The Tamil film “Retro” (Retro), released in 2025, is a thrilling love story written and directed by Karthik Subbaraj. The film stars Surya and Pooja Hegde in the lead roles and presents the themes of love, comedy and war in a unique way. Released on 1 May 2025, the film grossed ₹92 crores and became one of the most successful films in Tamil cinema. The story of the film starts from the 1960s and stretches to the 1990s, in which an orphan boy, Paari (Suriya), sets out in search of his past and clashes with a violent cult.
The film offers a blend of an emotional love story, intense action, and a social message. Santosh Narayan’s music, Shreyas Krishna’s cinematography and brilliant editing have made the film technically strong as well. Suriya and Pooja Hegde’s acting prowess is the soul of the film, while Karthik Subbaraj’s direction has made it a memorable cinematic experience. “Retro” is a complete entertainer that satisfies the audience in every aspect.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Retro |
| Tagline | Love – Laughter – War |
| Language | Tamil |
| Release Date | 1 May 2025 |
| Runtime | 168 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Genre | Romantic Action Drama |
| Director | Karthik Subbaraj |
| Writer | Karthik Subbaraj |
| Producers | Jyothika, Suriya, Kaarthekeyen Santhanam, Rajsekar Pandian |
| Production Companies | Stone Bench Films, 2D Entertainment |
| Cinematography | Shreyaas Krishna |
| Editor | Shafique Mohamed Ali |
| Music Composer | Santhosh Narayanan |
| Lead Cast | Suriya, Pooja Hegde |
| Budget | ₹65 crore |
| Box Office Collection | ₹92 crore |
| Filming Locations | Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Ooty, Kerala, Chennai |
| Format | Standard and EPIQ |
| Dubbed Versions | Telugu and Hindi (dialogues by Hanumaan Choudary and Mohan Nair) |
| Reception | Generally positive reviews; praised for performances and visuals, some pacing issues |
Retro Story
The film begins in 1960s Tuticorin, where Sandhya, the wife of a gangster, adopts an orphaned baby boy with a spear-like scar on his stomach. She names him Parivel “Pari” Kannan. Sandhya raises Pari lovingly but her husband Thilagan refuses to adopt him. After Sandhya’s death, Paari meets Rukmini in Benares and the two slowly fall in love.
By 1989 Thilagan remarries and has his own son, but Paari continues to work for him. Paari and Rukmini live together for four years and plan to marry in 1993. But on the wedding day, Thilagan accuses him of cheating him in arms smuggling. Paari confesses to the crime but does not reveal the location. Thilagan attacks Rukmini, causing Paari to injure him and go to jail.
In 1998, Paari escapes to the Andaman Islands where Rukmini lives. He meets her by posing as a humorist. There, Pari learns that he is the child born according to a prophecy who will bring back a sacred spear and destroy the tyrannical King Rajavel.
Paari eventually wins the gladiator bouts, forces Rajavel to commit suicide and meets his real parents. When enemies attack the temple, Paari’s mother defeats them by threatening them with goldfish weapons. The film ends with Paari and Rukmini’s marriage and the islanders’ freedom.
Movie Review
Director Karthik Subbaraj has once again surprised the audience with his unique style. “Retro” is a great mix of thrill, action, emotions, drama and romance, beautifully woven into a strong story and powerful screenplay. The film is the story of an orphan boy Parivel Kannan aka “Pari”, who grows up in a gangster gang but tries to turn his life in the right direction after falling in love. But fate takes him in a direction where he finds out the real purpose of his life.
Suriya has given perhaps the best performance of his career in this film. His character changes from an action hero to a romantic lover and a sensitive person, and he has played every shade very well. His dialogue delivery, body language and action sequences keep the audience completely captivated. Pooja Hegde has beautifully incorporated grace and honesty in the character of Rukmini. The chemistry between Surya and Pooja has been very impressive.
Jayaram, Joju George, Vidyashankar, Nassar and Tamizh have also performed well in supporting roles. Each character has been given special importance and their performance adds strength to the story of the film.
The cinematography of the film is superb. Shreyas Krishna has captured the retro theme in such beautiful and realistic frames that every scene is a treat to the eyes. Be it the valleys of Andaman or the streets of Banaras, every scene looks like a painting. Editor Shafique Mohammad Ali has played an important role in making the film a tight action thriller.
The music of the film is given by Santosh Narayanan, which not only makes the story more emotional but also gives a memorable experience with songs like “Kannamma”. One single-shot sequence in the film in particular stuns the audience.
The film handles several genres simultaneously – action, romance, crime, family drama and revenge story – and all this is presented in a balance. The tone changes may seem a little awkward at times, but they don’t take away from the overall experience of the film.
“Retro” is an experience that brings back memories, touches the heart and entertains at the same time. This film is not just an action movie, but an emotional journey. This film by Karthik Subbaraj is definitely worth watching and wins the hearts of the audience as a mass entertainer.
Movie Trailer
Conclusion
“Retro” is a brilliant and entertaining film that presents a perfect blend of action, romance, emotion and retro ambience. Surya’s powerful performance, Karthik Subbaraj’s unique storytelling style, and technically excellent direction make this film special. The music, cinematography and action sequences keep the audience completely captivated. This film is not just an entertainer but also a journey of emotions and struggles. If you are a fan of masala films and want to experience something different, then “Retro” is a must watch – this film will definitely not disappoint you.
