Retta Thala Movie Review – Gripping  Tale with some Surprises 

Arun Vijay returns to dual roles for the second time after Thadam, anchoring Retta Thala with a performance that pivots on identity and moral ambiguity. The film centers on two childhood friends — played by Arun Vijay and Siddhi Idnani — who grow up together in an orphanage and eventually transition from companionship to romance.

Their relationship fractures when Siddhi’s aspirations tilt toward wealth and luxury, leaving Arun Vijay emotionally adrift. As she prepares to fly to France in pursuit of a grander life, fate intervenes: the protagonist stumbles upon his doppelgänger, a wealthy and aloof counterpart, also portrayed by Arun Vijay.

What begins as a coincidence soon becomes a calculated scheme. The protagonist and his former lover conspire to eliminate the affluent look-alike, believing this single act could grant them the life they were denied. From this point onward, the narrative spirals into a succession of unforeseen twists, betrayals, and consequences — blurring the line between desperation and destiny.

Performances

Arun Vijay’s portrayal of dual identities is both convincing and commendable. He brings nuance to the character with an intriguing contrast: one persona quietly innocent, the other steeped in menace. Watching him oscillate between vulnerability and devilish intent becomes one of the film’s most engaging elements. The narrative also contains a handful of surprise reveals that work effectively — best experienced without prior hints.

Tanya Ravichandran delivers a neat performance, though the role itself feels misaligned with her strengths. Siddhi Idnani, on the other hand, makes a stronger impression; her character’s alignment with key twists lends the film much of its suspense. Hareesh Peradi is serviceable, while John Vijay’s track tends to grate, repeatedly breaking the film’s rhythm whenever he appears.

On the technical front, the editing is crisp and purposeful, while the cinematography offers consistently striking visuals. Sam C.S. elevates several sequences with an impressive background score, and the song Kannama Kannama works well in the theatrical space. Director Thirukumaran’s staging shows promise, and individual scenes are thoughtfully mounted — yet the film as a whole suffers from a screenplay that could have benefited from tighter structuring and deeper refinement.

Overall, Retta Thala has an interesting plot, and a little bit of fine-tuning with screenplay would have made it much more impressive. Kudos to Arun Vijay, Siddhi Idnani for their top-notch performances.