# Hit List (2024 film)

Hit List is a 2024 Indian Tamil-language action film directed by Soorya Kathir Kakkallar and K. Karthikeyan and produced by K. S. Ravikumar under the banner RK Celluloids. The film stars R. Sarathkumar and Vijay Kanishka, alongside Gautham Vasudev Menon, Smruthi Venkat, Munishkanth and others in supporting roles.

## Plot

Vijay is an IT professional living with his mother, Sithara, and younger sister, Abi Nakshatra. Vijay follows vegetarianism and Vallalar's ideologies, hoping not to harm living creatures. One day, Vijay's mother and sister get kidnapped by a masked man who calls and threatens Vijay. ACP Yazhvendan investigates the case. The masked man calls Vijay and wants him to break into the house of a local don, Kaali, and fight him; failing would lead to Vijay's mother and sister being killed. Meanwhile, the police tried to find the location of the masked man but in vain.
Initially, Vijay hesitates to follow the masked man's commands, but later, fearing the safety of his mother and sister, Vijay agrees. He goes into the house of Kaali and fights with him single-handedly. Surprisingly, Kaali is beaten to death by Vijay. Dr. Karunakaran is the dean of a government hospital, and the masked man kidnaps Dr. Karuna's son as well. Dr Karuna and Vijay arrive at a location specified by the masked man. Now, the masked man comes online to the internet and discloses the truth about Dr. Karuna.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, there was a severe shortage of oxygen cylinders in hospitals. Dr. Karuna misused his power and illegally sold the oxygen cylinders from government hospitals to private hospitals. Dr Anitha, who worked in Dr Karuna's hospital, tried to expose him, however, Kaali and his henchmen stabbed and killed her. The masked man wants Vijay to beat Dr. Karuna to release his mother and sister. Following an intense fight, Vijay kills Dr. Karuna. The masked man releases Vijay's mother and sister.
ACP Yazh traces the masked man's location and rushes to arrest him. However, it is late as the masked man flees the place. Vijay gets acquitted in this case as he has done the murders to save his mother and sister. Later, ACP Yazh meets Vijay and reveals that he knows the real identity of the masked man, who is none other than Vijay. He asks what motivated Vijay's acts, and a flashback is shown.
Dr Anitha happened to be Vijay's neighbour. Vijay's father was infected with COVID-19 and was admitted to hospital. When there was a shortage of oxygen cylinders, Vijay's father gave his oxygen cylinder to save a pregnant woman, leading to Vijay's father passing away from breathlessness. Vijay and his family wanted revenge for this, and they waited for a couple of years, sketching a proper plan to expose Dr . Karuna and also kill him. ACP Yazh understands Vijay's intentions and does not disclose this to anyone.

## Cast

* R. Sarathkumar as ACP K. Yazhvendhan
* Vijay Kanishka as Vijay
* Gautham Vasudev Menon as Dean Dr. Karunakaran
* Samuthirakani as Vijay's father
* Munishkanth as Police inspector
* Redin Kingsley as Vijay's neighbour
* Sithara as Vijay's mother
* Smruthi Venkat as Dr. Anitha
* Ramachandra Raju as Kaali
* Ramachandran Durairaj
* Shaji Chen
* Aishwarya Dutta as Aishwarya, Vijay's co-worker
* Abi Nakshatra as Keerthi, Vijay's sister
* Anupama Kumar as Latha Periyasami, Home Minister
* Bala Saravanan as Bala, Vijay's co-worker
* Pandian
* Poster Nandakumar
* Janani Ashok Kumar as Kumudha, wife of ACP K. Yazhvendhan

## Production

The film's announcement was made on August 31, 2022. A puja ceremony was held on Thursday, September 1, 2022, in Chennai to mark the launch of the production of Hit List. It was announced that director Vikraman’s son, Vijay Kanishka, will play a lead role.

## Release

The film was released on 31 May 2024 in theatres to mixed reviews. The film was released on streaming platforms of Amazon Prime Video and Aha Tamil on 09 July 2024.

### Critical reception

A critic from The New Indian Express wrote that the film's "core message, though important, feels somewhat dated. Nevertheless, the film has its heart in the right place, with the message reflecting a real-life injustice". A critic from The Times of India rated the film two-and-a-half out of five stars and wrote that "Directed by duo Sooryakathir and K. Karthikeyan, Hitlist has its moments. Some good camerawork and sound design create the necessary suspense. A decent thriller for a lazy afternoon". A critic from OTTplay gave the film the same rating and wrote that "Hit List makes it to the list of films that are made with true and sincere intentions. But that alone isn't enough in an era of filmmaking that has surpassed merely having good notions". A critic from Times Now gave the film the same rating and wrote that "Directors Sooryakathir Kaakkallar and K Karthikeyan seem to have a solid script on paper. However, where they seem to have faltered is in getting that script convincingly transferred onto the screen". A critic from The South First wrote that "It is one of those thrillers you don't mind sitting through when you don't have much to do".