Poster of "Laal Rang"
Poster of "Laal Rang"Randeep Hooda/Laal Rang

Randeep Hooda-starrer "Laal Rang," which released on Friday, opened to mixed reviews. The film is a thriller drama directed by Syed Ahmed Afzal and features Akshay Oberoi and Piaa Bajpai in lead roles.

"Laal Rang" is about the illegal blood bank, which is run by Shankar (Randeeep). Rajesh (Akshay), who loves Poonam (Piaa), gets involved in the illegal business of selling blood to woo Poonam. However, things fall apart and later the illegal activity of selling blood comes to an end.

Though the storyline is based on a true story, the filmmaker failed to impress critics. On the other hand, critics have lauded Randeep's performance.

Read below what critics have said about the film. 

Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV said: " A small film whose impact is enhanced manifold by Randeep Hooda's presence, Laal Rang also has other bright spots. But cottoning on to them might call for patience."

Shubhra Gupta of the Indian Express said: " Hooda—an actor who is always watchable, especially when he is strutting the walk– loses yet another opportunity to break out of the long run of indifferent films he's been stuck in."

Surabhi Redkar of Koimoi.com said: "Laal Rang is not a movie that boasts of high star values and hence not many would flock to theaters to watch it. Although if you are a fan of Randeep Hooda, this one should be your pick."

Rohit Vats of the Hindustan Times said: " Laal Rang has a shade grey and is much more high voltage than an ordinary thriller. Nobody could have played it better than Hooda. It's his film."

Mohar Basu of the Times of India said: " Laal Rang is half-baked and unconvincing. Despite the grit, it never becomes a riveting film. Here's a lesson to learn: Ideas don't make good films, execution does."

Nandini Ramnath of Scroll.in said: " The story is slight and stretched, and there isn't enough meat it in to adequately explore the potential themes – the bromance that develops between Shankar and Rajesh, the moral concerns over illegal blood donation, the exploitation of poor donors, and the general shortage of the life-giving fluid that makes racketeering a necessity."