Red (2021) Review – Rating, Verdict & Box Office | Tollybo
Last updated: 5 May 2026
Red (2021) Review
Red (2021) (Telugu crime, mystery, thriller) — directed by Kishore Tirumala. Featuring Ram Pothineni, Nivetha Pethuraj, Malavika Sharma. When civil engineer Siddharth is arrested for a murder on the basis of a pictorial evidence, cops discover his lookalike Aditya and realize they have only 48 hours to solve the case. Our Rating: 2.5/5. Verdict: AVERAGE. Produced by Sri Sravanthi Movies, Released: 14 Jan 2021. Runtime: 2h 26m.
Red(2021)
Telugu · Crime, Mystery, Thriller
2h 26m · 14 Jan 2021
Music: Mani Sharma | DOP: Sameer Reddy
Ratings
Our Rating
2.5
📖 Story
Red is a Telugu romantic thriller that revolves around Ishaan, a young man with a unique condition of seeing red color as grey. His life takes a turn when he meets Vaishnavi, and together they unravel a mystery involving a serial killer. The film explores themes of love, perception, and justice.
Ram Pothineni: Energetic and convincing as the protagonist with a unique visual impairment.
Nivetha Pethuraj: Strong and graceful, providing a solid romantic counterpart.
Malavika Sharma: Effective in a supporting role with limited screen time.
Kishore Tirumala: Brief but impactful appearance.
Ram Pothineni: Commanding presence as the antagonist.
Nivetha Pethuraj: Good comic relief with timing and expressions.
💪 Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- ✓Unique concept centered on color perception
- ✓Engaging thriller elements
- ✓Strong performances by lead actors
- ✓Mani Sharma's music score
- ✓Cinematography by Sameer Reddy capturing mood effectively
Weaknesses
- ✕Pacing issues in the second half
- ✕Predictability in the plot twists
- ✕Some underdeveloped supporting characters
- ✕Occasional melodramatic sequences
🎬 Direction & Writing
Kishore Tirumala delivers a visually appealing thriller with a novel concept but struggles with screenplay tightness and pacing, especially in the latter half. The narrative maintains interest but could have been more gripping with sharper writing.
📰 Critic Reviews
Ram’s RED falls flat as the film offers nothing new and interesting. Except Ram’s performance and few thrilling moments, RED is a huge disappointment.
Director Prasanth Varma who has done different films in the past has come up with yet another novel film with a Zombie makeover. He has taken the age-old faction film setup where one group tried to kill another group and added a Zombie angle to it. Plus points are Zombie concept and comedy episodes in the second half.…
30 Rojullo Premichadam Ela falls flat because of the poor second half and loads of entertainment that doesn’t appeal to the audience. Except for the super hit song ‘Neeli Neeli Akasam’ and some of the spoofs, 30 Rojullo Premichadam Ela offers nothing new and interesting.
Bhanumathi and Ramakrishna is a simple, fresh and a matured take on relations and emotions. You can give it a watch with your entire family as it is clean from the first frame.
📰 Ratings Sources
| Source | Rating |
|---|---|
| 2.5 | |
| 2.5 | |
| 2.5 |
Our Rating
💰 Box Office Collection
No collection data available yet.
🏛️ Centers & 🏅 Awards
No centers data available.
No awards data available.
😊 Sentiment Breakdown & 🧠 Critics
| Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Positive | 40% |
| Neutral | 35% |
| Negative | 25% |
Critics
Critics appreciated the film's unique premise and Ram Pothineni's performance, along with the technical finesse in music and visuals. However, the screenplay and pacing received mixed reviews, with some critics pointing out predictability and lack of depth in the narrative.
Final Box-Office Result
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When did Red release in theatres?▾
Red released on 14 January 2021 (2021).
Is Red a hit or flop?▾
Red is declared a AVERAGE at the box office.
Where to watch Red online? OTT release date?▾
Red is available on Sun NXT from 26 October 2021.
Who directed Red?▾
Red directed by Kishore Tirumala. Produced by Sravanthi Ravi Kishore.
Who are the main cast members of Red?▾
Red stars Ram Pothineni, Nivetha Pethuraj, Malavika Sharma.
What is the Tollybo rating for Red?▾
Tollybo rates Red 2.5/5. Verdict: AVERAGE.
Who composed the music for Red?▾
Music for Red composed by Mani Sharma.
What is the genre and runtime of Red?▾
Red — Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller, Runtime: 146 minutes, Language: Telugu.