Red Alert – The War Within, produced by T P Aggarwal and Rahul Aggarwal, Star Entertainment, and directed by Ananth Mahadevan, which released last weekend has taken a tremendous response with critics raving about the realism portrayed in the film about India's clear and present danger of Naxalism.

According to the trade pundits, the film has garnered the best reviews for this year and has picked up big time in the box office because of the positive word of mouth publicity. In fact, the director has been pleased by the fact that the youth have liked the film big time and are instrumental in spreading the positive buzz around the film.

The film of this size has already recovered its cost and is getting huge offers for the satellite and other ancillary rights for the film. In fact the film is being offered a whooping amount for the DVD rights in London and the overseas market.

The film is already declared a plus film amongst the trade, considering the film was made at a reasonable and correct costing, unlike the bloodbath faced by the unreasonable priced big films at the box office recently.

The film is about a subject that has never been dealt before in Indian cinema – Naxalism. For such a sensitive and complex issue, the enemy is not an outsider terrorist but our own people. And, Ananth Mahadevan has managed to portray all those facts and facets very well.

Little wonder then, critics have sat up and taken notice of the film. The film has received worldwide acclaim and has been called sudden, fierce, unequivocal, taut, and sensitive. Some critics have even called it doubly important as it is a thought provoking and riveting with scorching content. What seems to work out the most for the critics is that Red Alert is off the beaten track.

Not just the subject of the film but its protagonist and lead actor Suniel Shetty has also caused a stir with his stellar performance.

Critics have acknowledged his power-packed portrayal and intense performance. Not just him and the director, Red Alert seems to be the winner in terms of locations and cinematography. Technicians have also been given credit to by the critics.

So, it's an overall winner in all the aspects with its gripping, conscience-stirring and grimy content being the most prominent feature. What's more, it has given the international media a reason to take Indian cinema seriously and even informed about an issue that is exclusive to India. Whether the critics in Germany, New York or London, they have all acknowledged the film and Mahadevan's prowess.