HIT: The 3rd Case

HIT: The Third Case

As a fellow cinephile and a genuine fan of Nani, I walked into this expecting a gripping investigative thriller, one that delivered not just power-packed action, but also the meticulous unraveling of a crime that the HIT franchise initially promised. However, I walked out feeling conflicted.

This installment, let's be honest, leans heavily into becoming a full-blown action spectacle. Now, don't get me wrong, the action can be thrilling, but the burning question remains: where did the investigation go?

Nani, our "Natural Star," once again delivers a performance that feels remarkably organic, even when inhabiting a character navigating rather inorganic circumstances. The dedication to the nuances of the written character is palpable; every subtle gesture and expression is meticulously brought to life. Yet, the central question persists: was this phenomenal talent truly served by the narrative?

Personally, I felt the story ultimately let him down. The film felt disjointed, almost as if the first half existed in a narrative vacuum, with little progression, before shifting gears entirely in the second. Ironically, this latter half possessed a more compelling narrative drive than its predecessor. Logic and justification seemed to take a backseat. Certain expositional scenes, such as the explanation of the dark web, felt redundant for an audience increasingly familiar with such concepts. The one-liner premise held immense potential for intricate storytelling, but the execution felt surprisingly casual.

Technically, the film showcases commendable effort. However, for an action thriller, the action sequences themselves could have been shot with far greater impact. The excessive shaky cam in several scenes made them visually jarring and, at times, unpleasant to watch. Similarly, the inclusion of raptor shots felt gratuitous and didn't add significant visual value, despite a tenuous link to the plot.

The music was decent, providing a functional backdrop, but it lacked the soaring elevations that could have amplified the peak moments. I couldn't help but mentally overlay the electrifying BGM of Jakes Bejoy from Saripodha Sanivaram in certain scenes, imagining the heightened theatrical experience it could have been. While Michael J. Meyer delivered a sound score, a touch of Bejoy's magic might have elevated it further.

Despite being largely a one-man show, the limited supporting cast delivered commendable performances. Their roles, though not central, were well-defined and contributed meaningfully to the narrative tapestry.

Srinidhi Shetty, however, was a revelation! She absolutely commanded the screen with a fiery performance in a truly fantastic role. She has undoubtedly arrived as a force to be reckoned with.

It's evident that every department poured their heart and soul into this project, and their dedication shines through in the technical execution. It's a shame that the story doesn't quite measure up to their collective efforts.

The cameos were a delightful surprise, injecting a fun layer of recognition for the audience.

Yet, a nagging question remains: why the continued absence of Vishwak Sen's Vikram from the narrative? HIT: The First Case remains the strongest in the series, and it left numerous compelling threads hanging - his mother, his sister, his mysterious past. These open ends presented a golden opportunity for richer, interconnected storytelling. While expanding the franchise with new characters is understandable, completely sidelining the original protagonist feels like a missed opportunity. A small link or even a cameo would have been a fantastic nod to the series' origins and a treat for the dedicated fanbase. I sincerely hope this is considered for future installments.

Dr. Sailesh Kolanu, given his medical background and the consistently impressive forensic details woven into the HIT films, possesses the perfect foundation to craft a truly compelling medical thriller. It's a genre he clearly has a knack for, and I, for one, would be incredibly excited to see him explore it fully.

The film truly finds its stride in the latter part of the second half. The moment the protagonist dons the white suit, the pacing intensifies dramatically, and the narrative finally clicks into place. From that point until the end, the story feels complete, offering a sense of resolution and satisfaction.

However, the crucial discussion surrounding the murders, the very core of a thriller, felt surprisingly rushed and lacked the depth it deserved.

Overall, HIT: The Third Case, despite its technical merits and Nani's stellar performance, feels like a missed opportunity within the HIT universe. It's a decent action flick, but it doesn't quite capture the essence of the crime investigative thriller that the franchise initially established.

Great effort by the entire team! Now, let's buckle up and make HIT: The Fourth Case the undisputed "hittest" of the HIT series!

Finally, to the Natural Star 🌟 Nani holds a significant position as a role model for many youngsters, especially aspiring filmmakers and actors who keenly observe his choices. He carries a responsibility to deliver quality content to his audience. While experimentation is always welcome in cinema, it's crucial to consider the cost when the fundamental element of a compelling story seems to be missing.

Films like Dasara, while showcasing his exceptional performance, suffered from a weaker storyline, leaving one to question why such immense effort sometimes doesn't translate into a more impactful cinematic experience. While commercial success is undoubtedly important, the lasting impact of a film often hinges on the strength of its narrative. It's essential to create films that resonate with a wider audience, offering both engaging performances and well-crafted stories.

Before I delve into the issues I have, I would like to express my admiration for certain aspects of the film, first & foremost, Nani's performance, and the script's able handling of intense scenes, be it the investigative segments or the climactic confrontation in the final half of the story.

Now coming to the problems, I found that the whole plot lacked emotional resonance; it couldn't effectively harness emotions in a meaningful way.

Now as for someone who enjoys relentless gore and bloodshed, I found the kills and the overall bloodbath in the final hour to be engaging. However, I was left with a sense of dissatisfaction, mainly because these moments of violence did not feel 'earned' or 'justified.' They appeared to be mere byproducts of style and encashing the present day trend rather than yielding substance with some meaning.

Whilst, Nani's performance left a significant impression on me, his character could have benefited from deeper material.

If the filmmakers had taken the time to elaborate on his troubled past, it would have enriched his character and provided a more compelling understanding of his eccentric personality.

If you're looking for an investigative drama, look somewhere else. There's hardly any twists in the story. Just plain garbage. The protagonist just smokes cigars half the time to look cool and does senseless things the other time.

Compared to the last 2 movies this one falls completely short . It's just selling on the name of last 2 movies but has no story and mediocre acting. The characters have zero depth, no effort is made to build their motivations.

The only good thing might be the fact that does give you enough to keep a slim interest in what happens next. My wife still slept through it though.

The HIT franchise, which began with a promising start, has unfortunately seen a steady decline in narrative quality and originality with each installment.

HIT-1, while not without flaws, stood out for introducing the investigation thriller genre to mainstream Telugu cinema. The storytelling had noticeable shortcomings-particularly in pacing and a rather underwhelming, even silly, climax. However, it managed to keep audiences reasonably engaged with its freshness and novelty, which contributed to its success.

HIT-2, though attempting to build upon its predecessor, ended up being a weaker effort overall. Despite a few intriguing elements, the film suffered from a lack of narrative depth and an even less impactful climax. The genre conventions felt overly familiar, and the execution lacked the tension and originality expected from a thriller, making it feel like a retread of what we've seen before-only with less conviction.

HIT-3, regrettably, falls further down the slope. It leans heavily on violence and genre clichés, offering very little in terms of fresh content or emotional engagement. The film feels like a generic action thriller with a glossy exterior-thanks largely to improved production values and a notable star cast-but devoid of substance.

The first half trudges through a formulaic investigation arc that adds no innovation to the narrative. The second half abruptly shifts into a survival-action mode, seemingly inspired by the John Wick franchise, but lacks its finesse or justification. The action is over-the-top, the violence excessive, and the plot twists are painfully predictable. As a result, the film loses credibility and emotional connection with the audience.

Overall, HIT-3 feels overly cinematic and detached from reality, sacrificing depth for style. It's unfortunate that a franchise that began with potential has now become an exercise in style over substance.

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.