Retro (2025) Movie ft. Joju and Jyothika
Retro is a Tamil romantic drama released on May 1, directed by Karthik and starring Suriya in a powerful dual role. The film is produced by Stone Bench Creations. The lead actress is Pooja Hegde, with a strong supporting cast including Jayaram, Joju George, Nassar, and Karunakaran.
Plot Overview
The film tells the story of Paarivel Paari Kannan, a former gangster who has left behind his violent life. But his past catches up when a threat forces him to protect his estranged wife Rukmini Rukku. As the danger increases, Paari has to face old enemies, reconnect with forgotten allies, and fight to keep his new life intact.
Retro moves across different timelines, giving the story more emotional depth and showing the consequences of Paari’s past decisions. The way the story shifts between past and present keeps the audience engaged and curious till the end.
Performances and Direction
Suriya gives a standout performance, showing both the emotional and aggressive sides of Paari. His screen presence and acting depth carry the film throughout. Pooja Hegde does a solid job as Rukku, bringing both emotion and strength to her role.
Karthik Subbaraj once again proves his strength as a director by creating a stylish, well-balanced story. He mixes action, emotion, romance, and time-travel elements in a way that doesn’t confuse the audience. His use of classic Subbaraj-style build-ups and smart dialogues add more impact.
Technical Aspects
The music by Santhosh Narayanan is a huge plus. Songs like Kanimaa stay with you even after the movie ends. The background score lifts many scenes, especially during emotional and action sequences.
Cinematography by Shreyaas Krishna perfectly captures the 90s vibe, with great use of lighting and colors. The editing by Shafique Mohamed Ali makes the timeline transitions smooth, keeping the pace solid in most parts of the film.
Critical Reception
Retro received mostly positive reviews from critics. The film was praised for its action, nostalgic vibe, emotional weight, and Suriya’s performance. Some critics called it a stylish comeback for Suriya with solid direction and visuals.
Popular entertainment sites gave the movie a good rating, especially appreciating the 15-minute single-shot sequence and the climactic moments. While a few pointed out that the first half was a bit slow, the overall response has been quite encouraging.
Audience Reactions
Fans on social media loved the movie, especially Suriya’s performance and the unique storyline. Many called it a “masterpiece”, and said the film gave them goosebumps during some key scenes. The public appreciated the mix of action and emotion, and especially loved the music and camera work.
However, a few viewers felt that the film could have been shorter in the first half. Some casual viewers might find the timeline jumps a bit confusing, but overall, the audience reaction is largely positive.
Box Office Performance
Retro had a strong opening at the box office, with pre-sales in Tamil Nadu crossing ₹5 crore. It has become one of the top openers of 2025 in Tamil cinema. Despite competition from other big releases, Retro managed to attract both mass and family audiences, proving Suriya’s star power.
Conclusion
Retro is a complete cinematic experience with a mix of gangster action, emotional depth, time-travel drama, and strong performances. Suriya shines in his role, and Karthik Subbaraj’s direction makes it more than just another action film.
If you’re looking for a movie that combines style, substance, and nostalgic storytelling, Retro is definitely worth watching. It may have a few flaws, but the performances, music, and emotional impact make it a must-watch for fans of quality Tamil cinema.
