Retro box

Retro

Kanimaa video

Beautifully picturised. Nice Choreography.

Suriya, Santhosh Narayanan and Pooja Hegde has danced well. Pooja Hegde has danced gracefully.

Detailed Review

In Jigirthanda 2, Director Karthik Subbaraj addressed about Genocide. In Retro, Director Karthik Subbaraj addresses about weapons scandal, Slavery, Dictatorship, Barbarism, Human Trafficking, Rebelliousness, Revolution and Freedom. Retro also addresses about prophecy.

Although plots and situations are different, Retro reminded of Krishna killing Kamsa from Mahabharatha. Although plots and situations are different, Retro reminded of Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon.

Plot revolves around Gold Fish, a smuggled consignment that has to reach Africa.

Retro has many crowd clapping moments that can be enjoyed in Theatres.

Story begins in 1960's. Thilagan(Joju George) is a Gangster in Thoothukudi. His wife Sandhya (Swasika) adopts an orphaned infant who has a spear shaped scar in his stomach. She names him as Parivel Kannan. While Sandhya accepts and acknowledges Parivel as her son, Thilagan refuses to acknowledge him as his son. Parivel is a violent kid in his school. One of his Teachers suggests to Sandhya that he has to Transform his energy rather than being angry or violent. Parivel learns Martial Arts.

Due to the Traumas which Parivel experienced in his childhood he doesn’t smile or laugh or doesn't know how to laugh or smile. " If you smile or laugh you will look good" says Sandhya. Years later Sandhya passes away. To do the funeral rites, Parivel and Thilagan travel to Kasi. There Parivel meets Rukmini who has come there to do the funeral rites of her mother. Like Sandhya Rukmini says that "If you smile or laugh you will look good" to Parivel. Girls or women are not suppose to do the funeral rites. However Parivel along with Rukmini does the funeral rites for Rukmini's Mother. This creates a bond between Parivel and Rukmini.

While returning back in the train, a bunch of men try to attack Thilagan. Parivel saves Thilagan. After this incident, Thilagan accepts Parivel as his son. Parivel becomes a iron hand for Thilagan.

Years move... Thilagan goes for second marriage and has a son now... While Thilagan accepts Parivel(Suriya) as his son, his wife doesn't accept him. Parivel is a Gangster who changes his path after meeting Rukmini after many years. Four years after falling in Love, Parivel and Rukmini decide to marry. Parivel leaves his Gangster path for Rukmini. On the wedding day, Thilagan calls Parivel to enquire the whereabouts of Gold Fish, a smuggled consignment that has to reach Africa. Parivel refuses to reveal about it's whereabouts. Thilagan out of anger reveals the truth that he has seen Parivel only as a henchman and not as his real son. Thilagan threatens Parivel that if he doesn't reveal the whereabouts of Gold Fish, he will kill Rukmini. This creates tussle between Parivel and Thilagan. In the Fight, out of moment of heat and rage, Parivel cuts the hand of Thilagan. This disappoints, upsets and breaks the heart of Rukmini as Parivel failed to keep his promise of not engaging in violence. Parivel goes to jail. Rukmini leaves the town and her whereabouts are unknown. Thilagan tortures Parivel through the cops to know the whereabouts of Gold Fish. Parivel doesn't reveal about it.

Years later one of the cops(Vettai Muthukumar) asks Parivel to join a gang that recruits Criminals and Fighters. He says that he will arrange for an escape from custody. Parivel receives information from his friends about the whereabouts of Rukmini and comes to know that she is living in Andaman. Parivel accepts for the deal with the cop. But On his way he Fights with the gang that recruited him and escapes to Andaman. He kidnaps Doctor Chaplin Lolly(Jayaram), a Comedy Therapist to Andaman. After going to Andaman Parivel impersonates as Doctor Chaplin Lolly. The real Chaplin Lolly acts as a compounder. Parivel wants to win back his Love and reunite with Rukmini.

The island is strange with people who doesn't laugh or smile. It is because they are enslaved by King Rajavel Mirasu(Naaser) and his son Michael Mirasu(Vidhu). Parivel as Chaplin Lolly starts performing shows as a comedy therapist. Parivel hides his Fighting nature for Rukmini. Freddie kills two deers and bullies Rukmini. Seeing this Parivel goes to Freddie's Home and beats him and makes him apologize for his actions to Rukmini. Parivel makes Rukmini believe that he has changed while his actual fighting nature is underneath. Over a point of time, Rukmini accepts Parivel's Love and this makes Parivel Smile for the First time.

(The scene where Suriya smiles has been Beautifully made and it brings out the performer).

One day when Parivel performs his comedy show, Michael Mirasu visits the venue and brings out the Fighting nature of Parivel. Michael Mirasu makes Parivel think and believe that Fighting is his real nature. Seeing Parivel engaging in a fight again Rukmini gets disappointed. But Parivel starts to accept his nature. Having the pain of losing Rukmini again, Parivel accepts to become a Fighter for Michael Mirasu. King Rajavel Mirasu and Michael Mirasu are Dictators who enslave people of the island and engage in Barbarism. Michael Mirasu has a Barbaric Fight club called as Cult club where Criminals and Slaves are made to Fight with each other. At the end of the Fight, the weakest person is Feeded to crocodiles.

Parivel starts to Fight in the Cult club and becomes a star. Enslaved men attack Parivel that night. During the Fight, they come across the Spear shaped scar in Parivel's stomach and starts to worship him as their saviour as a Prophecy is coming true. Enslaved men reveal the True identity of Parivel. The Island had a Temple with Jadamuni as their God. The Temple had a priest who utters prophecies that come true. One day when King Rajavel Mirasu brings the Soolam to the Temple, Priest stopped him saying that his hand is full of sins and he shouldn't bring the Soolam to the temple. The Priest also utters a prophecy that a boy who takes his birth with a spear/Soolam shaped scar in his stomach would end the cruelty of the King by killing him and his son. He would bring back the Soolam.

