Suriya Eyes Comeback in Telugu States with Retro, Faces Stiff Challenges

Suriya has long enjoyed popularity in the Telugu states, thanks to hit films like Ghajini, Aaru, Nuvvu Nenu Prema, Surya S/o Krishnan, Singam, and 24. His appeal spans both youth and family audiences. However, despite his strong following, he has yet to deliver a Telugu blockbuster that solidifies his standing alongside stars like Rajinikanth or Vijay.

Now, all eyes are on Retro, Suriya’s latest film directed by Karthik Subbaraj, slated for release on May 1. But the road ahead isn’t smooth. After the massive failure of Kanguva, Suriya's market in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana has taken a hit. While Kanguva’s Telugu rights fetched over ₹22 crore, Retro managed to garner only ₹10 crore—a telling sign of waning trade confidence.

Adding to the challenge, Retro’s trailer failed to create significant buzz, and the film is releasing alongside Nani’s much-hyped HIT 3. Moreover, director Karthik Subbaraj is yet to register a breakthrough hit in Telugu, and co-star Pooja Hegde has been largely inactive in the region of late.

Despite the odds, Suriya is not backing down. He is expected to actively promote Retro across AP and Telangana in a bid to revive his Telugu base. With a bilingual project lined up next with director Venky Atluri, Retro is a crucial stepping stone. A strong performance—akin to Vikram or Jailer—could reignite his stardom in the Telugu market and pave the way for bigger, pan-Indian success.