Directed by Karthik Subbaraj
Written by Karthik Subbaraj
Produced by Jyothika,Suriya,Kaarthekeyen,Santhanam,Rajsekar Pandian
Starring: Suriya,Pooja Hegde
Cinematography:Shreyaas Krishna
Edited by:Shafique Mohamed Ali
Music by:Santhosh Narayanan
Production
companies:Stone Bench Creations,2D Entertainment
Release date:1 May 2025

Retro is a Tamil-language romantic action drama film written and directed by Karthik Subbaraj. Produced by Stone Bench Creations and 2D Entertainment, the film stars Suriya and Pooja Hegde in the lead roles.

“Karthik Subbaraj’s latest film is an ambitious attempt to blend multiple genres – gangster, romance, fantasy, and comedy – but unfortunately, it falls short of expectations. The director’s struggle to balance these diverse elements results in a disjointed narrative that fails to convey its message effectively. A more focused approach, perhaps delving deeper into fantasy from the outset, might have yielded better results.

Despite its flaws, the film has its highlights. Suriya’s performance is commendable, and the 20-minute single-shot scene is a technical marvel. Santhosh Narayanan’s score is another strong point, with “The One” song being a particular standout that elevates the emotional impact of certain scenes.

However, the comedy track feels forced and fails to land, while talented actors like Jayaram and Nassar are woefully underutilized. The antagonist is poorly written, making them more of a headache for the audience than a compelling adversary. The conflict between the hero and antagonist lacks emotional depth, which further detracts from the film’s impact.

The pacing issues are also notable, with the film feeling overly long before it abruptly shifts into fantasy mode in the final moments. This transition feels rushed and lacks the proper buildup, which might have made it more impactful.

Overall, while the film has its moments, it ultimately falls short of being a cohesive and engaging watch due to its inability to balance its multiple genres and narrative threads effectively.”

Bottomline

Too many genres blended together – gangster, romance, fantasy, and comedy.KarthikSubbaraj struggled to balance them consistently, resulting in a disjointed narrative that failed to convey its message effectively.