PNS| HYDERABAD
After the underwhelming Kanguva, Suriya returns with Retro, helmed by Karthik Subbaraj. The film, which generated buzz through intriguing promos, also marks Pooja Hegde’s comeback to South Indian cinema. However, despite a strong technical team and rich production value, Retro ends up being a confusing and tedious film.
Story
Tilak (Joju George), a gangster, adopts an orphaned boy, Paarivel Kannan (Suriya), who grows up to assist in his smuggling business. Paari falls in love with Rukmini (Pooja Hegde) and vows to leave his violent past behind. But on their wedding day, a conflict over a hidden stash of goldfish worth crores leads to betrayal, Paari’s imprisonment, and Rukmini’s departure to the Andamans. Escaping jail, Paari sets out to win her back—facing strange characters, kings, and challenges along the way.
Analysis
Karthik Subbaraj sets up an intriguing premise, beginning in the 1960s and moving to the 1990s. The early scenes promise emotional depth, but once the narrative shifts to the Andamans, the plot disintegrates into incoherent storytelling. Subbaraj’s attempt to mix mythology, philosophy (Buddha vs. Krishna), and retro aesthetics results in a muddled mess with disconnected scenes and half-baked characters.
The film loses its footing as it introduces bizarre elements like a king beating two rival gangs, people enslaved on an island, and philosophical references that go nowhere. The second half is painfully stretched, and many scenes feel like filler. While it may appeal to niche Tamil audiences, Retro lacks universal appeal—especially for the Telugu market.
Performances
Suriya puts in a sincere performance and tries to carry the film, but poor writing weighs him down. Pooja Hegde is earnest, though her character lacks depth. Vidhu (as King Michael) and Nassar go overboard, and Prakash Raj and Jayaram are underutilized. Joju George, however, delivers a solid performance.
Technical Aspects
Santosh Narayanan’s music matches the retro tone and the cinematography by Shreyaas Krishna beautifully captures the Andamans. The production values are impressive, but they can’t make up for the lack of narrative cohesion.
Verdict
Retro is a chaotic mix of genres and themes that fails to deliver a coherent or engaging story. Despite Suriya’s efforts, the film falters due to poor direction and an overly ambitious yet unfocused script.
Cast: Suriya, Pooja Hegde, Joju George, Jayaram, Nassar, Karunakaran, Prakash Raj, Vidhu, Sujith Shankar
and others
Music: Santosh Narayanan
Cinematographer: Shreyaas Krishna
Producers: Suriya and Jyothika
Writer and director: Karthik Subbaraj
Rating: 1.5/5
