Retro

Rating - 3.5/5

A perfectly blended mystery action spoof mass entertainer enriched with performances,standout and realistic narrative by Karthik Subbaraj.

The story is about an orphaned guy who grew under the influence of a gangster gang was forced to be reformed for good by his girlfriend but what destiny gifted him was a life altering situation showing the purpose of his life.

The story penned by Karthik Subbaraj stands out through his unique storytelling style like in his other films. He has cooked a stylish entertainer mixing action, romance, humour, emotions, torture, family drama & revenge incorporated through a decent screenplay narration and is evident through the way the entire story is layered and how he joints all the dots finally. Hats off for the brilliant and selective pool of casting in the film leaving avenues for their performances.

Startling performance by Suriya and his action sequences and the dialogue rendering is impressive matching the mood of the character shade. He has done a good romantic combo with Pooja Hegde. Jayaram, Joju George, Vidhyashankar, Nasser & Tamizh made impressive performances.

Shreyas Krishna has brilliantly captured the realistic and beautiful frames across terrains with precise lighting that has been trimmed to an action mass entertainer by Shafique Mohammed Ali. Kudos to the action choreographers for the stylish action sequences in the movie.

A good action mass entertainer by Karthik Subbaraj that is worth a watch.

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.

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.

This movie is all about the main character finding his purpose in life. It stars The One Suriya, with Pooja Hegde, Prakash Raj, Nassar, Jayaram, and Joju George. The music is by Santhosh Narayanan, and the film is written and directed by Karthik Subbaraj.

Suriya, as always, did a great job. I think this is the first time he played such a violent role. His attitude, body language, and expressions were perfect. He really brought the character to life. Pooja Hegde was a surprise in this film. She didn't play a typical glamorous role, but she still looked cute and beautiful. More importantly, her acting was really good. I hope she picks strong scripts like this in the future. Jayaram's role was also very interesting, and he played it well. And the music by Santhosh Narayanan was one of the biggest strengths of the film it added a lot to the mood and energy.

In the first half, there's a long single-shot sequence that includes a song, action, and conversations and they pulled it off really well. Before Suriya's entry, the film takes its time to build up his character and show how violent he is. Those scenes also highlight the relationship between him and his father.

The story mainly follows Suriya's character. At one point, he ends up in jail, where he punishes himself, learns new physical skills, and eventually takes control of the place. After the jail scenes, the story moves to the Andaman Islands, where most of the second half takes place.

The chemistry between Suriya and Pooja Hegde is really good. Their love story is written nicely and feels natural. However, in the second half, a conflict arises between them, and Suriya's character enters a darker, more aggressive phase kind of like a fight club. That is when the tone of the story changes completely and becomes more intense and action-heavy. Overall, the first half is excellent. It follows the two taglines: Love and Laughter, and the film maintains that mood really well. The scenes are written clearly with proper emotion and setup. At the same time, the film hints that the second half will be all about War

Now, here is the issue the second half did not work as well as the first. The first half was strong, with well-developed characters and conflicts. So, people expected the second half to be even better. But the writer suddenly introduced a new plot, and that shifted the story from being about characters to being about a big plot, If the new plot had been solid, it would have worked. But sadly, it felt similar to the Jigarthanda DoubleX, The film started as a love story with action, but halfway through, it felt like a different movie. That is why I am pointing out the problem because the first half had great setup and payoff, but the second half didn't continue that level of quality.

Personally, I still liked the movie. The only problem was the second half. If they had written it as well as the first half, it would have been a blockbuster. Still, it is a strong theatrical comeback for Suriya. I hope he continues to get more good films.

There is a line in the film: "Once upon a time, there lived a ghost."That line really fits Suriya. About 10 years ago, his choice of films and box office performance were amazing. Everyone goes through difficulties. I hope this movie marks a strong comeback for him.

Watched Retro with decent expectations-it looked cool from the trailer, and the idea had promise. The visuals and vibe were pretty solid, and I liked the music. It really tried to give off that gritty retro feel, and some scenes did pull me in, especially in the first half. The lead actor did a good job carrying the story, and the action was alright.

But after a point, it kinda lost me. The pacing slowed down, and it felt like the plot wasn't going anywhere. Some characters didn't feel fully developed, especially the villain-just felt flat and predictable. There were scenes that should've hit hard emotionally, but they didn't land. Felt like it needed tighter writing and maybe a bit more depth.

Overall, not a bad movie, but not great either. It's watchable, especially if you're into dark, stylish thrillers-but don't expect anything too deep or mind-blowing. I'd say it's okay for a one-time watch.