Wall Poster Cinema and Unanimous Productions’ Hit: The Third Case (dubbed from the Telugu film of the same name; A) is the third film in the HIT franchise.
SP Arjun Sarkar (Nani) is asked to investigate a brutal murder in Srinagar. Once there, he realises that similar brutal murders are taking place in different parts of the country. His investigations reveal that there is a pattern to the murders, and the killers are psychopaths who upload videos of the murders committed by themselves, on a website. These psychopaths meet once a year. Arjun Sarkar uploads videos of two criminals he had killed, as if he were also a psychopath killer, just so that he can reach the gang of the psychopath killers. Once he meets the other members of this gang, the ferocious Arjun eliminates them as if there’ll be no tomorrow.
Sailesh Kolanu has written a story which is engaging. His screenplay is very fast-paced and keeps the audience interest alive. SP Arjun Sarkar’s character, who is relentless when he deals with criminals, is so interesting that he endears himself to the public. Dialogues (G.V. Subhash and Neerja Mathur) are appealing.
Nani shines as police inspector Arjun Sarkar. He is the film’s mainstay. Srinidhi Shetty is alright as his love interest. Komalee Prasad is okay as ASP Varsha. Surya Srinivas is fair as ASP Ravi. Rao Ramesh makes a decent impression as DGP Nageswara Rao. Samuthirakani is nice as Arjun’s father. He gets limited scope. Prateik Babbar is adequate as Alpha. Maganti Srinath makes his presence felt in a cameo appearance as SP Abhilash. Ravindra Vijay (as Samuel Joseph), Adil Pala (as sub-inspector Zubair Ahmed Khan), Amit Sharma (as Alpha’s brother) and Adivi Sesh (in a cameo appearance as SP Krishna Dev) lend decent support. Karthi adds star value in a cameo appearance as SP Veerappan.
Sailesh Kolanu’s direction is masterly. Mickey J. Meyer’s music and Manoj Yadav’s lyrics are functional. Viswa Raghu’s choreography is so-so. Mickey J. Meyer does a splendid job of the background music. Sanu John Varghese’s cinematography is top class. Action and stunt scenes (choreographed by Lee Whittaker and Real Sathish) are superb. Srinagendra Tangala’s production designing is appropriate. Karthika Srinivas’ editing is crisp. Dubbing is very nice.
On the whole, HIT: The Third Case is a fair entertainer, with Nani and exciting action being its trump cards.
Released on 1-5-’25 at Gemini (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Filmastra Studios. Publicity: dull. Opening fairly nice (due to Labour Day holiday). …….Also released all over. Opening was decent at many places because of the partial holiday.