Nani Turns Cold-Blooded Cop: HIT: The 3rd Case Review

This HIT: The 3rd Case review starts with a simple fact: Nani is not playing the likeable everyman here. Sailesh Kolanu's Telugu action crime film drops him into a savage murder hunt as a cop who plays by his own rules. It is loud, bloody and long, and it knows exactly who it is made for.

HIT: The 3rd Case Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The HIT: The 3rd Case plot follows the Homicide Intervention Team, a specialist police unit. It sends Arjun Sarkaar, a hard and ruthless officer, after a group of killers whose murders are getting more grisly by the day. That is the whole setup, and the film wastes little time before showing how dangerous the case is.

The film is the third entry in the HIT series, and Sailesh Kolanu both writes and directs. The case itself is the focus, so you can follow it without a deep knowledge of earlier chapters. Still, fans of the franchise will recognise the tone: grim, procedural and unsparing.

The film was released on 30 April 2025 in Telugu. It runs 157 minutes, which is a lot of crime thriller to sit through.

What Works in HIT: The 3rd Case

The biggest draw is the lead. Nani leans into a harder, colder side than many viewers expect, and the film builds its mood around that shift. Arjun Sarkaar feels dangerous in a way that keeps scenes tense even when the plot is quiet.

• A confident lead turn: Nani carries the film with a controlled, menacing presence.

• Brutal action: The violence is heavy and has real impact. It suits the grisly nature of the case.

• A clear mission: The hunt for the killers gives the story a strong spine from the first act onward.

Kolanu also understands pacing in short bursts. Individual set pieces and interrogation beats land with force, and the dark tone stays consistent. If you like your crime stories raw, the direction delivers.

For more in this vein, browse our action movie reviews and crime movie reviews.

HIT: The 3rd Case Cast and Performances

The HIT: The 3rd Case cast is led by Nani as Arjun Sarkaar. Srinidhi Shetty plays Mrudula, and Komalee Prasad appears as Varsha. Rao Ramesh is Nageswara Rao, Surya Srinivas plays Ravi, and Adil Pala is Zubair Ahmed Khan.

Nani is the reason to watch. He gives Arjun a hard edge and a stillness that feels unsettling, which makes a break from his more familiar screen image. Rao Ramesh brings gravity to his scenes, as he usually does.

Srinidhi Shetty and the rest of the supporting players do solid work, though the script gives them less room than the lead. The film belongs to Nani, and the others mostly orbit him.

Where HIT: The 3rd Case Stumbles

At 157 minutes, the film is overlong. A tighter edit would sharpen the investigation, because some stretches repeat the same grim beats rather than move the case forward.

The violence may also be too much for some viewers. It is extreme and frequent, and at times it feels like the film leans on shock rather than suspense. That can blunt the thriller side of the story.

The supporting characters are thinly drawn next to Arjun. Audience scores are positive but modest, and that fits: this is a strong showcase for its star rather than a complete, polished thriller.

Is HIT: The 3rd Case Worth Watching?

Yes, if you can handle heavy violence and a long runtime. Is HIT: The 3rd Case worth watching comes down to taste: Nani's intense performance and Sailesh Kolanu's grim tone make it a solid, if uneven, ride.

We rate it 6.7/10, in line with the audience score of 6.7/10 on TMDB. It does not reinvent the serial-killer hunt, but it commits to its dark mood. Casual viewers may tire of the length, while genre fans should find plenty to chew on.

Who Will Enjoy HIT: The 3rd Case

• Fans of Nani who want to see him in a darker, tougher role.

• Viewers who like gritty Indian crime thrillers and have followed the HIT series.

• Action audiences who can handle graphic violence and a long runtime.