Karthik Subbaraj talks about bringing romance to the forefront in Retro

The director, known for films like Jigarthanda and Pizza, explores love in his upcoming project with Suriya.

April 26, 2025 - 1:34 PM IST

Karthik Subbaraj has made a career out of defying genre expectations. From the psychological thriller Pizza to the layered chaos of Jigarthanda and its sequel, the filmmaker has built a reputation for experimenting with form and tone. With his upcoming film Retro, starring Suriya, Subbaraj shifts focus to something more personal — love.

Karthik Subbaraj talks about bringing romance to the forefront in Retro

“People expect me to do crime, thrillers, dark comedies,” Subbaraj said. “But Retro is a love story. That is what it is at its heart.” Set against the backdrop of the 1990s, Retro blends nostalgia, stylized action, and a distinct visual style, but Subbaraj insists these are all secondary to the film’s emotional core. “Even in my earlier films, there’s always been a personal core, often emotional. But this time, I wanted romance to be the driving force. Not just love between a man and woman, but love as a transformative force, something that pushes the character to evolve,” he explained.

The story follows Suriya’s character, a former gangster struggling to distance himself from a violent past, who finds himself changed through love. “It’s not the usual arc of redemption,” Subbaraj noted. “It’s about a man who doesn’t even know what peace feels like until he meets someone who makes him believe it’s possible. That tension between who he was and who he wants to be — that’s where the romance breathes.”

While Subbaraj is often associated with gritty aesthetics and complex narratives, he acknowledges that centring romance presented a different kind of creative challenge. “It’s easy to make action look cool. But to make love feel real, especially in a world like this — that’s the challenge. You have to earn it.”

Suriya and Pooja Hegde, who play the leads, bring a subtle dynamic to the film, Subbaraj says. “Their chemistry, their silences, the way they look at each other… It’s about subtle shifts, glances, restraint.” For a filmmaker often labeled as ‘stylish’ or ‘dark,’ Retro marks a more emotionally open approach. “At the end of the day, style can grab your attention, but it’s emotion that stays with you. And in Retro, that emotion is love.”

While Retro wears its 90s influences proudly, at its core, it promises a timeless story of love and transformation.

Also Read: Pooja Hegde unveils her look as Rukmini in Retro ahead of May 1 release