Malayali pulse of The Hunt: Behind the faces that brought history to life

Indian Express

3 days ago

The Hunt, streaming on Sony LIV, directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, brings to life the complex and high-stakes investigation that followed the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The seven-part series, based on Anirudhya Mitra's book '90 Days – The True Story of the Hunt for Rajiv Gandhi's Assassins', has captivated audiences across the country.
It also marks a moment of pride for Kerala. A number of Malayali actors — both seasoned performers and promising newcomers — play key roles in the series. Actor and dancer Shruti Jayan, actor trainer Jyothish M.G., Shafeek Mustafa, Gauri Padmakumar, Neetu Chandra, Akhil Raj, and Akhil Kaimal — who is also the casting director — all appear in prominent roles in The Hunt.
Villain of the Year: Shafeek Mustafa
Shafeek Mustafa, a theatre actor, takes on the role of key LTTE operative Sivarasan in The Hunt. His intense, layered performance has earned widespread praise, with many viewers calling him the 'Villain of the Year.'
'I watched numerous films and documentaries related to the subject. I also tried to understand the differences in the Sinhala language between the past and present. I read several articles, news clips, and had detailed conversations with journalist friends,' says Shafeek, describing his preparation for the role.
The physical transformation for the character was also a significant challenge. Sivarasan had sustained an eye injury during combat with armed forces, and to portray this realistically, Shafeek wore a special lens and had prosthetic makeup applied to his eyelid throughout the shoot.
'I had around 30 days of shooting. Acting with a lens in my eye and makeup on the eyelid was quite difficult. It's manageable for one or two scenes, but as the scenes got longer, it became really uncomfortable. My eyes would become watery,' Shafeek recalls.
However, seeing the positive reception The Hunt is receiving now, Shafeek says all the effort and discomfort is worth it.
Looks matter: Jyothish M.G
Jyothish M.G., Associate Professor of Acting at the K.R. Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts, Kerala, portrays LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran in The Hunt. A seasoned theatre director and actor trainer with years of experience, Jyothish brings depth and gravitas to the role. Though he has played many characters on stage over the years, this marks his debut on screen — a transition he describes as a significant and memorable step in his artistic journey.
'When I came to know that I was being considered to play Velupillai Prabhakaran, my first instinct was to decline the offer. I didn't feel I physically matched the character. From the images I had seen, Prabhakaran was heavily built, and I felt I wouldn't be able to convincingly portray him. When you're portraying a real person, especially someone who actually lived, there has to be at least a basic physical resemblance — otherwise, no matter how well you act, it won't feel authentic,' says Jyothish, who was eventually convinced to join the series by the reassuring words of director Nagesh Kukunoor.
'Later, it was Nagesh Kukunoor who explained that most of the photos we see of Prabhakaran are from when he was around 56 years old. But during the time of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, Prabhakaran was only 36. They even sent me a comparison — a photo of him from that time placed next to mine. And when I looked at that younger version of Prabhakaran, I realized there was actually a striking resemblance.'
Also Read | The Hunt – The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case review: Gripping series gives ringside view of CBI investigation, hews close to what happened
Jyothish also shared that he had concerns about the political sensitivity of the subject.
'It's a politically charged topic, and it carries a lot of emotional weight. When you get involved in something like this, you have to think through many layers — especially about how the subject is being approached. That really matters. They clarified that the series doesn't take sides or blame anyone. It's an investigative drama. During the discussions, I too gained clarity and confidence about the intent behind the project,' he said.
'Though I had read about the subject before, this time I explored multiple perspectives on Prabhakaran by reading a range of articles. That's when I realized — the Prabhakaran we knew through the media wasn't the complete picture. The real Prabhakaran was someone who smiled a lot, cracked jokes, and had a soft, almost feeble voice.
But for the series, it wasn't that realistic Prabhakaran we aimed to portray — it was the version etched into the public memory. Journalist Anita Pratap, who once interviewed him in person, wrote that she was struck by the clarity, conviction, and unwavering belief he expressed during their conversation. That is the face of Prabhakaran I tried to bring to life within the limited screen time I had,' Jyothish explained.
Not just a killer: Shruti Jayan
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'I was working on a couple of Telugu web series in Hyderabad, which had streamed on Amazon Prime Video. That's where they saw my work and reached out to me. I was recommended by Vamshi Narayani, who had previously worked with Nagesh sir,' Shruti Jayan recalls about her journey to The Hunt.
Shruti plays the role of Dhanu — the suicide bomber who assassinated Rajiv Gandhi. It's a character she stepped into with both excitement and deep responsibility.
'I was thrilled to get this role. The assassination of Rajiv Gandhi is a painful memory that lingers in everyone's mind. Just hearing his name evokes emotion. Many people still ask — why did she do it? That I got to portray Dhanu, such a central figure in this story, was a big moment for me. What made it more meaningful was that she wasn't shown as just a killer — the series carefully explores her mental and emotional state,' says Shruti.
Her audition scene was set on a terrace, where Dhanu reaches a point of inner resolution.
'It wasn't just about tears. The director wanted a state of ultimate calm — someone who felt nothing could affect her anymore, who was experiencing complete peace, even joy. That mood was hard to capture. It made me realize this wasn't going to be an easy role.'
'As an actor, I got to explore so many emotional layers through Dhanu. I did a lot of homework for the part. My shoot lasted for about 14 days,' she adds.
Shruti says the response she's received for The Hunt has been unlike anything she's experienced before.
'Anirudhya Mitra personally messaged me saying, 'I never met Dhanu in real life. But now, after seeing your performance, I feel like I've finally seen her on screen.'' Hearing that from the author himself meant a lot to me,' Shruti shares with pride.
Crafted with care: Gauri Padmakumar
Gauri Padmakumar is overjoyed by the overwhelming response to The Hunt, especially as it marks her very first on-screen project. She plays Shubha, a lesser-known but crucial figure in the assassination plot. Gauri came on board after responding to a casting call and successfully clearing a rigorous four-round audition process. Determined to do justice to her role, she arrived on set well-prepared, having done extensive research.
'I mostly focused on reading about the LTTE background. I didn't delve much into the Indian narrative of the issue,' Gauri explains. 'There's very little information available about Shubha. It's said that only two photographs of her are available; there's not even full clarity on whether her name was actually Shubha. Honestly, I was a bit hesitant to search too much online — it's not a topic you approach casually.'
Despite the limited information available about her character, Gauri relied on instinct and insight to shape her portrayal of Shubha in The Hunt. 'From what I understood, Shubha was a strong fighter. Maybe that's why, despite letting others go, someone like Sivarasan — the mastermind — chose to keep her by his side through those intense 90 days,' she reflects. With minimal references and a character embedded in a sensitive historical narrative, Gauri's nuanced performance resonated powerfully — marking a confident and memorable screen debut.
Following the release, she received a wave of messages from viewers — some thoughtful, others unexpectedly humorous. 'One person messaged saying, ''For the first time, I think I've fallen in love with an LTTE woman,'' she laughs.
That even a character from such a dark chapter in history could evoke such responses, Gauri says, is a testament to the power of storytelling — and the unpredictable ways in which it touches hearts.