Effect of cationic starches and anionic colloidal silica on retention and drainage characteristics of Compozil system was investigated. Depending upon the degree of substitution and molecular weight of cationic starches and morphological characteristics of anionic colloidal silica, retention and drainage properties of Compozil system were significantly influenced. When cationic starch addition level increased above a certain limit retention and stock freeness were decreased. To elucidate this an electrostatic coagulation mechanism occurring between unadsorbed starch molecules and anionic colloidal silica was proposed. Unstructured colloidal silica showed greater improvement in retention than structured colloidal silica. Cationic corn starches with different degree of substitution and molecular weights were prepared and their effect as a constituent of Compozil system was also evaluated. By controlling the molecular weight and degree of substitution of cationic corn starch it was possible to achieve significant improvement in fines retention. Cationic corn starch with higher degree of substitution maintained its retention efficiency even when the stock conductivity was increased. Turbidity measurement technique was found to be a simple and useful method to measure the retention characteristics.