Retro Box Office Collection Day 1: Suriya’s Action-Packed Film Opens Strong with Nearly ₹20 Crore, But Falls Short of Kanguva’s Record

Retro Box Office Collection Day 1: Suriya-Karthik Subbaraj’s Film Opens Strong with ₹19.33 Crore

Suriya’s latest outing, Retro, directed by Karthik Subbaraj, is off to a promising start at the box office. According to data from industry tracker Sacnilk, the Tamil action drama earned a solid ₹19.33 crore nett in India on its opening day. While the figure falls short of the ₹28 crore debut of Suriya’s previous film, Kanguva, which ultimately faltered due to mixed reviews, Retro seems to have struck a chord with the audience.

The film registered a strong occupancy rate of 78.89% across Tamil Nadu, with morning and afternoon shows clocking in at 75% and 83% respectively. Evening and night shows held steady at 78% and 77%. In contrast, Kanguva had posted more varied numbers across different regions, with its highest occupancy in Telugu at 58% and the lowest in Hindi at just 11%.

Directed by Subbaraj, Retro stars Suriya alongside Pooja Hegde, Jayaram, Joju George, Karunakaran, and Prashanth. While it may not have reached the blockbuster heights of Kanguva on day one, the film marks a notable comeback for Pooja Hegde, whose last theatrical venture, Devaa—a Hindi remake of Mumbai Police—managed only ₹5.5 crore on its opening day and wrapped up its run at ₹33.9 crore.

Speaking during the film’s promotions, Suriya praised Subbaraj’s unique approach to filmmaking. “Every industry needs a disruptor,” he said. “Karthik Subbaraj has a distinctive voice in the way he writes, shoots, and directs his characters. He always pushes actors to explore new dimensions.”

Despite receiving mixed reviews, Retro is gaining attention for its performances and stylised storytelling. With a strong start at the ticket counters, the makers will now be looking to capitalise on the weekend footfall and expand their reach.

As the festive weekend rolls in, all eyes are on whether Retro can maintain its momentum and emerge as one of the standout hits of the year.