Скачать или смотреть Retro | Review | Spoiler Free |

While working on Mahaan in mid 2021, director Karthik Subbaraj had narrated a script to Suriya which impressed the actor. However, since the script required extensive pre-production and filming time, they decided to proceed with another script that also impressed him. Although they had finalised to collaborate back then, both of their respective prior commitments delayed the collaboration.

Two-and-a-half years later, on 28 March 2024, Subbaraj announced through his social media accounts that he would join hands with Suriya for his next directorial venture after Jigarthanda DoubleX (2023). The project would be jointly funded by Subbaraj's Stone Bench Creations and Suriya's 2D Entertainment banner.Suriya and Jyothika would be credited as producers, while Stone Bench's main producer Kaarthikeyan Santhanam would be credited as co-producer along with Rajsekar Pandian, the head of 2D Entertainment.

The project was kept confidential by the makers until its announcement.The film was made on a budget of ₹65 crore (US$7.6 million). Tentatively titled Suriya 44 with the tagline Love, Laughter and War,production was set to begin after the actor completed his film with Sudha Kongara which was then known as Suriya 43. However, a few days later, it was reported that, since the start of Kongara's film would take a few more months, they were planning to complete the shooting of the project in the meantime.The film was touted to be as a gangster action drama film. But Subbaraj later clarified that the film, set in 1990s, is a romance film which also involves major action sequences.The film's official title Retro was revealed on the occasion of Christmas (25 December 2024).