REBEL is political social drama produced by Studio Green and written and directed by Nikesh.
Film makers in Tamil cinema of late have dabbled with politically sensitive issues and have more or less remained biased to the ideology they subscribe to. In the process they have invented their own theories with respect to history, geography and sociology. REBEL is no different as it begins with a half baked introduction to the linguistic separation of states and cherry picks one such linguistic racist issue. The story is supposedly set in the beginning of 1980s while the screenplay and the direction, despite a decent art production doesn’t quite stick to the period it is set in. For instance they play in 1980 a song from a film that released in 1983. The drama is half cooked and notwithstanding the racism, the film ends up being a gang war with an overdose of the linguistic divide to rouse the viewers. The film falls flat in execution as the melodrama and the crass action bereft of logic fails to make any sense.
GV Prakash is largely unfit in a role that takes on an impressive Venkitesh VP. Mamitha Baiju has very little to do. Karunas doesn’t do anything different.
Arun Radhakrishnan’s cinematography is decent. GV Prakash as the music director keeps it mundane. Dialogues are average. Vetre Krishnan’s editing is OK. Direction is ordinary.
REBEL is unfortunately a rude tribute to the generous Kerala audience !!
REBEL – RAGALAI !!
B.U. Shreesha
