Review: Retro

Film: Retro
Director: Karthik Subbaraj
Cast: Suriya, Pooja Hegde, Joju George,Jayaram, Karunakaran, Nasser, Prakash Raj and Vidhu among others
Music: Santhosh Narayanan
Cinematography: Shreyaas Krishna
Editing: Shafique Mohamed Ali
Art Direction: Jacki, Mayapandi
Costume Design: Praveen Raja
Stunts: Kecha Khamphakdee
Rating: 3.5 stars

Director Karthik Subbaraj whips up a blood-soaked action entertainer that has a sweet romantic story as its soul in Retro.

The story begins in the 1960s in Tuticorin where Pari (Suriya), as a child, witnesses the brutal death of his father. He is adopted by the wife of a ruthless gang leader (Joju George) as her own son. However, the trauma of having witnessed his dad’s death makes Pari a serious boy and he finds he cannot smile or laugh ever after that. Initially, the gang leader refuses to accept him as his son but when one day, he finds the boy beating one of his henchmen to a pulp, he is pleased and readily calls him his heir, christening him ‘Irumbukai Pari’ (Ironhand Pari).

Before long, the gang leader’s wife passes away but not before she makes Pari promise her that he will not leave the side of his adopted father and that he will look after him, no matter what.

Days pass and fate makes Pari meet Rukmini(Pooja Hegde), the girl he knew as a child, again. She is a veterinary doctor now. But she recognises him the instant she sees him and love, that was always there between the two, gets expressed. Rukmini, who always keeps reminding Pari that he will look cute if he smiles, wants Pari to leave his dad, mend his ways and live a life of peace and love with her. Pari agrees to bid adieu to his life of violence and crime and so summons everyone he has met — friends, enemies and those seeking to kill him– to a party and tells them he is done with violence as he intends to get married.

On the day of his wedding, Pari’s gangster dad turns up along with his goons. Initially, it appears he has come to celebrate his eldest son’s wedding but before long, we realise he has come to threaten his son into disclosing where a consignment of gold fish that was meant to go to South Africa has been hidden. The wedding turns into a blood bath. What happens then is what the film is all about…

‘Retro’ has a series of violent fights. If you are someone who enjoys good action films, Retro is likely to be a treat for you. A majority of the fights, and there are a good number of them, are well choreographed, with Suriya displaying impressive fighting skills. One must say Kecha Khamphakdee, the stunt choreographer, has done an outstanding job.

But it Pooja Hegde who steals the limelight in Retro. Calm, composed, charming, she plays a role that she has hardly been seen in before. Rukmini is the voice of sanity in Retro. Mature, kind and beautiful in a way that makes you wish people were more fair to this wonderful woman, Pooja Hegde nails her character.

Joju George, who plays Suriya’s gangster dad, too plays his part with panache. He looks the part and has no hassles owning it.

Jayaram, who plays the role of a doctor looking to use laughter to cure patients, also does a fine job as comedian.

On the technical front, the work of two technicians’ stands out.

One is Shreyaas Krishna’s outstanding camera work and the other is Kecha Khamphakdee’s brilliant choreography of stunts.

In all, Karthik Subbaraj’s Retro is a treat for those who love action entertainers.