Suriya’s much-awaited gangster drama Retro hit theatres on May 1, and fans turned up in massive numbers to witness the actor in a powerful new avatar. Directed by Karthik Subbaraj, the film has had an impressive start, earning ₹19.25 crore on its opening day across India, according to Sacnilk.com.
Slightly Behind Kanguva, But Momentum Building
While Retro opened slightly lower than Suriya’s previous film Kanguva, which collected ₹22 crore on day one, the numbers still reflect a strong response. The extended weekend is expected to boost the film’s overall performance further. On Thursday, the Tamil version of Retro saw an overall occupancy rate of 79.35%, with afternoon shows peaking at 83.91%.
• #Retro is the best theatrical post-COVID film from Suriya ❤️ pic.twitter.com/SIJ4OnhJif
— ᴊɪꜱʜɴᴜ (@jishnu___offl) May 2, 2025
A Gangster’s Love Story with a Twist
In Retro, Suriya plays Paarivel Kannan aka Paari, a feared gangster who longs to leave behind his violent past. Pooja Hegde stars opposite him as Rukmini, a woman who brings hope and peace into his chaotic life. Director Karthik Subbaraj shared, “It’s not the usual redemption story. It’s about a man who doesn’t know what peace feels like until someone shows him it’s possible.”
Kannima Song + Antha 20 Min Single Shot ke 200 Rs Satisfied airuchu #Retro Worth Watchable guys !!
And Guy’s Plz don’t Dont Believe The Negative Reviews Unmaive yenaku Nalla Than Iruntuchu.. You will Also Enjoy in Theaters pic.twitter.com/kr9VOnihlt
— ♂️ (@VikramRasigan_) May 1, 2025
More Than Just Crime and Action
While Subbaraj is known for his dark thrillers and crime dramas, he revealed that Retro is essentially a love story at heart. “People expect me to do crime or dark comedies, but this time, I wanted to show how love can transform even the most broken people,” he said.
Also Read: Suriya’s ‘Retro’ Outshines Ajith Kumar’s ‘Good Bad Ugly’ in Advance Bookings – Here’s How
Star-Studded Cast
The film also features Joju George, Jayaram, Nassar, Karunakaran, and Prakash Raj in key roles, with Shriya Saran making a special cameo. Retro marks the first-ever collaboration between Suriya and Karthik Subbaraj, and fans are already praising the fresh pairing.
