Red Review : The murder of a man at his beach house triggers a series of events involving two doppelgangers, leaving authorities puzzled over which look-alike is the culprit.
| Release Date | 14 January 2021 |
|---|---|
| Language | Hindi, Telugu |
| Genre | Crime, Thriller |
| Duration | 2h 26min |
| Cast | Ram Pothineni, Nivetha Pethuraj, Malvika Sharma, Amritha Aiyer, Sampath Raj, Vennela Kishore, Nassar, Posani Krishna Murali, Satya, RCM Raju, Sonia Agarwal, Ravi Prakash, Pavitra Lokesh, Sivannarayana Naripeddi, Narra Srinivas, Praveen Prabhu, Surya Sreenivas, Charandeep, Hebah Patelmore… |
| Director | Tirumala Kishore |
| Writer | Tirumala Kishore |
| Cinematography | Rakesh Rawat |
| Music | Sameer Reddy |
| Producer | Sravanthi Ravi Kishore |
| Production | Sri Sravanthi Movies |
| Certificate | 16+ |
On paper, this Telugu adaptation of the Tamil film Thadam promises an intriguing premise with its focus on doppelgangers and a perplexing crime. However, the reality falls short, as director Kishore Tirumala tests the audience’s patience with a sluggish pace that nearly undermines the film’s potential.
Siddharth (Ram Pothineni) is a disciplined civil engineer on the brink of realizing his dreams, while his counterpart, Aditya, is a reckless gambler and scam artist. Both find themselves implicated in a murder case, and with limited time to solve the mystery, the police race against the clock.
Before delving into the heart of the story, Tirumala spends excessive time establishing the characters of Siddharth and Aditya. The narrative becomes repetitive, exhausting viewers with overtly contrasting character traits. When the plot finally gains momentum, rushed storytelling and overly explanatory dialogues diminish the impact of key revelations.
Despite the sluggish pacing, the film’s saving grace lies in its character backstories, providing depth to the protagonists’ motivations. Ram delivers a standout performance as both Siddharth and Aditya, captivating viewers with his portrayal of contrasting personalities. Malvika Sharma shines in her role, though the film’s depiction of violence against women for revenge purposes remains problematic.
While RED has its moments and boasts a talented cast, its sluggish screenplay may deter some viewers. It’s worth considering if you enjoy a blend of romance, thriller, and masala, but be prepared for a slow burn.
