet stories, without a clear, fresh voice. Director Sailesh Kolanu had an interesting premise-mystery murders happening across India-but he failed to explore the characters deeply, especially the hero and the villain.

Nani plays Arjun Sarkar, a brooding, angry cop. But we never get a proper explanation for his rage. Is it childhood trauma? Personal loss? Without those layers, his character feels forced. For someone like Nani, who's known for his boy-next-door charm and emotional depth, we need a well-written role to justify this kind of aggression-like in Saripodhaa Sanivaaram, where his intensity was rooted in a solid backstory. That kind of writing is missing here.

The villain is another big letdown. Why cast someone just because they're tall and muscular when they can't even speak proper Telugu? It's not about appearance-HIT 2 had a villain who was just a regular dental doctor, yet he sent chills down the spine with his performance. That kind of impact comes from acting, not abs.

Also, I didn't understand the need for so many cuss words. Is it to sound edgy? It just felt unnecessary. Big action films like KGF, Leo, or Vikram have intense violence and mass appeal, but they don't rely on foul language to make an impact. It's possible to be gritty without being vulgar.

Another misfire is the background music by Mickey J Meyer. I'm not sure who thought he was the right choice for an adrenaline-pumping action thriller. His music is generally soothing and melodic, which doesn't match the mood this film needed. With the right BGM, several scenes could have had a lot more impact. Also, the track between Nani and Srinidhi Shetty feels too similar to something from a recent Venkatesh film. And that scene where Srinidhi uses AI to make Nani's mother speak through an old photo? It was awkward and out of place. I don't know how that made it past editing.

To be fair, the screenplay has its moments, especially in the action sequences. But overall, the film leans more on stylish stunts than strong writing or emotional engagement. The final sequence dragged on too long-I found myself checking my phone until the cameo appearances showed up. Introducing the HIT 4 hero at the end was a nice idea, but if Sailesh continues in this direction, it's going to be hard to build any real excitement around the series.

This film might still do decently at the box office thanks to Nani's popularity. But as a movie, it's just average.