Retro

Karthik Subbaraj's latest offering follows in the footsteps of his earlier films-ambitious in length and stuffed with more elements than a buffet plate at a wedding. The story juggles fresh ideas with some relics from the cinematic Stone Age, creating a mix that's uneven but occasionally intriguing.

The narration bears Subbaraj's signature-stylized, layered, and occasionally indulgent. It's a heady cocktail of drama, crime, action, and a social message thrown in for good measure, though not always blended smoothly.

The period setting and costume design, unfortunately, don't do much to transport us. Some scenes are crafted with flair, but much of the film feels like a slow jog through mediocrity.

Surya, ever the dependable performer, delivers yet another stellar turn in the lead. Joju George is excellent, making the most of every frame he appears in. As for Pooja Hegde-let's just say we've set our expectations at sea level, and she comfortably meets them. Blame the makeup team for some unflattering moments, not the mirror. The supporting cast does their job without making much noise.

The background score is decent, though it never soars. Cinematography is competent, with a few standout shots that show visual creativity.

Watch it if the promos got your attention, but leave your expectations at the door. It's not a bad film-just one that settles for being average when it could have aimed higher.

A perfect blend of love, laughter, and war, delivered on every level. Karthik Subbaraj is one of the few directors who never sticks to a formula. With each film, he experiments - be it with genre, structure, or storytelling style. It's a constant trial-and-error journey, and "Retro" is no exception. Here, he attempts to bridge artistic cinema with mainstream appeal, layering the narrative with deeper themes. For KS, cinema isn't about playing it safe - it's about pushing boundaries.

I don't wanna yap about the first half because by the time the interval hits, you realise you've been watching something quietly epic. It's not just good - it's pure cinema.

"Retro" stands out for its technical brilliance, with every department deserving praise. Particularly remarkable is the 15-minute single-shot sequence, which is nothing short of outstanding.

The action? Absolutely electric. It's raw, gripping, and beautifully choreographed action which felt like being on steroids. It might be the talk of the town. Visually, it's a stunner with brilliant cinematography by Shreyaas Krishna. The editing deserves a praise, and the costume design stands out - subtle yet effective, contributing significantly to the overall authenticity and mood of the film.

SaNa - what a soundtrack. From emotional ballads to high-octane BGM, the music elevated everything. "Edharkaga Marubadi" and "The One" are going to be on repeat for a while. It's the kind of score that stays with you long after the credits roll.

The entire cast shines, especially Joju George, Pooja Hegde, Vithu and Jayaram, with each actor fitting their role perfectly And then there's Suriya. His role is more than just strong; it's beautifully layered and his presence is magnetic. Fierce, emotional, and deeply human as he brings a quiet intensity to the role. Every movement, every glance is charged with a meaning. There's a fire in his eyes that fuels the entire film. He brings both rage and vulnerability- this isn't just one of his best roles, it's a defining moment in his career.

PS: He didn't just light up a cigarette but damn, he lit up the entire theatre.

Not exactly a letdown, but definitely a case of mis-promotion. It was made to seem like a full-blown romance, but it's actually more of an action drama with romantic undercurrents. That shift might throw some viewers off, but it didn't bother me much. Still a solid entry in Suriya-Subbu catalog.

On top of that, the humour worked for me. It brought a much needed balance to the intensity, and I hope it lands as well with everyone else.

Big love to Karthik Subbaraj, SaNa, and the entire team for pulling off something this bold and beautiful. Waiting and hoping this combo teams up again and soon.

Retro is signature Karthik Subbaraj-style cinema. It's a love story with a lot of action. Good to see Suriya in top form with this performance. Pooja Hegde is very good at expressing the innocence and emotions required for her role. Jayaram portrays his character with enjoyable comic timing. The sound design and background score really support the film well and are praiseworthy. The songs are enjoyable-especially Kannima, which is well integrated into a 15-minute-long one-take sequence.

