When it comes to the Indian film industry, there are only a few actors who don’t need to do extravagant promotional events to sell tickets. One such actor is Suriya, and fans go berserk whenever he announces his next movie. However, some of his previous films haven’t turned out to be as good as people wanted them to be. But it seems the actor has finally come forward with a movie that has not only reignited the faith of his loyal fanbase but also reminded the industry why Suriya remains a force to be reckoned with, delivering both cinematic brilliance and emotional depth in equal measure. Yes, we are talking about Retro, a movie that sees the Tamil actor showcasing his talent in the most brilliant way possible.
The movie chronicles the journey of a man named Paarivel “Paari” Kannan (played by Suriya). Retro begins in the 1960s when a gangster’s wife, Sandhya (played by Swasika), adopts an orphaned infant with a spear-shaped scar on his stomach. She names him Paarivel. Although Sandhya raises him like her own son, her husband, Thilagan (played by Joju George), refuses to take him as his child. After Sandhya’s death, Paarivel saves Thilagan from an ambush, and he becomes one of the important members of his criminal empire.
However, things change when Paarivel decides to marry Rukmini (played by Pooja Hegde) and leave the world of crime. Thilagan was enraged by his decision and believed that Paarivel had put their high-stakes arms deal in danger. He tries to kill Rukmini, but Paarivel retaliates and engages in a fight. The fight concludes with Paarivel being arrested by the authorities and sent to prison. Consequently, Rukmini leaves him and starts living in an undisclosed location. Five years later, Paarivel escapes from prison and tries to find his lost love. What happens next is a mixture of a vibrant, genre-blending saga that fuses gangster noir, romance, myth, and social commentary into a wholly original and emotionally stirring package.
One of the strongest aspects of Retro is how it is much more than just an action-drama. The film’s director, Subbaraj, doesn’t shy away from diving deep into the idea of inheritance, not just blood or wealth, but of ideology, resistance, and trauma. Paari’s narrative is one of identity, torn between nurture and nature, caught in a web of politics, personal duty, and prophecy. Moreover, the film not only talks about identity, but it also successfully critiques themes such as patriarchal control, political corruption, and class divides without feeling doctrinal. On the other hand, the film’s story is also of spiritual return. The prophecy of Jada Muni, initially shrouded in legend, finds real meaning in Paari’s reclamation and his sacred spear. There’s something brutal, yet so masterful in how violence is initially shown as a means of survival, then rebellion, and finally showcased as something that is being used to bring peace into the lives of people. To bring that kind of shift in a movie like Retro is not easy, but Subbaraj manages to do that with flying colors.
Meanwhile, the action sequences and the cinematography are undoubtedly two of the most promising aspects of the movie. The street fights in Tamil Nadu and the gladiator duels in the Andaman Islands are choreographed with raw intensity and elegance. Each fight sequence in the film holds a certain kind of meaning and enriches the narrative. One of the standout fight scenes takes place in an arena where Paarivel showcases his ferocity in front of an audience. That particular sequence is a masterclass in raising the stakes and building tension. Shreyaas Krishna, the film’s cinematographer, has done a phenomenal job in creating a world that feels surreal, and each place feels like a character in itself. The symbolic use of scars, spears, and water bodies adds layers of meaning without spelling anything out.
But this movie belongs to only one man: Suriya. The only word to describe his performance is “resurgence.” After taking on several off-beat roles in recent years, Retro recaptures the explosive screen presence he wielded during his peak. He does a stunning job conveying Paarivel’s emotions in a layered, vulnerable, and deep performance. Additionally, his portrayal is filled with emotional weight, rawness, and surprising doses of humor. Once again, Suriya proves that he is not only one of the most respected actors in the Indian film industry, but also one of the most talented ones. Meanwhile, his co-star, Pooja Hegde, as Rukmini, delivers a career-defining performance. Her portrayal is rooted in strength, compassion, and moral clarity. Honestly, it is her performance that elevates the film’s emotional core.
Even though the movie is stuffed with great elements, its pacing might turn out to be an issue for some. Just because the film navigates through eras and decades, it might be hard for some people to stay connected to the story. Subbaraj does his best to keep everything in line so that people can follow, but there are instances when many things are happening at once, and that’s the point where people might lose some information. Nevertheless, this shouldn’t stop viewers from going into theaters and having a good time. Overall, Retro is one of the rare Indian films that is audacious, yet unforgettable. The scale of the movie might be large, but it is very intimate in emotion. At a time when Tamil cinema is pushing the boundaries of genre and storytelling, Subbaraj’s vision stands out for its heart and intelligence. For Suriya, this is not just any ordinary film, it’s a project that might make him realize what audiences want to see from him. He has evolved into a nuanced actor who can portray any character, but it shouldn’t come as a shock that he has stepped into a genre where he is unbeatable and has come forward with a performance that would make his fans go wild.
Retro is a must-watch, not only for Suriya fans but for those who love brilliant storytelling.
Retro is now playing in theaters.
Learn more about the film at the IMDB site for the title.
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