Karthik Subbaraj makes a mould of Theology, History and Satire. Did it work? | Retro Movie Review | Suriya | Pooja Hegde

Karthik Subbaraj and Suriya have been swimming the shallow waters of the box office ocean since the pandemic.

Actor Suriya and Pooja Hegde

Suriya's last memorable performance was as Rolex in Vikram and Karthik Subbaraj big silver screen blockbuster was Rajinikanth's Petta. Suriya's Kanguva and Karthik Subbaraj's Jigardhanda 2 and Jagame Thandhiram failed to make an impact, though they received full marks for the artful effort.

The wait for a fiery comeback continues as Retro misses the mark by a yard.

Retro is staged in the glorious early 90s' backdrop, with the protagonist playing a quintessential 90s' hero. The condiments of being abandoned, orphaned and adopted teleports the audience back to the Rise of a Hero times.

Actor Suriya and Jayaram

Paarivel, played by Actor Suriya, grows up to be a twisted young man with emotional baggage and identity issues with a constant turmoil raging within him. Karthik Subbaraj showcases a unique version of grey shade where one could never come to consensus about Paarivel's real want. Paarivel finding solace in Rukmini, played by Pooja Hegde, and his animalistic obsession to win her heart is justified keeping in mind his turbulent past and the untimely demise of his adopted mother.

Though we have seen fierce female characters in Romance genres, Rukmini reminds us of Mouna Raagam Revathy emanating a quiet confidence without saying much. She expresses with her eyes, limiting her expressions to the bare minimum, much like the headstrong women we encounter everyday without a second glance.

Though the character was mysterious from the start, the hidden layer of Suriya playing a lost child trying to find his truth and purpose could have been explored further. Suriya, being a versatile actor, adapted himself to this role like a glove. The jail portion piqued our curiosity and the shaky father-son relationship is relatable to every millennial.

Pooja Hegde as Rukmini

Suriya does not shoulder the film by himself as Pooja and Jayaram have done their best to lend a hand. The continuous shot of the wedding sequence was a masterclass on script-to-screen delivery. Pooja Hegde shines brighter than Suriya in many instances with her girl-next-door character sketch. Karthik Subbaraj proves that an artist dubbing her own voice amplifies her performance on a quantum level. Pooja convinces the audience as a born and bred Tamilian in Retro.

However, the film takes a wild turn in the second half which has left the audience and the critics bamboozled.

A serene love story is retrofitted with historical references to bonded labour, dictatorship, tyranny and marginalisation of the native population. The inhumane treatments and the vile arena sports were a rude shock as the audience were not prepped for it. The dictators played by Naazar and Actor Vidhu were reduced to satirical clowns with over the top costumes, expressions and dialogues. The scene where the heir justifies his need for warfare and bloodshed was the only figment of realism.

Jayaram in Retro

An air of confusion remains as the love story battles its screen time with the historical satire.

This is not the first time Karthik Subbaraj promised the audience a fun ride and detoured into dark paths. Jagame Thanthiram touched the plights of displaced Sri Lankan Tamils and Jigardhanda II showed a glimpse of genocides that continue to shake the world. Surprising the audience with a storyline a mile away from their expectations, is a risky affair. One that could potentially lead to unhealthy vows towards stars and filmmakers.

Everything happens too fast and we are conveyed in a 3-minute sequence that Suriya is the saviour of the village, tracing his origin back to the shores of Andaman. The audience had no time to process this crucial turn of events as the emotional reunion with his real father and mother landed without a plop. Though the film touched upon esoteric subjects like purpose, fate and destiny, it felt like a drizzle in a park rather than a storm that wakes the sea monster.