The ‘retro’ wave is roaring at the box office — Retro, starring Suriya and Pooja Hegde, has minted a staggering ₹104 crore globally, just days after its release on May 1. 2D Entertainment, co-producing the film with Stone Bench Creations, celebrated the milestone with a slick new poster and a heartfelt caption: “A ‘ONE’ hundred crore LOVE at the Box Office for #TheOne's show, #TheOneWon.”
Written and directed by Karthik Subbaraj, Retro is a genre-bending cocktail of romance, action, and psychological drama that follows Paarivel “Paari” Kannan — an orphan raised in the shadows of gang wars, betrayal, and an eerie cult. As Paari uncovers his mysterious origins and a prophecy tied to his fate, his quest becomes personal — to find answers, escape blood-soaked cycles, and reunite with his lost love Rukmini, played with heart by Pooja Hegde.
Critics and fans have lauded Suriya’s powerhouse performance, with some even calling it his most emotionally raw work since 24. Hegde shines too, bringing gravitas to a role that could’ve easily been overshadowed by the chaos around it. Add to that Santhosh Narayanan’s pulsating soundtrack and the film’s rich, retro-cinema aesthetic — Retro is a technical triumph.
But not all that glitters is perfect: while audiences were sold a classic romance in its pre-release promotions, many were surprised (and some slightly misled) to discover a much darker, more violent narrative at the film’s core. The tonal pivot — from love story to cult thriller — has drawn mixed reactions. Still, that hasn’t stopped the masses from thronging to theatres, especially with the film’s release in EPIQ formats delivering an immersive punch.
With Retro crossing the ₹100 crore mark and still running strong, the film proves once again that Suriya is a box office magnet — and that even a risky narrative can succeed when anchored by strong performances and technical finesse.
The love, laughter, and war may have been unevenly packaged — but the audience? They showed up for The One.