Suriya’s much-awaited gangster drama, Retro, directed by Karthik Subbaraj and co-starring Pooja Hegde, finally hit theatres worldwide on May 1, 2025. The film arrived with high expectations, especially after Suriya’s previous outing, Kanguva, failed to impress at the box office. However, with strong advance bookings, a star-studded cast, and positive early reviews, can Retro make a significant impact at the Telugu box office despite stiff competition from Nani’s HIT 3? Let’s check the day-wise collection report and review.
As per the trade report from Sacnilk, the gangster drama earned an estimated ₹20.08 crore on its opening day in India across all languages. This figure, while impressive, is slightly lower than Suriya's last release, Kanguva, which had an opening day haul of ₹22 crore net. Despite this, the film's early performance signals a promising trend, especially as it continues to gain traction with evening and night show bookings.
Retro follows the journey of Paarivel “Paari” Kannan, a former gangster striving to leave his violent past behind and start afresh with his wife. But as ancient enemies resurface and buried secrets come to light, his quest for redemption transforms into a gripping tale of love, loyalty, and second chances. The film features a strong ensemble cast, including Prakash Raj, Nassar, Joju George, and Jayaram, alongside Pooja Hegde, who plays a key role as Rukku, Suriya’s on-screen partner.
Early reviews from critics and fans have been largely positive. Suriya’s performance is being hailed as a “mass comeback,” while Karthik Subbaraj’s direction and Santhosh Narayanan’s music have also received praise. The film’s retro style, emotional depth, and action sequences resonate with audiences, though some feel the screenplay could have been tighter. On BookMyShow, Retro has garnered a solid 9 rating out of 10 with more than 3.7K reviews, indicating strong viewer satisfaction.
As the day progressed, Retro saw rocking occupancies throughout the day, registering an excellent occupancy of 76% in the morning shows of its Tamil version, which jumped to 84% in the afternoon. Evening shows showed a slight drop, with occupancy at 78%. The Telugu-dubbed version opened with a good note, achieving 33% occupancy in the morning, rising to 45% in the afternoon, and maintaining 38% in the evening. However, the Hindi version struggled, with an overall occupancy of just 8%.
Given the strong audience reception and the holiday momentum, Retro is expected to see significant growth over the weekend. The film's positive word of mouth on social media has already started to reflect in rising footfall, with fans calling it “a true Karthik Subbaraj padam,” lauding its style, technical brilliance, and emotional weight.
In terms of competition, HIT 3 has also performed well, earning ₹10.37 crore at the box office on the same day, but Retro has outperformed its main opponent in terms of audience turnout, achieving an overall 79.91% occupancy among Tamil audiences. The comparisons are noteworthy, especially considering HIT 3 had only 69 shows in Chennai compared to Retro's 924 shows, leading to higher occupancy rates for Suriya's film.
Moreover, the film's unique storytelling and a standout 15-minute single-take sequence have left audiences stunned, further enhancing its appeal. The compelling narrative structure, combined with a stellar technical crew, has added depth to the film, making it a strong contender at the box office.
As for the future, Retro is set to continue its winning streak, with projections suggesting it could earn over ₹30 crore by the end of its opening day. The film's success is crucial, especially after the disappointing performance of Kanguva, and it appears that Suriya has once again captured the audience's attention.
In summary, Retro has made a significant mark on its opening day, and with the positive buzz surrounding it, the film is poised for a successful run in theatres. The combination of Suriya's star power, Karthik Subbaraj's direction, and the film's engaging story has set the stage for what could be one of the biggest hits of the year.
As the weekend approaches, industry experts and fans alike are eagerly watching to see how Retro performs in the coming days. Will it sustain its momentum and surpass the expectations set by its predecessors? Only time will tell, but for now, Suriya's latest venture is basking in the glow of a successful opening.
