HIT

HIT: The First Case’s Rajkummar Rao Leads a Strong Mystery That Stumbles 

Indian crime thrillers often return as remakes, and many don’t match the punch of the first version. HIT: The First Case (2022), the Hindi remake of the 2020 Telugu film, does better than most. It keeps the tension high, leans on solid police work, and gives fans of investigative dramas plenty to enjoy. Directed by Sailesh Kolanu (who also made the original), this take shifts the setting to Rajasthan while holding on to the same core idea: a troubled cop racing against time while fighting his own mind.

The story centers on Vikram Jaisingh (Rajkummar Rao), a 32-year-old officer with the Homicide Intervention Team (HIT), a special unit built for serious cases. Vikram carries deep trauma tied to fire and personal loss. He deals with PTSD and panic attacks that hit without warning. His fiancée, Neha (Sanya Malhotra), a forensic expert, urges him to take time off, and his team worries about him too. He agrees to a break, but it doesn’t last long.

An 18-year-old girl named Preeti goes missing after her car breaks down on Jaipur’s ring road highway. The case turns personal when Neha vanishes similarly. Vikram returns to work, even though he’s far from stable.

From there, the film builds a tense missing-persons investigation with real emotional pressure behind it. Vikram follows leads that open up messy details around Preeti’s life, including her adoption, family stress, hints of a private relationship, and evidence that points in more than one direction. The plot links the two disappearances in smart ways, using false leads and small clues to keep the search active. Vikram’s mental state adds another layer, and it keeps the stakes high even in quiet scenes. Kolanu keeps the pace measured, letting the anxiety build instead of rushing to big moments.

Rajkummar Rao Holds the Film Together

Rajkummar Rao is the main reason the movie works as well as it does. He plays Vikram as a man barely holding himself upright. The panic attacks feel physical and real, with his breathing, body language, and fear showing clearly. He also sells the exhaustion, the guilt, and the pressure that come with the job. Even when the mystery turns complicated, Rao keeps Vikram grounded, which helps the film stay believable.

Sanya Malhotra brings warmth and steadiness as Neha, though the script doesn’t give her much room beyond what Vikram’s story needs. The supporting cast helps fill out the police procedural side. Milind Gunaji, playing a suspended inspector, adds weight in his scenes, and the rest of the HIT team keeps the work environment convincing without pulling focus from the leads.

A Strong Build-Up, Then a Split Ending

The first half is where HIT: The First Case feels most confident. The clues come at a steady pace, the suspects don’t feel random, and the film keeps viewers guessing. The background score supports the tension without drowning scenes, and the camera work makes the highways feel lonely and dangerous. Interrogation rooms and night scenes carry a cold mood that fits the story.

The romance between Vikram and Neha offers short breaks from the case. Some of these moments use slow-motion and can slow the rhythm, but they also show what Vikram stands to lose.

The biggest problem comes near the finish. After a careful setup, the final stretch feels rushed, and the explanation doesn’t land for everyone. The remake makes changes from the Telugu version to stand apart, and that choice has split viewers. Some like the new direction, others find it forced and hard to buy emotionally. That weak payoff holds the film back from being as satisfying as it could’ve been.

A Solid Crime Thriller, With a Few Rough Edges

HIT: The First Case works best as a character-driven crime thriller, not an action-heavy one. It focuses on trauma, obsession, and the toll of police work, and it treats those ideas with care. It isn’t perfect, but it stays engaging for most of its run.

For anyone who enjoys investigative dramas and missing-person mysteries, this one is worth the time. Rajkummar Rao’s performance alone makes it easy to recommend, as long as expectations stay realistic about the finale.

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