# Petta Rap
**Petta Rap** (பேட்ட ராப்) is a 2024 Indian Tamil-language musical action comedy film directed by S.J. Sinu, written by Dinil P.K., and starring [Prabhu Deva](https://www.edgepedia.org/prabhu-deva) and Vedhika. It follows Bala, a middle-class junior artist in [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema) whose ambition is to become the best action hero, and Janaki, a local girl who becomes a pop singer, telling their love story in a non-linear narrative.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26887171/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26887171/plotsummary/) The film's title is inspired by the song "Pettai Rap" from *Kadhalan* (1994), one of Prabhu Deva's popular hits, directed by Shankar.[3](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2024/Feb/21/it-is-a-wrap-for-prabhudhevas-petta-rap-52245.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director / writer | S.J. Sinu (Tamil directorial debut), Dinil P.K.[4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Sep/02/prabhu-devas-petta-rap-gets-a-release-date) |
| Lead cast | Prabhu Deva as Balasubramaniam (Bala), Vedhika as Janaki (Jeni), with Sunny Leone in a special appearance[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26887171/) |
| Release | 27 September 2024 (India, wide theatrical); U/A certificate from the CBFC on 13 September 2024[4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Sep/02/prabhu-devas-petta-rap-gets-a-release-date) • [5](https://cbfcindia.gov.in/cbfcAdmin/assets/pdf/List_of_feature_films_certified_2024.pdf) |
| Runtime | 2 hours 3 minutes (123 minutes) per IMDb; the CBFC record lists 124.52 minutes[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26887171/) • [5](https://cbfcindia.gov.in/cbfcAdmin/assets/pdf/List_of_feature_films_certified_2024.pdf) |
| Music | D. Imman; cinematography by Jithu Damodar; editing by Nishad Yusuf[6](https://www.moviebuff.com/petta-rap) |
| IMDb rating | 3.4/10 from about 1,700 votes[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26887171/ratings/) |
| Box office | $1,400 worldwide, all from the United Kingdom[8](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt26887171/) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Bala (Prabhu Deva) is a junior artist in Tamil films and a die-hard fan of Prabhu Deva, having been inspired as a child after seeing *Kadhalan* in a theater. Janaki, his high-school classmate, fell in love with him while he loved another girl; she later transformed into Jeni (Vedhika), a pop singer, while Bala remained a struggling junior artist. After a confrontation in which Bala overpowers the gang of Michael, the local strongman of [Thoothukudi](https://www.edgepedia.org/thoothukudi) harbor, Bala gets a chance to act as a second hero in a film but is banned from the industry after a clash with the lead actor. Believing his life a failure, he decides to attempt suicide, but first chooses to live like a hero for a few days: he sells 80 grams of gold stolen from his home and sets out on a lavish journey with three friends. A final wish for a drink of [Jack Daniel's](https://www.edgepedia.org/jack-daniels) whiskey leads him by chance to Jeni's wedding reception, an encounter that changes both their lives.[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26887171/plotsummary/)
The tagline, "Paatu, Adi, Aattam, Repeat" ("Sing, Action, Dance, Repeat"), references a song from *Kadhalan*, which was remixed for this film.[12](https://connectmyindia.com/Review-tamil-movie/prabhu-deva-s-petta-rap-movie-review-4179.html)
## Production
The film was produced by Jobi P Sam under Blue Hill Films, with Blue Hill Nael Communications also credited.[6](https://www.moviebuff.com/petta-rap) • [9](https://static.rottentomatoes.com/m/petta_rap) Filming began on June 15, 2023, in Puducherry and concluded on February 21, 2024, when Prabhudheva announced the wrap on social media, praising director SJ Sinu, composer D Imman, and cinematographer Jithu Damodar.[10](https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/2024/petta-rap-x-review-what-audiences-have-to-say-about-prabhu-deva-vedhika-musical-action-film-420177.html) • [3](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2024/Feb/21/it-is-a-wrap-for-prabhudhevas-petta-rap-52245.html) Petta Rap marked SJ Sinu's Tamil directorial debut; he had previously directed the Malayalam films *Theru* (2023) and *Djibouti* (2021).[4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Sep/02/prabhu-devas-petta-rap-gets-a-release-date)
The supporting cast includes Bagavathi Perumal, Vivek Prasanna, Ramesh Thilak, Mime Gopi, and Riyaz Khan, with Kalabhavan Shajohn as Kasimedu Michael and V. Jayaprakash as Bala's father.[4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Sep/02/prabhu-devas-petta-rap-gets-a-release-date) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26887171/) The teaser was released by actor [Vijay Sethupathi](https://www.edgepedia.org/vijay-sethupathi) in June 2024.[11](https://www.dtnext.in/entertainment/cinema/prabhu-devas-petta-rap-teaser-unveiled-by-vjs-791449)
