<p class="bodytext">There’s a certain charm in watching Suriya on screen. Despite the repetitiveness, his dialogue delivery, facial expressions, and boy-next-door vulnerability make his performance likable. On the other hand, Karthik Subbaraj is known for his raw filmmaking and narrating stories of gangsters and relatable characters who become larger than life. With Suriya and Subbaraj coming together, ‘Retro’ was a much-anticipated project. The film delivers on many promises in the first half, but it slips in the second.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The movie begins with a flashback that establishes Suriya’s character, Paarivel Kannan’s childhood. Joju George who plays Thilagan — a gangster and Paari’s foster father — drives the first half with his commendable performance. In typical Subbaraj style, the film takes its own time in unfolding the plot and introducing its core themes. It focusses on the father-son bond, Paari’s love interest Rukkumani, and certain quirks like Paari’s inability to smile even at his happiest moment.</p>.<p class="bodytext">However, once the film reaches its central theme, it starts to lose its edge. From a believable storyline, the focus shifts towards heroism and style. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Tamil commercial cinema really needs to write women characters who serve more than the hero’s needs. Pooja Hegde as Rukkumani gets ample screentime, but her character lacks emotional depth.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The rest of the performances were mediocre at best, despite a strong supporting cast including Nassar, Prakash Raj, and Jayaram.</p>.<p class="bodytext">That said, the film ends with a powerful message about the importance of laughter among oppressed communities. Nearly three hours long, the film needed a sharper edit. Do filmmakers not trust that modern audiences can grasp nuances and understated emotions? Why does everything have to be spoon-fed?</p>.<p>Cut-off box - Retro Tamil (Theatres) Director: Karthik Subbaraj Cast: Suriya Pooja Hegde Rating: 2.5/5</p>
<p class="bodytext">There’s a certain charm in watching Suriya on screen. Despite the repetitiveness, his dialogue delivery, facial expressions, and boy-next-door vulnerability make his performance likable. On the other hand, Karthik Subbaraj is known for his raw filmmaking and narrating stories of gangsters and relatable characters who become larger than life. With Suriya and Subbaraj coming together, ‘Retro’ was a much-anticipated project. The film delivers on many promises in the first half, but it slips in the second.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The movie begins with a flashback that establishes Suriya’s character, Paarivel Kannan’s childhood. Joju George who plays Thilagan — a gangster and Paari’s foster father — drives the first half with his commendable performance. In typical Subbaraj style, the film takes its own time in unfolding the plot and introducing its core themes. It focusses on the father-son bond, Paari’s love interest Rukkumani, and certain quirks like Paari’s inability to smile even at his happiest moment.</p>.<p class="bodytext">However, once the film reaches its central theme, it starts to lose its edge. From a believable storyline, the focus shifts towards heroism and style. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Tamil commercial cinema really needs to write women characters who serve more than the hero’s needs. Pooja Hegde as Rukkumani gets ample screentime, but her character lacks emotional depth.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The rest of the performances were mediocre at best, despite a strong supporting cast including Nassar, Prakash Raj, and Jayaram.</p>.<p class="bodytext">That said, the film ends with a powerful message about the importance of laughter among oppressed communities. Nearly three hours long, the film needed a sharper edit. Do filmmakers not trust that modern audiences can grasp nuances and understated emotions? Why does everything have to be spoon-fed?</p>.<p>Cut-off box - Retro Tamil (Theatres) Director: Karthik Subbaraj Cast: Suriya Pooja Hegde Rating: 2.5/5</p>