Following a few spiritual signals, sandhya (Swastika) and her gangster husband Thilagan (Joju George) adopt Paarivelkannan (Suriya). Since Paari is not his child, Thilagan hates him. His happiness and smile are torn away by his childhood turmoil, leaving him always melancholy. Paari is left alone after sandhya passes away, but in a sudden turn of events, Thilagan embraces him after he provides firsthand evidence of his ability to be a top-tier henchman. Paari and Rukmini, who are both mourning the loss of their mother, are also brought closer by this entire scenario. 

Sparks ignite when Paari and Rukmini reconnect in Coorg, 14 years later.  Following four years of romance and multiple personality changes, Paari is now a changed man who is prepared to give up his life as a mobster.  However, is there a way out of a life that revolves around blood and gore?  This and more are addressed in more than two hours and forty-eight minutes by director karthik Subbaraj. 

"Retro" starts off spectacularly.  The 15-minute single-shot scene, which includes the catchy song "Kanima," displays a range of emotions as well as expertly planned stunt scenes.  As father and son, Suriya and Joju experience a range of emotions that prepare the ground for more serious disputes.  Paari's life comes to a sudden end in the 1960s when his father, who was speech-impaired, passes away. Following the flashback, the movie transports us to the 1990s, where Paari and Rukku are attempting to lead a typical life together. 

Paari and Joju's personalities start off at odds over an expensive transaction with foreigners.  The plot also takes a dangerous turn as it moves to the Andamans, which dampens the thrilling beginning.  This is where the movie really falters.  Strange concepts abound, with sporadic lectures on democracy and dictatorship.  So much so that at one point the movie feels overwhelmed, which is a common issue with Karthik's movies.  The tale is so repetitive that it doesn't matter how much complexity is added by the world-building, numerous meta references, and political commentary. 

A well-rounded narrative about one's life's purpose could have been influenced by the allusions to the Lord Krishna-Rukmini story, the distinction between buddha and Krishna, and its perspective on colonialism and democracy.  However, the excitement is diminished by the peculiarities of some of the characters that are presented later in the narrative. 

Suriya's amazing range of expressions as Paarivelkannan carries the weight of the movie.  He can really show off who he is and what an actor like him could bring out in "Retro," which was directed by karthik Subbaraj.  He can only do so much in a movie that goes on longer than planned, though.  Karthik Subbraj advertised "Retro" as a romantic movie.  However, the part about love has the least influence.  Although Rukmini, played by pooja hegde, is a buddha figure, there isn't a compelling storyline that makes you want to support her.  Additionally, the movie presents Nasser and Vidhu, two eccentric characters whose acting goes a bit too far. 

The plot of "Retro" is told in chapters, with the first two—Love and Laughter—being the weakest and containing the main issue.  "Retro" struggles to educate its audience, even if the movie is technically good and composer Santhosh Narayanan's lyrics and music are effective.  In addition to showing, it explains everything to the audience through its characters. 

Overall, Suriya's wait for a 'HIT' continues...

Ratings: ⭐⭐
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Suriya

SIBY JEYYA

01/05/2025 03:40 PM