## Release
Petta Rap was released in Indian theaters on September 27, 2024, alongside [Vijay Antony](https://www.edgepedia.org/vijay-antony)'s *Hitler*, Karthi's *Meiyazhagan*, and Bharath's *Once Upon a Time in Madras*.[4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Sep/02/prabhu-devas-petta-rap-gets-a-release-date) • [13](https://tfapa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/trade_guide_october_2024_print.pdf) It also opened in the United Kingdom the same day, classified 15 by the [British Board of Film Classification](https://www.edgepedia.org/british-board-of-film-classification) on September 20, 2024, with a listed running time of about 133 minutes and Dreamz Entertainment Limited as distributor.[14](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/petta-rap-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdi0ndqx) • [8](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt26887171/) The film was later dubbed into Telugu and Hindi.[6](https://www.moviebuff.com/petta-rap) It became available for rent or purchase on Amazon Video.[15](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/petta-rap)
## Reception
The film received negative reviews. Cinema Express gave it 1.5 out of 5, calling Prabhu Deva miscast as a struggling actor and describing the story as flimsy, with villains "terribly written" and no memorable song in a musical drama.[16](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/review/2024/Sep/27/petta-rap-movie-review-prabhu-deva-is-miscast-in-this-dreary-musical-drama) The Times of India gave 2.0 out of 5, writing that the makers depended only on Prabhu Deva's dance and references to *Kadhalan* to carry a mediocre story and unengaging screenplay.[17](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/petta-rap/movie-review/113756737.cms) StudioFlicks rated it 2.25, concluding that the film has many plots laced together and fails to hold interest.[18](https://www.studioflicks.com/reviews/petta-rap-movie-review/) On IMDb it holds a rating of 3.4/10 from about 1,700 users.[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26887171/ratings/) Rotten Tomatoes lists zero critic reviews and zero audience ratings.[9](https://static.rottentomatoes.com/m/petta_rap)
Commercially, the film earned $1,400 worldwide, all of it from the United Kingdom release.[8](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt26887171/)
## References
1. [Petta Rap (2024), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26887171/)
2. [Petta Rap (2024) – Plot, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26887171/plotsummary/)
3. [It is a wrap for Prabhudheva's Petta Rap, Cinema Express (21 February 2024)](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2024/Feb/21/it-is-a-wrap-for-prabhudhevas-petta-rap-52245.html)
4. [Prabhu Deva's Petta Rap gets a release date, Cinema Express (2 September 2024)](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Sep/02/prabhu-devas-petta-rap-gets-a-release-date)
5. [List of feature films certified 2024, Central Board of Film Certification (India)](https://cbfcindia.gov.in/cbfcAdmin/assets/pdf/List_of_feature_films_certified_2024.pdf)
6. [Petta Rap (2024), Moviebuff](https://www.moviebuff.com/petta-rap)
7. [Petta Rap (2024) – Ratings, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26887171/ratings/)
8. [Petta Rap (2024), Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt26887171/)
9. [Petta Rap, Rotten Tomatoes](https://static.rottentomatoes.com/m/petta_rap)
10. [Petta Rap X Review, Filmibeat (2024)](https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/2024/petta-rap-x-review-what-audiences-have-to-say-about-prabhu-deva-vedhika-musical-action-film-420177.html)
11. [Prabhu Deva's Petta Rap teaser unveiled by VJS, DT Next (22 June 2024)](https://www.dtnext.in/entertainment/cinema/prabhu-devas-petta-rap-teaser-unveiled-by-vjs-791449)
12. [Prabhu Deva's Petta Rap Movie Review, ConnectMyIndia](https://connectmyindia.com/Review-tamil-movie/prabhu-deva-s-petta-rap-movie-review-4179.html)
13. [New Tamil Film Releases, Tamil Cinema Trade Guide, October 2024 (TFAPA)](https://tfapa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/trade_guide_october_2024_print.pdf)
14. [Petta Rap, British Board of Film Classification](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/petta-rap-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdi0ndqx)
15. [Petta Rap streaming, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/petta-rap)
16. [Petta Rap Movie Review: Prabhu Deva is miscast in this dreary musical drama, Cinema Express (27 September 2024)](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/review/2024/Sep/27/petta-rap-movie-review-prabhu-deva-is-miscast-in-this-dreary-musical-drama)
17. [Petta Rap Movie Review: A mediocre story and unengaging screenplay, The Times of India (28 September 2024)](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/petta-rap/movie-review/113756737.cms)
18. [Petta Rap Movie Review, StudioFlicks (28 September 2024)](https://www.studioflicks.com/reviews/petta-rap-movie-review/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Tamil films of the 2020s › Tamil films of 2024*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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