Tamil cinema superstar Surya's recent release Retro has rocked the box office. Directed by Karathik Subbaraj, the film has grossed Rs 235 crore at a worldwide level. This figure is not only one of the major achievements of Surya's career but also an important stop for Tamil cinema. However, there is a discussion between some fans and analysts about this figure as it includes the earnings earnings the theatrical and non-identical (such as OTT music and TV broadcasting rights). Let's know about the box office journey of this film and the story behind it.
Retro's box office performance
Retro was released in theaters on 1 May 2025 and it caught the attention of the audience from day one. According to Sacnilk, the film made a spectacular opening of Rs 19.25 crore in India on the first day, in which the Tamil edition contributed Rs 17.25 crore. The film received a tremendous response in Tamil Nadu where the theaters in cities such as Chennai Coimbatore and Madurai saw an oxuency of 80-90%. In the first week, the film crossed the Rs 100 crore mark at a worldwide level and on 6 May 2025, the production house 2D Entertainment officially announced a Rs 104 crore earnings.
By 18 May 2025, the film grossed Rs 235 crore at a worldwide level, including the theatrical share as well as the OTT rights (Netflix bought for Tamil Telugu Malayalam and Kannada versions for Rs 80 crore and for Hindi version for Rs 25 crore) music and TV broadcasting rights. However, according to some reports, the film's net collection in India was Rs 59.30 crore and the worldwide gross collection reached around Rs 91 crore, which is much lower than the figure of 235 crores. The reason behind this gap is believed to be the inclusion of non-identical income.
Film story and starcast
Retro is a romantic action drama based on the backdrop of the 1990s. In the film, Surya plays the role of Parivel Kannan aka innings, which is the right hand of a gangster but decides to leave the world of crime for his girlfriend Rukmini (Pooja Hegde). The story features action romance and social messages in which the innings past and a mysterious prediction change her life. The film stars stars like Pooja Hegde Jujo George Jairam Nasar and Prakash Raj. Santosh Narayanan's music and a 15-minute single-shot wedding sequence were very popular among the audience.
Mixed reviews and audience response
Retro received mixed response from critics and audiences. While Surya's strong acting and stylish direction of Karathik Subbaraj was praised, some criticized the film's length and the second half script of the second half. The Hindu wrote that if the middle part was strengthened further, retro could have become a unique experiment in Tamil cinema. Despite this, the fans of Surya appreciated the film on social media and especially praised Kannima songs and single-shot sequences.
On X some users questioned the figure of 235 crores and called it wrong to compare it with other big hit films. One user wrote that the poster released by the production house mixed the data by mixing theatrical and non-identical income. Yet the success of the film cannot be denied.
Budget and brake-Even status
Retro was built in a budget of Rs 65-70 crore which included publicity and stars fees. The film needed Rs 82 crore for a break-building. In the first week itself, the film collected more than 50% cost and OTT deals made it beneficial. The production house donated Rs 10 crore to the Agaram Foundation, which reflects Surya's social responsibility.
Great performance in Tamil Nadu
Retro earned the highest grossing in Tamil Nadu where it recorded a gross collection of Rs 17 crore on the first day, which was more than Surya's previous film Kanguwa. 2 lakh tickets were sold in Tamil Nadu in 24 hours and multiplex booking sites crashed due to high traffic. However, the performance of Telugu and Hindi versions was relatively weak, where the oxuency was 39.03% and 8.55% respectively.
Competition and future
Retro got a tough competition from films like Nani's hit 3 and Ajay Devgan's Red 2 at the time of release. Hit 3 was more liked in the Telugu audiences which earned Rs 100 crore in four days. Nevertheless, Retro maintained his strong hold among the Tamil audience. The film's digital release is expected to be done soon on Netflix which will further increase its reach.
Surya's stardom
Surya's retro is a strong comeback after the failure of his previous film Kanguwa. His two different looks (Fu Manchu Mustache and Mullet Hair as well as trimmed beard) and versatile acting impressed the audience. Surya is now going to start work on his next projects such as Venki Ataluri, Surya 46 and Vitri Maran's plaintiff.
conclusion
Retro may not have achieved the status of blockbuster, but it has once again proved Surya's stardom and creativity of Karathik Subbaraj. The Rs 235 crore figure is a mixture of theatrical and non-identical income but reflects the widespread appeal of the film. Retro has become the third highest grossing film of 2025 in Tamil cinema which is only behind Ajit Kumar's Good Bad Agli and Vidyamurchi. Surya's fans and cinema lovers are now waiting for the digital release of this film to see this action romance drama again.