Filmmaker Karthik Subbaraj has revealed that he is actively working to release an extended limited series version of his latest film Retro, starring Suriya as the lead. The director shared this during an interview with film critic Baradwaj Rangan on Galatta Plus, offering new hope for fans seeking deeper insights into the film’s layered universe.
Released in theatres on 1st May, Retro received mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike, praised for its ambition but critiqued for narrative gaps. The film had its digital premiere on Netflix on 31st May, much earlier than a typical theatrical-to-OTT release. Now, Karthik is hoping to revisit and expand the story with a longer format.
“I have been trying to spark a deal with the OTT platform to release a limited series version of Retro, something like an extended cut. It won’t just be deleted scenes”.
The Extended Cut Vision
According to Karthik, this unreleased content delves deeper into the cult, laughter therapy rituals, religious themes, and the richly imagined world behind Retro. He hinted that several scenes he was most passionate about while filming never made it to the final cut due to runtime and pacing constraints.
“This extended cut would explain the action, emotion, and world-building in greater detail. I have nearly four to five episodes, with a runtime of 40 minutes each”.
Despite his enthusiasm, Karthik admitted that business constraints have become a roadblock. While he’s in talks with Netflix to release the extended series, the streaming platform has not yet agreed to the idea due to commercial factors.
About Retro
Produced by Stone Bench Creations and 2D Entertainment, Retro features an ensemble cast including Pooja Hegde, Nasser, Jayaram, Vidhu and Prakash Raj.
The film follows Paarivel Kannan, an orphan raised by a gangster, who embarks on a journey of truth-seeking that intertwined with ancient prophecy, cult ideologies, and his lost love, Rukmini. Set in a stylized retro backdrop, the film combines action, drama and mysticism.
If the limited series extended cut of Retro is confirmed to happen, it would be in the footsteps of global hits like Zack Snyder’s League and The Godfather Coda, offering filmmakers an avenue to present their stories in more elaborate formats on streaming platforms.
Karthik Subbaraj, known for his unique narrative style in films like Jigarthanda and Mahan, seems eager to challenge format boundaries. For now fans can stream the original film version on Netflix.
Sources: Cinema Express
