Scene Movie Review

Director Jithu Madhavan, who caught everyone’s attention in Malayalam cinema with back-to-back unconventional films like Romancham and Aavesham, has carved a niche for himself with his distinctive storytelling, quirky characters, unexpected twists and dark humour. Amid considerable expectations, his latest film, Scene, has hit the screens. The film stars Suriya, Nazriya, Naslen, Anand Raj and others.

Inbaraj (Suriya), a talented police officer, is planning to take voluntary retirement from the force. His unusual behaviour and unconventional approach to work often make him a headache for his fellow officers, while his eccentric ways remain a mystery to those around him. Meanwhile, a series of murders begins to take place, following the same pattern as a case that was believed to have been closed earlier. This brings the investigation back into focus. On one side is Inbaraj, who is eager to retire, and on the other is Eeswaran (Naslen), the mysterious person behind the series of murders. The conflict between these two forms the crux of the story.

As for Suriya, he steps away from his usual action-hero image and portrays a rather unconventional, mischievous and laid-back police officer.

Instead of relying on the usual hero-entry sequences, punch dialogues and high-voltage action scenes, the director gives importance to the natural traits of the character. Suriya’s body language, dialogue delivery and comic timing perfectly suit the role. His interactions with the people around him and the humour he brings into several situations are particularly entertaining.

Nazriya’s Maya is another major strength of the film. She fits effortlessly into this distinctive character, bringing intelligence, self-defence skills and her own unique approach to the role. Her scenes with Suriya generate natural humour and add to the film’s entertainment quotient. The action sequences featuring her are also noteworthy.

Naslen, on the other hand, brings an entirely different dimension to the character of Eeswaran. Behind the appearance of an ordinary, easy-going young man lies a disturbing and ruthless personality, which he portrays with remarkable ease. He convincingly plays a character who displays neither nervousness nor guilt while committing murders. Rather than resorting to the conventional angry, aggressive and intimidating villainous portrayal, Naslen keeps his performance surprisingly cool and understated. That is what makes his character interesting.

As in Jithu Madhavan’s previous films, the quirky personalities of the characters serve as the primary source of humour here too. From the protagonist’s family members and police officers to the people surrounding the killer, every character has a distinct personality. Blending comedy into a serious murder investigation is no easy task. However, the director manages to generate humour even in scenes involving the killer, which reflects his distinctive filmmaking style. The confrontations between Inbaraj and Eeswaran are particularly engaging.

At the same time, much of the first half is spent introducing the characters and establishing their backgrounds. As a result, the central murder investigation takes some time to gather momentum. While a few comedy sequences genuinely entertain, others slow down the narrative. There is also a feeling that the intellectual battle between the protagonist and the antagonist could have been developed with greater intensity.

The cinematography supports the film’s narrative flow, effectively capturing the pace of the scenes and the movements of the characters. While the editing maintains a certain level of momentum in the first half, the second half experiences a few sluggish moments. Sushin Shyam’s music and background score add strength to both the comic sequences and the high-tension moments.

Jithu Madhavan once again sticks to his trademark storytelling style. He takes a seemingly familiar storyline, fills it with unusual characters and eccentric behaviour, and turns these elements into the film’s primary source of entertainment. In Aavesham, he blended comedy into a gangster drama. Here, he applies a similar approach to a murder investigation thriller. However, the tight screenplay and gripping momentum that made Aavesham so effective are somewhat missing in certain portions of this film.

On the whole, Scene is not a conventional police investigation thriller. It is a different attempt that blends familiar storytelling elements with quirky characters and dark humour. For audiences looking for something different beyond routine mass entertainers, Scene is certainly an interesting watch!