Rajinikanth lauds Karthik Subbaraj's 'Retro', praises Suriya's performance

Karthik Subbaraj’s much-awaited film 'Retro' has made waves since its theatrical release on May 1, 2025. Headlined by Suriya, the film blends black comedy, crime, and drama in a genre-defying narrative that has already captivated both critics and audiences. The anticipation around the film had been high ever since the first look dropped, thanks to Karthik Subbaraj's signature storytelling and Suriya's stylish transformation. With 'Retro', the filmmaker returns to his Jigarthanda-style roots, delivering another layered and entertaining cinematic ride.
Rajinikanth’s heartfelt appreciation for 'Retro'
Superstar Rajinikanth, affectionately called 'Thalaivar,' recently watched 'Retro' and he was full of praise. In a post shared by director Karthik Subbaraj on X reveals Rajinikanth's review for 'Retro', "What an effort by the whole team… Suriya’s performance – Super… The last 40 minutes of the film – Superb… Laughter touch is fantastic… God bless." These words from the legend himself sent fans and the film’s cast into celebration mode. Karthik Subbaraj, clearly overwhelmed, wrote, “Am flying now... Love you Thalaivaaa ” in response. It’s a full-circle moment, especially as Karthik has always cited Rajinikanth as his biggest inspiration.
A captivating tale of gangsters
'Retro' stars Suriya and Pooja Hegde in the lead roles with Joju George, and newcomer Vidhu as the chilling villain Michael Miraz. The film is technically rich, with Santosh Narayanan's music and Shreyaas Krishna’s cinematography adding to its retro appeal. The writing, especially in the final act, brings in a satisfying mix of thrill and dark humour.
'Retro' shines at the box office
At the box office, 'Retro' opened with a thunderous Rs 40 crore collection worldwide from its first weekend and continues to perform strongly. With Rajinikanth’s endorsement now boosting the film’s popularity even more, Retro is well on its way to becoming one of 2025’s most talked-about hits.

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