HIT 3 Movie Review: ‘Sarkaar’ Shines Bright

Duration: 02 hrs 37 mins | Genre: Crime Thriller | Release Date: 01/05/2025

Cast: Nani, Srinidhi Shetty, Prateik Babbar, Surya Srinivas, Rao Ramesh, Samuthirakani, Adil Pala, Maganti Srinath, and others

Director: Sailesh Kolanu

Producers: Prashanti Tipirneni & Nani

Banner: Wall Poster Cinema & Unanimous Productions

Music: Mickey J. Meyer

After delivering three consecutive hits—Dasara, Hi Nanna, and Saripodhaa Sanivaaram—Nani collaborates once again with director Sailesh Kolanu for the third installment of the HIT (Homicide Intervention Team) franchise. With strong buzz surrounding its promotional content, HIT 3 hits the theatres today. But does it continue the winning streak for Nani and redeem Sailesh Kolanu after Saindhav? Let's dive into the detailed review.

Plot:

In HIT 3, the storyline once again revolves around an intense crime investigation.

Arjun Sarkaar (Nani), a fierce and short-tempered officer from the Homicide Intervention Team in Jammu & Kashmir, is tasked with solving a brutal murder case. As the investigation unfolds, Arjun and his team discover a series of murders following a similar pattern across the country.

Who is behind these horrific crimes? What drives them to commit such murders? How does Arjun crack the case and track down the culprits? HIT 3 explores these questions in a gripping narrative.

Performances:

- Nani steals the show as Arjun Sarkaar, delivering a powerful and nuanced performance. His portrayal of a volatile yet sharp police officer is compelling, carrying the film largely on his shoulders. His ability to infuse humour into intense scenes adds an extra layer to his character, making it a treat for his fans.

- Srinidhi Shetty as Mrudula delivers a decent performance, though the romantic subplot with Arjun feels like an unwelcome interruption to the thriller’s pace.

- Prateik Babbar plays the antagonist but unfortunately falls short in creating a strong impact, mainly due to weak character writing.

- Rao Ramesh as the HIT team chief in Vizag makes a solid impression despite limited screen time, while Samuthirakani as Arjun’s father adds emotional weight and comic relief in select scenes.

- Look out for two surprise cameos that received thunderous applause in theatres.

Technical Aspects:

- Music: Mickey J. Meyer’s background score shines more in the second half, adding intensity to crucial moments, though the first half could have used more gripping compositions.

- Editing: Karthika Srinivas could have tightened the narrative, especially by trimming portions of the romantic subplot and the second-half action sequences.

- Cinematography: Sanu Varghese beautifully captures the breathtaking landscapes of Jammu & Kashmir, with particularly notable work during the action-packed second half.

- Production Values: Wall Poster Cinema and Unanimous Productions have invested well, evident in the film’s rich visuals and grand scale.

Highlights:

✅ Nani’s Outstanding Performance

✅ Crowd-Pleasing Surprise Cameos

✅ Strong Background Score in the Second Half

✅ Gripping Pre-Climax Action Sequence

✅ Well-Executed Pre-Interval Sequence Set in Jaipur

Shortcomings:

❌ Dragged Romantic Track and Songs

❌ Weak Antagonist Characterisation

❌ Inconsistent Background Score in First Half

❌ Loose Editing and Overlong Runtime

❌ Sluggish Pacing in the First Half

Analysis:

Sailesh Kolanu, who earlier excelled with tight screenplays and strong character arcs in the HIT franchise, opts for a different approach in HIT 3—prioritising the hero’s elevation over narrative finesse. While Nani’s dynamic performance and Arjun Sarkaar’s aggressive characterisation work wonders, the story at times loses momentum.

Though the film boasts adrenaline-charged sequences and memorable crowd-pleasing dialogues, it stumbles with a weakly etched villain and some evident inspiration from the Netflix hit Squid Game in its second half. Additionally, the film contains a heavy dose of violence and frequent use of cuss words across multiple languages (Telugu, Hindi, English), which might not be comfortable for every viewer despite the 'A' certification.

If a tighter screenplay and sharper editing had been in place, HIT 3 could have elevated itself to an even higher league.

Verdict:

HIT 3 is a decently engaging investigative thriller worth a theatrical watch primarily for Nani’s stellar performance and a few high-octane sequences. With some more polish in the writing and editing departments, it could have been even better.

Bottom Line: Sarkaar Shines, Story Stumbles a Bit!

Watch it for sure, though!