King Rajavel kills the priest..He takes the Soolam to his Home. Fearing that his prophecy would come true, he starts to kill the babies of the land by feeding them to crocodiles or enslaving them. When Parivel took birth he was secretly sent to Thoothukudi by his parents who arranged a caretaker for him. That caretaker was killed by Thilagan's enemies. Sandhya who sees the baby starts to adopt him. After knowing his real identity, Parivel wants to stand now for his enslaved men. He meets his Father Pasupathy and his Mother who is now

mad. Meanwhile Thilagan has pressure from Dharman(Prakash Raj), a politician who wants to know the whereabouts of the Gold Fish. Thilagan comes to know that Parivel is in Andaman and tries to trace him.

Next day Parivel gets into the Cult club. He says to Michael Mirasu that he is bored of fighting with slaves. He wants to Fight the Criminals..He Fights with 30 criminals and wins the game. At the end of the game when Michael Mirasu asks Parivel who should be feeded to crocodiles, Parivel suggests Michael Mirasu's name and King Rajavel's name. He ties Michael Mirasu and kills King Rajavel bringing back Soolam. When Thilagan comes in search of Parivel he sees Michael Mirasu tied up. Michael Mirasu says that he knows the whereabouts of Gold Fish. Joining hands with Thilagan, Michael Mirasu heads to the Temple where Parivel is staying now. To their surprise they come across men who are now rebellious against the king. All the men and women hold a Bazooka in their hand. Gold Fish is nothing but Bazookas. Parivel's Mother strikes a Bazooka against the kingdom. Those people who didn't have smile and laughter in their faces for years now start to smile and laugh against the kingdom. Thilagan and Michael Mirasu surrender seeing the Bazookas. Parivel says to Rukmini that he has understood his real Dhammam and he would drop his violent nature.

Next day Parivel and Rukmini get married.

Islanders taste Freedom and starts to Rejoice. Weapon Scandal of Dharman is exposed. Slavery of King Rajavel and Michael Mirasu is exposed.

Movie ends on a Happy note.

Solid come back for Suriya. Solid performance. Celebration Time for Suriya fans!!! Karthik Subbaraj has connected the dots well. Excellent Direction!!!

What starts as a Love story gradually moves towards revolution. Love..Laughter...War... Excellent!!!

Excellent Music and Background score by Santhosh Narayanan.

Pooja Hegde performance was a surprise. She has performed well as Rukmini. She has proved that she can perform beyond the usual Glam doll roles. Chemistry between Suriya and Pooja Hegde was Good.

Terrific performance by Vidhu as King Michael Mirasu.

Joju George, Jayaram, Naaser, Prakash Raj and Sujith Shankar have performed their roles well.

Movie was Rich in its presentation. Cinematography of Shreyaas Krishna is Impressive!!!

Editing of Shafique Mohamed Ali is impressive!!!

Artwork/Production Design is Impressive!!!

Stunt sequences have been made well..Impressive!!!

Senorita song from Johnny has been placed well. Some of the old songs have been placed well according to the situation of the story.

Minus:

1. Although engaging second half appears to be a bit Lengthy.

2. The emotional elements between Parivel and his men in the island could have been better.

3. Retro reminded and had Dejavu of Jigirthanda 2 towards the end.

4. Love Detox song was a speed breaker to the flow of the movie.

Overall an Engaging Action Drama!!! Retro has many crowd clapping moments that can be enjoyed in Theatres!!!

Maximum Ratings: 4 * stars

Minimum Ratings: 3.75 * stars

Score card: 80 to 70/100

Value: Outstanding to Excellent

Rating structure:

Rating stars (*)	Score card	Value
*5 stars**	100	Fantastic
*4.5 stars**	90	Awesome
*4 stars**	80	Outstanding
*3.75 stars**	70	Excellent
*3.5 stars**	60	Very Good
*3.25 stars**	50	Good
*3 stars**	40	Watchable
*2.75 stars**	30	Middling
*2.5 stars**	20	Mediocre

Short Review

Solid come back for Suriya. Solid performance. Celebration Time for Suriya fans!!!

Excellent Direction by Karthik Subbaraj.

What starts as a Love story gradually moves towards revolution. Excellent!!!

Excellent Music and Background score by Santhosh Narayanan.

Pooja Hegde performance was a surprise. She has performed well as Rukmini. She has proved that she can perform beyond the usual Glam doll roles.

Terrific performance by Vidhu as King Michael Mirasu.

Joju George, Jayaram, Naaser and Prakash Raj have performed their roles well.

Stunts were excellent!!!

Overall an Engaging Action Drama with Love, Laughter and War!!!

I shall share my detailed Review of Retro soon.

Maximum Ratings: 4 * stars

Minimum Ratings: 3.75 * stars

Score card: 80 to 70/100

Value: Outstanding to Excellent

Rating structure:

Rating stars (*)	Score card	Value
*5 stars**	100	Fantastic
*4.5 stars**	90	Awesome
*4 stars**	80	Outstanding
*3.75 stars**	70	Excellent
*3.5 stars**	60	Very Good
*3.25 stars**	50	Good
*3 stars**	40	Watchable
*2.75 stars**	30	Middling
*2.5 stars**	20	Mediocre

Trailer

Love...Laughter...War...Eagerly waiting for Retro.

The One

Waiting for the one to rise up. Rise of a Warrior. Sid Sriram voice elevates the song to a whole new level along with the RAP of SVDP & Santhosh Narayanan.

Kanimaa

A Wedding song in Santhosh Naryanan's voice. Chorus by The Indian choral ensemble.