The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case Season 1 Review: A gripping procedural that unfolds with precision and pace
Review: 'The difficult is possible. The impossible will take a little longer,' declares the IGP D R Karthikeyan (Amit Sial), capturing the essence of the show, as he embarks on a nerve-wracking 90-day mission of solving the Late Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination case. Adapted from investigative journalist Anirudhya Mitra's book Ninety Days, this thriller offers a blow-by-blow account of the CBI's Special Investigation Team (SIT) as it cracks the assassination plot, nabs the culprits, and hunts down the mastermind, Sivarasan (Shafeeq Mustafa), to his final hideout.
Co-written by Nagesh Kukunoor (also the director), Rohit Banawalikar, and Sriram Rajan, the series is a tightly crafted and well-narrated thriller chronicling the assassination that shook the nation and the relentless manhunt that followed. The CBI team features some of its sharpest minds: DIG Amod Kant (Danish Iqbal), who previously solved Indira Gandhi's assassination case; DIG Raju (Girish Sharma), an expert in handling Jammu & Kashmir militants; DSP Raghothaman (Bagavathi Perumal), the agency's best interrogator; and SPI Amit Verma (Sahil Vaid), who tracked down General Arun Vaidya's assassin and Khalistani terrorist, Jinda.
The narrative shines in showing how this team pieces the puzzle together and leverages its network to track down LTTE operatives—renowned for their cunning warfare tactics—despite widespread public sympathy for the group. The battle between two equally formidable forces plays out in gripping fashion, keeping viewers hooked throughout.
Kukunoor also succeeds in juxtaposing his characters' intense and everyday moments. The feared militant Sivarasan and his aide Subha (Gouri Padmakumar) enjoy a Rajinikanth film; Subha paints her nails while guarding their hideout with a rifle; Amit and Raghothaman share a meal at a dhaba, exchanging thoughts on North Indian vs South Indian food just before meeting an informant. The sharp yet grounded Amod Kant speaks of luck's role in investigations, and the viewer is reminded that the derelict building allotted to the SIT was considered cursed—no occupant had ever succeeded from it. These scenes are seamlessly woven into the narrative.
Despite the backdrop of cross-border politics and complex socio-political layers, the focus remains firmly on the core investigation. However, the absence of a contextual setup about the IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) and Rajiv Gandhi's involvement may leave viewers unfamiliar with the background seeking answers. Still, the series effectively captures the psychological warfare and strategic depth that ultimately enables the team to break even the most hardened LTTE Tiger.
The show's layered storytelling touches upon themes such as how one person's hero can be another's terrorist, and how officers often commit to their duty, even when it conflicts with their personal beliefs. The narrative momentarily loses pace after the fifth of seven episodes as keeping track of LTTE operatives gets cumbersome and confusing. However, in the final 36 hours, the tension and frustration due to bureaucratic red tape peak, driving the thrill to a crescendo.
Cinematographer Sangram Giri authentically captures the Tamil Nadu of the 1990s, while Tapas Relia's music complements the mood perfectly. The casting is pitch-perfect—Amit Sial, Bagavathi Perumal, Sahil Vaid, and Danish Iqbal bring their CBI characters to life with conviction, as does Vidyuth Gargi as the commando. Shafeeq Mustafa as the cold, arrogant Sivarasan, and Gouri Padmakumar as the fierce but quiet Subha, both leave a lasting impression.
The series proves that a gripping narrative doesn't require non-stop action to deliver edge-of-the-seat thrills. This is a binge-worthy, taut thriller that keeps you watching.
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