That sequence is pure brilliance and not to be missed.

3/3 The movie is divided into different segments, and most of them are well shot and engaging. The 'Cult' plot in the first half felt a bit slow and dull but compensates in the second.

The film does lose the spark momentarily but gets back on track eventually. The characters have been given a pulp fiction treatment through their costume design and development, and it works well within the world of the film.

The color palette and set design are noticeable and vibrant.

The action sequences are good and enjoyable. Overall, Retro is a classy Subbaraj-style storytelling experience, and its execution of a simple yet interesting story along with technical finesse makes it entertaining and fun to watch on screen for most of its runtime. Do give it a watch!

OVERALL 7/10.

The story goes too deviated, it's bonkers!

I don't know the political logic behind this movie but it seems non existent, feels like a poorly made piece with the missing essence of a karthik subbaraj padam, the quality has down graded reminiscently and awful camera work, and when I say that, I don't mean shakey camera work, cuz sometimes it can be implemented artistically but this is just horrible. Colour grading is weird and the visuals where CGI was needed should've been compromised and now, this is just a try of a commercial film from Karthik subbaraj with modest budget... Also, karthik subbaraj must take a break from trying to bring large elements of emotional sadness, it didn't woth with Jigarthanda double x, it didn't work here either... Fight scenes in Karthik's movies are one of the best in tamil cinemas, but dude flying from a gunshot or maybe even from something the looks like an one ince punch never seemed to find it's way out of his recent movies. The concept of love between paari and rukmini too felt stretched out cuz it was just a constant cycle of "accept, regret, deny".. how did karthik subbaraj go from down to earth, realistic and connectable Jigarthanda, pizza, mahaan, to this thing whatever this is.. it was a fun movie to watch nonetheless and a lot of people would enjoy it.

Surya as "THE ONE"-an orphan with a Trishul birthmark and a destiny bigger than his brooding face-steals the show in this wild, episodic ride. The film's tagline promises Love, Laughter, War, and boy, do we get that... plus two more additions: Cult and Dhamam, which felt somewhat grafted on, diluting the initial focus.

Surya's going through, like, a really cool changes in this flick. There's the intense into the void zone, the "Anjala" reject, a rage-filled guy, someone trying way too hard to be funny (clown zone), the saviour type, and then straight-up God mode! Seriously, it's been ages since we've seen him this range, and honestly, he's the only reason this whole movie wasn't a complete snore-fest

Okay, so the coolest but also kinda messed up part? Watching Paari's journey from being treated like he's absolutely nobody, like he's invisible trash to everyone around him, to becoming the guy calling all the shots and finally finding what he's meant to do.

Now, about that ending-"Dei Subbu, how could you end it THERE?!" (Yes, I heard that in the theatre too.) But hey, it still wraps up well, and there are those extra scenes after the credits roll.

Okay, so not gonna sugar-coat it, this movie was a mess in parts. Pooja Hegde failed at attempting gravitas and all deep and meaningful. And that "rustic" makeup? Seriously looked like someone smeared her face with instant coffee! LOL. Total buzzkill. I just sat there thinking, "Man, they really couldn't find anyone else for this role?" And the villain more like a buffoon. What a joke! Just made the second half even worst. The music? Meh, felt like Santosh Narayan just recycled some old or rejected tunes from earlier films especially "Karnan." And that "Cult" episode? Officially the worst part of the film. The film also tried to be all clever with the social commentary and mythology, but it mostly just face-planted. You just wish the writing and everything else had half the effort Surya put in.

Ultimately, Karthick Subbaraj wants us to, like, engage with its deliberate, if uneven, resolution. There's this definite cerebral current, these thematic gestures, a message being attempted. You appreciate the intent. But you can't help thinking, with more developed context, a deeper emotional anchor, Chubbu's could've knocked this one out of the park. Still, gotta hand it to Surya, he's just there. He Makes "Retro" worth a look, a decent hang, for sure.