HIT 3 is jointly produced by Prashanti Tipirneni and Nani. In this section, we are going to review the latest box office release.
Plot
Arjun Sarkaar, a razor-sharp sleuth with a specialized police force, calls the streets of Visakhapatnam home. But when a bone-chilling case lands on his desk, he is thrust into the wilds of Kashmir, Bihar, and Jaipur where a pack of cunning serial killers stalk the shadows. The ruthless cop soon finds out a pattern and goes about tracking down one of the darkest sets of psychopaths.
Performances
Nani is largely good. In the film's Trailer, he appeared to be forced and rigid. Not so in the film; he is far from feeling distant. Srinidhi Shetty's acting is weakened by clichéd writing.
Surya Srinivas, as ASP Ravi IPS, strides through the chaos with confidence, but his acting feels like a reheated dish. Rao Ramesh, as DGP Nageswara Rao's role is so familiar that it feels like he is reciting from memory. Most others, meanwhile, are like background static—present, functional, but barely memorable. Samuthirakani is seen as the hero's dad. Komalee Prasad plays a cop in the HIT. Ravindra Vijay is seen in a bit role.
Technical Departments
Mickey J Meyer’s BGM is uneven. It doesn't pulse with promise. Tracks like Abki Baar Arjun Sarkaar, Prema Velluva, and Thanu are staged with a flourish. Yet, the score’s ambition to elevate the mood often feels like a guest overstaying their welcome.
Sanu John Varghese’s cinematography, meanwhile, paints with bold strokes, capturing tense standoffs with a glossy sheen. The visuals can’t quite conjure the haunting atmosphere the film so desperately chases. The production design is average. The editing passes muster.
Lee Whittaker and Real Satish have choreographed the stunts, which are largely uninventive.
Post-Mortem
A critic made an interesting observation about the Hindi remake of HIT: The First Case: "There are no pauses in the film - not between action and reaction, motion and emotion, idea and execution, question and answer, love and loss." This can't be said about HIT 3, but that's not good news in and of itself.
The film is no whodunit and so, there is no endless chasing of the clues. But whatever clues are in place, they chase Arjun Sarkaar. The underwritten investigation track doesn't feel complete, with the hero launching himself into the right clues accidentally.
The romantic track is jaded; it is as routine as it can get in your average cop movie. The use of Chaganti's pravachanams to elevate heroism is a good idea. A sermon should have narrated the whole love affair in one minute and be done with it.
Director Sailesh Kolanu has failed at tension-building after his first movie. Saindhav was blunt and stilted. HIT 3 is way less dull but it is no match to its first cousin.
The screenplay delivers a couple of highs in the second half, but the ideation-level potential doesn't quite become an actuality. The madness of a grotesquely feral group of killers should have received a more intense, moody treatment. The performers, barring Nani, don't hold it.
The pre-climax and climax portions are not worth the hype. One major cameo is pointless; if you have to rely on a miracle character to round off a mission, what is the heroism of the protagonist for?
Closing Remarks
HIT 3 is a relatively leisurely narration. The film is not in a tearing hurry. But it is also a safe cop story with formulaic elements.Review intro text
