HIT: The Third Case (2025): When Investigation Turns Violent”

 

📌 Introduction

The HIT franchise, short for Homicide Intervention Team, expands with its third installment—HIT: The Third Case. Released on May 1, 2025, this Telugu-language crime thriller stars Nani as SP Arjun Sarkaar, shifting the tone of the series deeper into blood-soaked terrain. 

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🧩 Plot Overview

Arjun Sarkaar starts the film behind bars and unfolds the story through flashbacks. Investigating a shadowy cult named CTK (Capture, Torture, Kill), he uncovers gruesome ritual killings, hormone-driven organ trafficking, and a twisted drug ring catering to elites. As the mystery escalates, betrayals and gore intensify. 

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👤 Performance & Direction

• Nani transforms into a hard-edged, volatile cop—embracing a level of aggression far removed from his familiar on-screen persona. Critics and viewers applaud his commitment to this darker role.

• Sailesh Kolanu, franchise creator and director, leans heavily into stylized violence and mass-hero dramatics over investigative subtlety. 

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🔍 Visuals & Tone

• The film is visually bold, with crisp cinematography capturing both urban chaos and brooding landscapes. 

• Be warned—this is a full-throttle gore fest. With an “A” certificate, expect intense bloodshed and visceral action. 

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📊 Reception & Ratings

• Rotten Tomatoes shows mixed critics’ opinions: some tag it as an excessive “bloated action schlockfest,” while others hail it as a “worthy addition” with strong performances and taut thrills. Critics’ aggregate score: varied. 

• Audience reviews similarly split—some loved its raw energy (“top-class action”), others found it over-the-top or boring.

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💬 Reddit Buzz

“It's very entertaining… overall it’s predictable sure but it’s damn fun to watch.”
— OpenRound6492 on r/tollywood 

“Different from HIT 1 & 2… no suspense, full of commercialization.”
— AmbivalentThinker5 

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🔥 Box Office & Franchise Impact

• The film grossed around ₹101 crore globally within days of release and is one of the top-grossing Telugu films of 2025. 

• Plans are already in motion for HIT: The Fourth Case, teasing a larger, interconnected crime-thriller universe. 

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✅ Final Verdict

HIT: The Third Case is a polarizing ride—either a gripping action-thriller or a gratuitous gorefest, depending on your taste. If you're into raw, stylized violence with a larger-than-life hero at the helm, Nani delivers. But if you hoped for cerebral detective work like the earlier entries, be warned: the mood here is darker, louder, bloodier.

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🔄 TL;DR

Element	Highlights
Performances	Nani’s bold, unhinged cop portrayal
Direction	Kolanu’s shift from subtlety to spectacle
Violence Level	Very high—graphic and intense
Storytelling	Part investigative thriller, mostly revenge-action
Franchise	Huge box office, sets scene for sequel

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📣 Over to You

Have you watched HIT: The Third Case yet? Did Nani’s dark transformation hit the mark—or miss? Share your take in the comments!