Latest news with #Subbaraj
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Retro' director Karthik Subbaraj opens up about the impact of online reviews on filmmakers
Subbaraj, the director of the recently released film 'Retro', starring Suriya, has shared his thoughts on online reviews and how they affect filmmakers. The film, which came out on May 1, has garnered a mix of reviews but has performed well at the box office. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Despite the varied reactions, emphasized the importance of filmmakers deciding their own success rather than relying on external opinions. Karthik Subbaraj shares his decision to ignore online reviews after 'Retro' experience In an interview with Cine Ulagam, Karthik Subbaraj revealed that he has made a conscious decision not to pay attention to online reviews. He explained that his experience with 'Retro' has taught him that many reviews carry hidden agendas. He stated that while he doesn't disregard all online reviews, he can often sense whether they are honest or not. This realization came after working on 'Retro', where he felt the need to separate personal views from the external noise. Karthik Subbaraj highlights the hard work behind making a film Karthik Subbaraj also pointed out the hard work that goes into making a film. With a team of 150 to 200 people, every film represents a collective dream. The joy of seeing the film release and resonate with audiences is something special, he added. However, some reviews, according to him, seem to discourage the team from celebrating their achievements, which he finds unjust. He stressed that filmmakers should not let reviews overshadow their passion for their work. Karthik Subbaraj stresses that filmmakers, not reviews, should define their success Ultimately, Karthik Subbaraj emphasized that the success of a film should be determined by the filmmakers themselves, based on how the audience reacts to it. "We should be the ones to decide whether we have succeeded or not, not others," he concluded. His statement underscores the importance of staying true to the work and trusting the audience's response rather than external validation.
Scroll.in
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
‘Retro' review: A stylish action flick that eventually loses its edge
Karthik Subbaraj's Retro is often deliciously retro. The mullets and soft pastel chiffons are back, as are characters with major daddy issues. But when Retro starts taking itself too seriously, the same vibe we admire in the beginning evolves into something of an overkill towards the end. The Tamil film jumps between various time periods and places, including Tuticorin and Sierra Leone, but is primarily set on an island in the Andamans. The spiritually inclined gangster Parivel (a robust Suriya) arrives here to find the heartbroken Buddhist Rukmini (Pooja Hegde). Parivel, in characteristic Subbaraj hero fashion, is not your typical gangster. He can karate-chop anyone in sight but he cannot crack a smile even when he tries. This could have something to do with his unstated parentage, a fact his foster father (Joju George) never lets him forget. When Parivel finds his emptiness reflected in the island's daily wage workers (who have also forgotten how to laugh), he sets out to find his purpose. In a genre overpopulated and obsessed with stories of revenge, Retro is on a more philosophical plane. The film wants to understand why anybody would engage or disengage with violence. Scenes of bloody betrayal are interspersed with conversations on the Buddhist concept of dharma. These are also the moments in which Subbaraj has fun associating Parivel with both Krishna (he is born on Krishna Jayanti) and Buddha. But which path will he choose? The first act is wonderfully fluid. It charts the growth of Parivel from abandoned child to local thug through economical and effective storytelling. What also helps is that everything in this milieu feels authentic and instantly believable. Pooja Hegde speaks Kannada. Suriya's Tamil lines have a delightful regional slang with a smattering of English. Santhosh Narayanan returns with his brand of spiky music – the musician has composed for most of Subbaraj's films. The action, too, is focused and smart, such as the single-shot red wedding sequence. But almost all of this dissipates in the second half. With the introduction of new characters, the canvas suddenly becomes bigger and harder to contain. The focus shifts from Parivel and Rukmini's sweet romance to the angst of daily wage workers. Vidhyashankar Neelamegham plays the antagonist Michael Mirasu, who enjoys feeding local folk to crocodiles in his free time. Michael is an odd mishmash of Joffrey from Game of Thrones and Commodus from Gladiator. Nasser plays Michael's father with an exaggerated English accent, suggestive of his ties to colonial masters. Subbaraj has always been fond of exploring social justice themes into mainstream formats. Jagame Thandhiram (2021) dealt with the lives of Sri Lankan Tamil migrants in London, while the superior Jigarthanda Double X explored tribal and land rights. Subbaraj applies a similar treatment to Retro, but the results aren't satisfactory. The 168-minute Retro spends too much time on mindless action sequences and suffers from a lack of powerful supporting characters who typically feature in Subbaraj's films. You do have Jayaram playing a giggly doctor of laughter therapy, and a thug who only speaks in English catchphrases such as 'cook the duck'. But none of these characters stands for anything deeper. One of the supporting characters finally gets the last laugh (quite literally) towards the end. But by then, it's a little too late. Play
Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Suriya calls Karthik Subbaraj an industry disrupter: ‘He surprises and challenges you during shooting'
Actor Suriya is gearing up for the release of his upcoming romantic action film Retro, directed by Karthik Subbaraj. At a promotional event in Mumbai, Suriya shared his admiration for Subbaraj, showering him with praise. As Suriya spoke, Karthik sat quietly beside him, a look of satisfaction on his face. Suriya began by speaking about Subbaraj's impact on the film industry, praising his distinctive approach and unique style of filmmaking. 'Every time you need a disrupter in the industry, somebody who will come and change the tone. He (Karthik Subbaraj) has a very unique voice; be it the screenplay, the visuals or making the character behave in a certain way on the screen, he has always done that.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW VIDEO Suriya added that Karthik Subbaraj is someone who can 'bend genres', saying, 'His films can be a thriller and a horror or a gangster story with dark comedy, or they can be about gender equality. You won't be able to predict what he's coming up with.' He expressed his admiration for the way Subbaraj develops his characters, noting that he doesn't focus solely on the protagonist but gives attention to every role. The actor also mentioned Subbaraj's ability to surprise both the actors working on the film and the audience with his ideas. 'You get the script, and you know the scene is going to start this way; suddenly he will surprise you with whose perspective the scene is starting from and where he is going to put the camera. He will be like this (pointing to Subbaraj sitting peacefully), and then suddenly he will surprise you and challenge you and ask, 'Will you be able to do this?' and you have to be ready.' Retro hits screens on May 1. Apart from Suriya, the cast of the film includes Pooja Hegde, Santhosh Narayana, Joju George, Prakash Raj and Nassar.
India Today
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Karthik Subbaraj on why romance is the soul of Suriya's Retro
Karthik Subbaraj, the director behind 'Jigarthanda' and 'Pizza' opens up about exploring love in his latest film with has never been one to tread predictable ground. From the psychological chills of 'Pizza' to the meta chaos of 'Jigarthanda' and its audacious sequel, he has built a reputation for subverting genre expectations. But with Retro, his upcoming film starring Suriya, Subbaraj is returning to something more primal and vulnerable — love. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Karthik Subbaraj (@ksubbaraj)advertisement"People expect me to do crime, thrillers, dark comedies," he says with a smile, "but 'Retro' is a love story. That is what it is at its heart." Set in the 1990s, with nostalgia, style and action, 'Retro' may carry the visual grammar of a vintage gangster flick, but for Subbaraj, it is all in service of something deeper. "Even in my earlier films, there has 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 a woman, but love as a transformative force, something that pushes the character to evolve."Suriya's character, a once-feared gangster trying to escape his violent past, is pulled into an emotional reckoning when he falls in love. "It's not the usual arc of redemption," Karthik explains. "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."advertisement Known for his grungy aesthetics and twisty plots, Subbaraj says working with romance as the central motif came with its own challenges. He adds, "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."And that is where Suriya and Pooja Hegde come in. "Their chemistry, their silences, the way they look at each other It's about subtle shifts, glances, restraint," he a filmmaker who is often labelled as 'stylish' or 'dark', Retro is perhaps his most emotionally transparent film yet. "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."'Retro' may come dressed in 90s swagger, but its beating heart is timeless Reel
Hans India
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Karthik Subbaraj dials up nostalgia and romance in ‘Retro' with Suriya
Karthik Subbaraj, known for breaking genre conventions with films like Pizza and Jigarthanda, is charting a new emotional territory with his upcoming film Retro, starring Suriya. While the stylish gangster backdrop and 90s nostalgia are unmistakable, Subbaraj insists the true soul of Retro is love. 'People expect me to make thrillers, crime dramas, or dark comedies," Karthik smiles. "But at its heart, Retro is a love story." Set against the vibrant backdrop of the 1990s, Retro fuses vintage aesthetics and action with a deeper, emotional core. "Even my earlier films had a personal emotional thread. But here, romance isn't just part of the story — it drives it," he explains. "It's about love as a force of transformation, about a man confronting who he is and who he wants to become." Suriya plays a once-feared gangster seeking to leave his violent past behind, only to find his path altered by an unexpected romance. "It's not a typical redemption arc," Subbaraj shares. "It's about a man who doesn't even know what peace feels like — until someone shows him it's possible." Bringing this layered love story to life are Suriya and Pooja Hegde, whose chemistry, Subbaraj says, lies in the unsaid moments — glances, silences, and restraint. "Making action look stylish is easy," he adds, "but making love feel authentic in a gritty world — that's the real challenge." For a filmmaker often praised for his edgy style, Retro promises a more emotionally transparent experience. "Style grabs attention, but it's emotion that lingers," Karthik reflects. "In Retro, that emotion is love." Retro may be wrapped in 90s flair, but at its core, it tells a timeless story of transformation through love.
