Rebel (2012 film)

Rebel is a 2012 Indian Telugu-language action comedy film written and directed by Raghava Lawrence. The film stars an ensemble cast featuring Prabhas, Tamannaah Bhatia, Deeksha Seth, Krishnam Raju, Mukesh Rishi, K. C. Shankar, and Pradeep Rawat. It was produced by J. Bhaghawan and J. Pulla Rao under the Sri Balaji Cine Media banner.^[2] Lawrence also handled the dance choreography and soundtrack, while the background score was handled by S. Chinna.

Rebel was theatrically released worldwide on 28 September 2012. The film received mixed reviews from critics and underperformed at the box office.^[3]

Rishi is the happy-go-lucky son of Bhupathi, a powerful dictator of the village, who is respected by the villagers. Rishi is influenced by his father's ideals and grows up just like him. However, Bhupathi does not want his son to take up violence and sends him to Bangalore for studies and also learn music. In Bangalore, Rishi falls for an orphan named Deepali and brings her to his house in the disguise as his old music teacher as he wants his father to be happy that he does not take up violence. During the festival held in their village, a politician named Simhadri sends 100 thugs to kill Bhupathi and his family, but Rishi eliminates all the thugs.

Bhupathi's brother Jayram joins hands with Simhadri so that they can kill Bhupathi as he has exiled his son permanently from his house. Bhupathi, Bhupathi's wife Lakshmi and Deepali are killed by Jayaram and his son. Simhadri tells Rishi that a local goon helped Jayram kill Bhupathi and his family. Simhadri soon kills himself. Rishi along with Bhupathi's bodyguards assist him in exacting revenge. Two years later, Rishi discovers that a goon named Stephen is doing illegal business in Hyderabad for a long time and also discovers that Robert is none other than Jayaram. Robert started working with Stephen right after Bhupathi's death, where the duo became powerful gangsters.

Rishi suspects that Jayaram's new identity is Robert, where he leaves to Hyderabad and finds that Stephen and Robert have an assistant named Nanu, who works in Bangkok. Nanu's daughter is Nandini, where Rishi meets Nandini and the two fall in love with each other. Nanu shows his phone to Nandini because she wants to see the photos of Stephen and Robert. Rishi sees the photos, where he is confirmed that Jayaram's new identity is Robert as Simhadri told earlier that a local goon helped Robert kill Bhupathi and that goon is Stephen. Later, Raju reveals to Nandini about Rishi's tragic past, where Nandini decides to help Rishi in locating Stephen and Robert.

Rishi bribes Nanu's henchmen to stop protecting Nanu, where he then tortures Nanu until the latter agrees to lure Stephen and Robert into a trap. It is revealed that Stephen and Robert sent two henchmen to disguise themselves as Stephen and Robert. Robert tells Rishi that he sent his henchmen to kidnap Rishi's bodyguards, Raju and Nandini. Rishi gets taken to his old home, where Raju and the rest of his bodyguards are killed, but Nandini is alive. Stephen and his henchman brutally beats up Rishi. However, Rishi beats all the henchman and finally kills Stephen, Robert's son and Robert, thus avenging the deaths of his parents (Bhupathi and Lakshmi) and Deepali. Later, Rishi and Nandini reunite with each other.

In December 2011, it was reported that the unit would go back to Bangkok to shoot some vital scenes and action sequences with Tamannaah and Prabhas.^[4]

After completing the schedule, the filming resumed at Pollachi where scenes on Prabhas and other lead cast were canned.^[5] The filming shifted to Pondicherry where action episodes involving Prabhas were shot.^[6] The last schedule of filming took at an aluminium factory in Hyderabad.^[7]

Raghava Lawrence himself composed the songs while the film score was composed by S. Chinna. The soundtrack of the film was released through Aditya Music label on 14 September 2012 at Shilpakala Vedika in Hyderabad.^[8]

It was announced that 7 Seas, a premier entertainment company, purchased the overseas theatrical distribution rights of the film.^[9] Tamil Nadu theatrical distribution rights were sold for ₹33 lakh.^[10]

Rebel received mixed reviews, with praise for Prabhas and Tamannaah Bhatia's performances, action sequences, and production values, but criticism for its plot, screenwriting, and technical aspects.

Purnima Ranawat of NDTV wrote "Rebel serves up fare for the mass audience. The film will be definitely liked by Prabhas' fans. Watch it for the dancing talent of Tamannaah Bhatia and action skills of Prabhas."^[11] Radhika Rajamani of Rediff.com gave 1.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "Working with hardly any storyline, director Raghava Lawrence had made a film that is arduous to watch... Rebel is a movie for the masses and certainly not for the discerning audience."^[12]

Jeevi from Idlebrain.com gave 3 out of 5 stars and wrote "Rebel is an revenge-based action film. Prabhas is known as one of the best mass stars of Telugu cinema. Lawrence's movies are known to appeal to the raw senses of mass movie lovers. Rebel is no exception. Interval block is really good. Rebel has decent commercial elements and targeted at masses. Masses will like it.^[13]

The film was dubbed into Malayalam with the same title. It was dubbed into Hindi as The Return of Rebel and in Tamil as Veerabali.^[14][15]

• Rebel at IMDb