Retta Thala

Maybe this is the future, and maybe we cannot entirely fault the makers for trying to make up for their lack of budget. But, even if you are a wide-eyed devotee of our algorithmic Gods, the AI-generated clips in Retta Thala would still leave you disappointed at the lack of originality in the prompts they typed out to create these clips. Breathtaking indolence aside, the most baffling thing about Retta Thala is not the AI clips but how everything around it, the ‘real’ scenes, feel like they were written by AI. How else would you explain everyone in the film looking like they walked straight out of H&M’s winter collection catalogue (the film happens in Pondicherry and Goa), or Siddhi Idnani’s character revealing her desire to move to France because she has crippling financial issues and is sick of her waitress job?

Sam CS’s background score elevates the tension throughout, with the song “Kannamma,” sung by Dhanush, standing out as the film’s lone musical highlight. Tijo Tomy’s cinematography and Anthony’s sharp editing lend the film a sleek, stylish finish. Kris Thirukumaran’s writing and direction keep Retta Thala engaging, though sharper dialogues and stronger casting in a few supporting roles could have further elevated the experience. To sum it up, Retta Thala is a tightly packed action thriller powered by Arun Vijay’s commanding screen presence. While not flawless, it remains engaging till its final frame, making it a worthwhile theatrical watch for action fans.