The trailer of Retro, starring Suriya and directed by Karthik Subbaraj, recently landed online and quickly sparked conversations across film circles.
With its gritty visuals, layered storytelling hints, and genre-heavy tone, the trailer promises something different—true to Karthik Subbaraj’s signature style. The film also marks the first-time collaboration between Suriya and Karthik Subbaraj.
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However, the Telugu audience response has been quite mixed. Many found the trailer confusing, unable to grasp the film’s core theme or emotional hook.
This isn’t surprising, as Karthik Subbaraj’s storytelling grammar often fails to strike a chord with mainstream Telugu viewers.
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His previous ventures like Petta, Mahaan, and Jigarthanda Double X struggled to gain traction here, mostly due to their abstract treatment, which tends to appeal only to niche audiences.
Even in Tamil Nadu, Subbaraj’s films are more cult than commercial. While they enjoy a loyal fanbase, they rarely achieve blockbuster status.
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Retro too seems to tread the same path—stylish and thematically rich, but not mass-friendly. The emotional pull and narrative clarity—key for wider connect—appear to be missing in the trailer.
With music by Santhosh Narayanan and a release date set for May 1, Retro is being released as a big pan-India film.
But for now, the trailer reveals a film that might leave the larger audience baffled and puzzled.
