However, the story fails to tie up the loose ends and events leading to the big reveal don’t quite add up. The tension mounts as we settle into Kolanu’s chaotic world. The film is more of an unhurried, meandering crime mystery with an intriguing build-up but an unrewarding payoff. The treatment is no-nonsense and sincere but that doesn’t translate to a nail-biting, gritty thriller. A melodious love song for instance, has to be followed by something tragic happening to the lead actress. HIT evades stereotypes to a huge extent but also succumbs to it. Vikram’s past trauma hasn’t been revealed here so expect more sequels to this story. Given how quickly spoilers can get leaked for whodunits, this was an obvious modification. Kolanu retains the character names, even the story except for an alteration in the climax. Instead of Telangana, the police procedural now plays out in Rajasthan.

Two years after Sailesh Kolanu made the Telugu original by the same name, he remakes his film in Hindi with different set of actors and location. Rooted in pain, Vikram’s silent heroism and deductive reasoning skills keep you invested, if not on the edge of your seat. It’s brave enough to acknowledge him as ‘unfit’ for his investigative field job despite the talent. HIT doesn’t glorify its hero’s ordeal though. If jilted lover Arjun Reddy (Vijay Deverakonda) was a high-functioning alcoholic surgeon, Vikram (Rajkummar Rao) is a panic attack-stricken brilliant detective who excels at work despite his recurring nightmares and PTSD. Review: Protagonists in South movies are mostly chain smoking-troubled geniuses of late, and this remake is no exception. Are the two cases connected and who’s the culprit? College girl Preeti disappears after her car breaks down on a Jaipur highway and Vikram’s girlfriend, forensic analyst Neha (Sanya Malhotra) is nowhere to be seen either.

Story: Haunted by flashes of a tragic past, HIT (Homicide Intervention Team) detective Vikram (Rajkummar Rao) is forced to keep his personal battles aside as two women go missing under mysterious circumstances.

Hit film