# Rekka (film)
**Rekka** (றெக்க) is a 2016 Indian Tamil-language action film written and directed by Rathina Shiva, starring [Vijay Sethupathi](https://www.edgepedia.org/vijay-sethupathi) as Shiva, a lawyer who helps young couples elope, with [Lakshmi Menon](https://www.edgepedia.org/lakshmi-menon-actress), Harish Uthaman, Kishore, and Kabir Duhan Singh in supporting roles.[1](https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/rekka/0-0-2745) • [4](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/18421/tamil/rekka/cast-and-crew/) It was released in theaters on 7 October 2016.[5](https://www.moviebuff.com/rekka)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 7 October 2016 (India and United Arab Emirates, wide theatrical release)[5](https://www.moviebuff.com/rekka) |
| Director and writer | Rathina Shiva (story, screenplay, and dialogue)[4](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/18421/tamil/rekka/cast-and-crew/) |
| Lead cast | Vijay Sethupathi as Shiva; Lakshmi Menon as Bharathi; Harish Uthaman as David; Kabir Duhan Singh as Chezhiyan[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6126312/) |
| Music | D. Imman; the songs "Kanna Kaattu Podhum" and "Kannamma" became hits[8](https://www.ibtimes.co.in/rekka-movie-review-live-audience-response-698632) |
| Production | Common Man Production, producer B. Ganesh[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rekka) |
| Runtime | Reported as 2h 10m by ZEE5, 2h 20m by Behindwoods, 141 minutes by IMDb, and 2h 25m by Rotten Tomatoes[1](https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/rekka/0-0-2745) • [7](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/rekka/rekka-review.html) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6126312/) • [2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rekka) |
| IMDb rating | 5.1/10 from 987 votes[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6126312/) |
| Certification | U in India; the UK release was cut to obtain a 12A classification[7](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/rekka/rekka-review.html) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6126312/) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Shiva (Vijay Sethupathi), an advocate living in [Kumbakonam](https://www.edgepedia.org/kumbakonam), is known for helping couples elope and marry against their families' wishes.[1](https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/rekka/0-0-2745) • [6](https://www.popcorn.app/sg/rekka/movie/2371) During one such rescue he abducts a girl who is being forced into marriage, and the groom, the gangster David ([Harish Uthaman](https://www.edgepedia.org/harish-uthaman)), catches him and demands a favor in return: Shiva must kidnap a politician's daughter from Madurai, or David will disrupt Shiva's sister's wedding.[6](https://www.popcorn.app/sg/rekka/movie/2371) • [8](https://www.ibtimes.co.in/rekka-movie-review-live-audience-response-698632) The kidnapped woman (Lakshmi Menon) turns out to be a girl Shiva had already met at a wedding, who is in love with him, and the story follows how Shiva protects Bharathi, his love interest, from the villains.[6](https://www.popcorn.app/sg/rekka/movie/2371) • [10](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/081016/rekka-movie-review-never-a-dull-moment.html) A flashback explains the childhood origin of Shiva's commitment to rescuing lovers from danger.[7](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/rekka/rekka-review.html)
## Production and release
Filming began on 6 May 2016, with locations including Bangkok and Ramee Mall in Teynampet, Chennai.[5](https://www.moviebuff.com/rekka) The audio was launched on 25 September 2016, and the film reached theaters on 7 October 2016, a Dussehra release.[5](https://www.moviebuff.com/rekka) • [7](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/rekka/rekka-review.html) It opened alongside Sivakarthikeyan's *Remo* and [Prabhu Deva](https://www.edgepedia.org/prabhu-deva)'s *[Devi](https://www.edgepedia.org/devi-2016-film)*, and it was Vijay Sethupathi's sixth film of a year in which his previous four releases had been commercial successes.[8](https://www.ibtimes.co.in/rekka-movie-review-live-audience-response-698632) For Rathina Siva, who had written and directed the film, it counted as his debut as a released director; his earlier project *Vaa Deal* had not yet reached theaters at the time.[9](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/stories/interviews/2020/Feb/12/seeru-director-rathina-siva-being-typecast-doesnt-matter-success-does-17009.html) • [7](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/rekka/rekka-review.html)
## Reception
**Critical response.** Reviews were mixed to negative. Behindwoods gave the film 2.0 out of 5.0, calling the script templated and noting too many subplots, with a climax in which the two villains fight each other resembling "a WWE Rumble"; its verdict was that *Rekka* "follows the usual template, providing nothing new".[7](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/rekka/rekka-review.html) Vishal Menon of *The Hindu* wrote that "the film is neither here nor there", and Mythily Ramachandran of Romancing Cinema judged that "'Rekka' lacks logic but then [Vijay] Sethupathi's fans are not going to complain".[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rekka) Reviewers credited Sethupathi's performance: [Behindwoods](https://www.edgepedia.org/behindwoods) wrote that he carried the mass-action role, a genre he rarely attempted, "with a careful sensibility that could be enjoyed", and praised [D. Imman](https://www.edgepedia.org/d-imman)'s songs while finding their placement heavy-handed.[7](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/rekka/rekka-review.html)
**Audience response and commercial performance.** The film opened to mixed audience reactions, with viewers praising the flashback portions and criticizing the placement of songs and fights.[8](https://www.ibtimes.co.in/rekka-movie-review-live-audience-response-698632) IMDb records a rating of 5.1/10 from 987 votes and a listed worldwide gross of $282.[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6126312/) The film was later spoofed in *Tamizh Padam 2.0* (2018).[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6126312/)
## Availability
The film streams on ZEE5 and has been available to rent or buy on Prime Video; IMDb also lists [Disney+ Hotstar](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-hotstar) among its official sites.[1](https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/rekka/0-0-2745) • [2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rekka) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6126312/)
## References
1. [Watch Rekka Full HD Movie Online on ZEE5](https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/rekka/0-0-2745)
2. [Rekka | Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rekka)
3. [Rekka (2016) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6126312/)
4. [Rekka Cast and Crew - Tamil Movie Rekka Cast and Crew | Nowrunning](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/18421/tamil/rekka/cast-and-crew/)
5. [Rekka on Moviebuff.com](https://www.moviebuff.com/rekka)
6. [Rekka (2016) Showtimes, Tickets & Reviews | Popcorn Singapore](https://www.popcorn.app/sg/rekka/movie/2371)
7. [Rekka (aka) Rekka review - Behindwoods](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/rekka/rekka-review.html)
8. [Rekka movie review: Live audience response - IBTimes India](https://www.ibtimes.co.in/rekka-movie-review-live-audience-response-698632)
9. [Seeru director Rathina Siva: Being typecast doesn't matter; success does - Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/stories/interviews/2020/Feb/12/seeru-director-rathina-siva-being-typecast-doesnt-matter-success-does-17009.html)
10. [Rekka movie review: Never a dull moment!, Rekka movie review: Never a dull moment!](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/081016/rekka-movie-review-never-a-dull-moment.html)
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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 2010s › Tamil action and thriller films of the 2010s › Titles L to T*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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