Retro OTT Release: Suriya-Pooja Hegde's Romantic Action Film Likely To Stream In Early June, Says Report

Retro OTT Release: After a theatrical run that began with an enthusiastic start but quickly lost momentum, Retro, the Tamil romantic action film starring Suriya and Pooja Hegde, is reportedly heading to OTT. While no official announcement has been made, a report by Asianet Tamil News suggests that the Karthik Subbaraj directorial is likely to premiere on Netflix in the first week of June, bringing the film to streaming audiences just over a month after its theatrical debut.

Retro hit theaters on May 1, 2025, with screenings available in both standard and EPIQ formats. It opened strong at the box office, backed by solid pre-release buzz and a wide release across Tamil Nadu and beyond. However, by its second week, the film's momentum slowed, with competition from newer titles-particularly Tourist Family-affecting its performance.

Despite this mixed theatrical run, Retro has reportedly become the highest-grossing film of Suriya's career, driven by its early box office success. According to the Asianet report, the recent slowdown in theaters may have influenced the decision to bring the film to OTT earlier than expected.

Retro's Digital Release: Awaiting Official Confirmation

According to Asianet Tamil News, Retro is expected to begin streaming on Netflix starting June 5, although this date has not been confirmed by the makers or the streaming platform. Netflix had acquired the digital rights to the film well before its theatrical release, and given the current trends in the industry-where high-profile titles move to OTT within four to five weeks-the projected date seems plausible.

However, until there is an official statement from the production houses or Netflix, the June 5 premiere should be treated as speculative, albeit based on media reporting.

About the Film

Directed by Karthik Subbaraj, Retro was produced by Stone Bench Creations and 2D Entertainment, with Jyotika and Suriya serving as producers. The project was first revealed in March 2024 with the tentative title Suriya 44 and carried the tagline Love, Laughter, War. The final title, Retro, was unveiled in December 2024.

Filming took place across multiple locations-including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Ooty, Kerala, and Chennai-between June and October 2024. Santhosh Narayanan composed the music for the film, with Shreyaas Krishna serving as the cinematographer and Shafique Mohamed Ali as the editor.

Set in 1960s Thoothukudi, Retro follows the journey of Paarivel "Paari" Kannan, a boy with a mysterious scar who is adopted by a gangster's family. Raised in a world of violence, Paari is torn between loyalty to his adoptive father and love for Rukmini, a childhood acquaintance who later becomes his wife. A betrayal changes the course of his life, leading to imprisonment and escape to the Andaman Islands, where a hidden past and a violent cult await. The film mixes themes of identity, prophecy, and political power in a layered narrative.

Cast and Crew Highlights

The film stars Suriya in the lead role, with Pooja Hegde as Dr. Rukmini. Other key cast members include Joju George, Jayaram, Prakash Raj, Nassar, and Karunakaran. Younger versions of the lead characters are portrayed by Harish, Nithran Sai, and Aavni.

Retro also features Shriya Saran and Santhosh Narayanan in special song appearances, adding musical variety to the film's otherwise gritty tone.

The crew includes several notable names: art direction by Jacki and Mayapandi, stunts by Kecha Khamphakdee, and costume design by Praveen Raja.

Awaiting Confirmation

With the film now continuing its theatrical run amid low footfalls, the OTT release is expected to give Retro a second life among viewers who may have missed it on the big screen. However, until a formal announcement is made by Netflix or the producers, the reported June 5 date remains speculative.

Audiences interested in the film will likely keep a close watch over the coming weeks for official confirmation. In the meantime, the industry will be closely monitoring Retro's box office performance until its digital release.