Tamil superstar Suriya is all set to once again entice the audience with his next release Retro, helmed by the talented Karthik Subbaraj. Following a huge letdown with his last outing, Kanguva, which became a huge disaster at the box office, Suriya has placed all his bets on Retro. The film has created reasonable buzz among Kollywood viewers, owing to its interesting promotional material and well-received music. The situation appears rather different when the Telugu States are considered.
In spite of the huge Kollywood fan base and the popularity of both Suriya and Karthik Subbaraj, Retro is experiencing extremely low buzz in the Telugu market. This has raised serious doubts among the distributors and producers of the film, particularly given the investment involved in acquiring its Telugu rights.
Retro’s Struggle for Momentum in Telugu Market
Retro is all set for a grand worldwide release on May 1st, 2025, but it will not have a smooth run in Telugu States. The film is clashing directly with Nani’s Hit 3, a highly anticipated sequel that already has a strong following due to the success of its earlier installments. Naturally, Nani’s Hit 3 is dominating the conversation and pulling more attention from Telugu audiences.
Adding to the anxiety, producer Naga Vamsi bought the Telugu rights for Retro at a whopping price of almost 9 crores. For the movie to turn out to be a profitable affair in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, it must find a double-digit percentage, something that now appears an uphill task with the poor buzz. Unless Retro manages a sudden turnaround in promotions, the movie might struggle at the box office in Telugu states.
Biggest stakes for Suriya and Karthik Subbaraj
Suriya, who is a master of delivering strong performances and choosing scripts that are diverse, desperately requires Retro to be a hit following the failure of Kanguva. Director Karthik Subbaraj, who previously impressed moviegoers with movies such as Jigarthanda and Petta, also needs Retro to salvage his box-office reputation.
The early reaction to Retro’s trailers and numbers has been encouraging, particularly in Tamil markets, where the pairing of Suriya and Karthik Subbaraj has ignited high hopes. The film’s retro setting, chic presentation, and taut story glimpses have resonated well within Tamil circles. Yet, this fervor has not really taken hold of the Telugu market, where Suriya’s fan following is much lesser than his Tamil stronghold.
In Telugu States, native-hero-centric or star-oriented movies with high native popularity usually hold sway over the box office. Though Suriya is a highly regarded Telugu actor, he does not enjoy the same colossal fan madness as native heroes. Hence, the producers have to exert double effort in the promotion process in order to rope in the non-committed crowd.
Pre-Release Event: A Make-or-Break Move
Realizing the desperation of the times, the crew has organized a grand pre-release event today itself in Hyderabad in an attempt to raise the film’s profile. Top Tollywood actor Vijay Deverakonda has been brought on board as the chief guest, and the producers believe that his star power will draw the media and fans, some much-needed hype for Retro.
Vijay’s participation could certainly give Retro some momentum, given his huge fan base among the youth. An energetic event with electrifying speeches, lively performances, and unveiling new material could very well give Retro the push it needs before it goes on the screens.
The pre-release function is well planned to deliver a clear message that Retro is not another dubbed movie but a good entertainer worth seeing in the cinema halls. If the function goes well and social media chatter increases, there is still a possibility of a turnaround in the last few days to the release.
Tough Competition from Hit 3
While Retro is working hard to lead itself into the spotlight, Hit 3 is riding smoothly with great pre-release buzz. Headlined by Nani in the lead and the successful thriller series, Hit 3 has created strong expectation with its teasers and promotional events.
Moreover, Nani’s proven track record with thriller genre movies, his solid fan base in the Telugu States, and the franchise’s credibility make Hit 3 a formidable opponent. Retro not only has to stand out creatively but also fight for screen space and audience attention during a tough release weekend.
Box office pundits already suggest that Retro may find it hard to have good openings unless word-of-mouth magic saves it after the initial shows. If Hit 3 does produce a good movie, Retro’s survival may become tougher still, with audience tastes favoring domestic tales.
Read Also :- HIT 3 Needs a Final Punch: Can Nani’s Star Power Alone Save the Day?
Last Hopes Depend on Content and Word-of-Mouth
With days to go for release, Retro’s team is leaving no stone unturned to generate last-minute hype, but the success of the film will ultimately rest on its content. Suriya’s acting, Karthik Subbaraj’s narration, and the overall cinematic experience will determine if Retro can reverse the fortunes despite the odds.
If Retro can pull off surprising viewers with a good story and good performances, there remains room for good recovery through word-of-mouth. Telugu people have tended to accept good content-oriented movies even without huge pre-release buzz.
Though, the road will not be smooth. With heavy bet on play and tough competition from Hit 3, Retro has a tough way to go. It can only be awaited whether the movie manages to cross the low buzz mark and wins the Telugu States.
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