HIT 3 Review: Far From the Target

BOTTOM LINE
Far From the Target

RATING
2.25/5

CENSOR
A, 2h 37m

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What Is the Film About?

HIT: The Third Case follows Arjun Sarkar (Nani), a cop who doesn’t believe in showing mercy to dangerous, anti-social criminals. The story revolves around his mission to eliminate a ruthless gang operating through the dark web, with the justification for his actions forming the core of the narrative.

Performances

Nani plays the role of Arjun Sarkar and instantly grabs attention with an impressive performance. His body language, on-screen presence, effort to look age-appropriate, and subtle yet aggressive mannerisms all come together to create an instantly likable character.

Critically, he pulls off the aggressive cop persona quite well. However, his physicality doesn’t entirely match the intensity of the aggression he aims to portray. As the film progresses, this mismatch affects the overall impact of his performance. Adding to it the weakly written second half further dilutes Nani’s impact as an actor.

Overall, it’s a commendable attempt at portraying a more aggressive character, but he’ll need to be better prepared for such roles in the future. That includes doing more groundwork, grooming himself physically to suit the role, and going beyond just taking it up quickly.

Srinidhi Shetty plays the female lead, but her character is poorly written and presented in the film. There’s little to say about her screen presence or performance—not because of her abilities, but because the role itself feels disconnected from the narrative. Her appearances are brief and scattered: she enters the story, features in a song, and then disappears for a significant stretch. Even when she returns, her role lacks the weight or presence expected of a main female lead.

The issue lies more with the writing and direction than with the actress herself. It’s simply a forgettable role—largely because the director seems to forget about her too. Her character never truly integrates into the story, making her presence feel more like an afterthought.

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Analysis

HIT: The Third Case is directed by Sailesh Kolanu who previously delivered the first two films in the HIT franchise. This time, however, the first impression is that Sailesh deviates from the core thriller genre and attempts to blend it with a mass-action hero approach. This shift demands a strong, well-justified script—but that’s where the film falters.

The movie starts off on a solid note, setting the right mood by introducing Arjun Sarkar as an eccentric, unpredictable cop. His odd behavior and actions in the forest has a reason, which keeps the audience intrigued. Despite a lengthy and somewhat dragging first half, there is still enough tension and curiosity to hold interest. The Jammu & Kashmir flashback, though not particularly gripping in terms of investigation, takes up a significant portion of screen time.

What keeps the first half afloat are two key factors: the core mystery is still unrevealed, and Nani’s presence carries the film. His performance, supported by well-written dialogues, helps maintain momentum even as the pacing begins to feel sluggish.

But when it comes to the second half—where the heart of the story truly lies—the director completely loses his grip. The setup introduces a caricature-like villain and a supposedly fresh backdrop for the action, but the entire sequence feels staged and inorganic. Even the dialogue lacks natural flow or depth. The gangs, their motivations, and Arjun Sarkar’s extreme approach to justice fail to generate any real tension. Nothing feels remotely thrilling or convincing.

The success of any thriller depends on how tight, believable, and engaging its execution is. Unfortunately, HIT 3 delivers none of that. Not a single twist or thrill lands effectively. The major flaw lies in forcefully injecting mass action into a thriller framework, stripping the film of both authenticity and excitement. As a result, it ends up being neither a gritty action film nor a gripping thriller—it just sits awkwardly in between.

The final 30 minutes, packed with excessive violence and an infant-related plot point, lack emotional weight and feel completely staged. One is left wondering how someone like Nani—known for his logical script choices—didn’t spot these cracks. The heroine’s track is utterly pointless, and the songs add nothing to the narrative. Their inclusion feels like outdated obligations rather than essential storytelling elements. It’s baffling that someone as seasoned as Nani didn’t question their relevance in an action thriller.

These missteps in narrative, pacing, and structure make HIT 3 a film that fits nowhere.

Sailesh Kolanu, who once showed promise as a capable thriller director, strays far from his strengths here. By the time a few interesting cameos appear during the climax, the damage is already done. Cameos work best when the film’s core is strong—they enhance what’s already working. But here, they offer little value. We smile not because the film earns it, but because the change (Cameos) finally feels refreshing.

HIT: The Third Case ends up more of a miss than a hit. It doesn’t quite work as an unapologetic action film, nor does it deliver the tension or surprises expected from a thriller. The film lacks emotional weight and consistency, struggling to establish a clear genre identity. That said, it does offer moments of intrigue, and Nani’s aggressive, age-appropriate portrayal of Arjun Sarkar is a refreshing change. Give it a try if you’re curious—but keep your expectations low, especially if you’re hoping for a gripping action thriller.

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Performances by Others Actors

HIT: The Third Case features a few well-known supporting actors, starting with Rao Ramesh who appears in a couple of scenes, and Komalee Prasad, who plays a supporting female role in the HIT team. Tamil actor Samuthirakani appears as Nani’s father, and there are a couple of surprise cameos in the climax.

However, despite the recognizable cast, none of the supporting characters truly stand out—mainly due to how they’re written. Even the villain, who takes over the second half, comes off as an artificial, caricature-like figure. As a result, the supporting cast leaves little impact overall.

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Music and Other Departments?

Mickey J Meyer composes the music for HIT 3, but both the songs and background score fall short of expectations. The songs are outright disappointing—not only musically but also visually, as they fail to make any meaningful or memorable impression on screen. This is a result of both the uninspiring compositions and the director’s ineffective placement of the songs, which disrupt the narrative flow and act as speed bumps in the story.

When it comes to the background score, which is crucial for a gripping thriller like HIT 3, Mickey J Meyer again underdelivers. While the score is serviceable, it lacks the punch needed to elevate intense moments or enhance the overall mood. It does not significantly contribute to the film’s impact, neither in specific sequences nor in the larger scheme. Overall, Mickey J Meyer’s work here is underwhelming.

Cinematography by Sanu John Varghese is decent. The film looks passable visually, but it lacks the slickness or visual flair that could have elevated its tone and appeal. It feels visually compliant, but not compelling.

Editing by Karthika Srinivas is another area where the film falters. The pacing in both halves feels sluggish and stretched. Crisper editing could have tightened the narrative and delivered a more gripping, taut thriller. Unfortunately, that sharpness is missing, resulting in noticeable lag and a loss of momentum.

Overall, the technical departments of HIT: The Third Case collectively disappoint. It’s not just one area, but across the board—from music and editing to visuals—the output feels lackluster.

As for production values from Wall Poster Cinema & Unanimous Productions they are adequate. While there’s nothing glaringly poor, there’s also nothing particularly noteworthy. The production makes no lasting impression or impact.

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Highlights?

Nani’s performance, to an extent

The initial intrigue

Well-written one-liners

Drawbacks?

Thriller setup feels half-baked

Violence lacks real purpose or emotional weight

Villain is laughably weak and unthreatening

No real thrills, tension, or surprises

Poor heroine track that adds nothing to the story

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Did I Enjoy It?

On and off.

Will You Recommend It?

You could give it a shot—just don’t expect much.

HIT: The Third Case Movie Review by M9

HIT 1 Review – Misses The Final Target
HIT 2 Review – Closer To The Target