Scene review: A killer, a crazy cop and Suriya having the time of his life

There’s a special kind of high that only a really good film can give you. But when it comes from watching one of Tamil cinema's favourite stars finally have the kind of year you’ve been rooting for, the excitement hits differently. And when that star is Suriya, in a film helmed by Aavesham director Jithu Madhavan, alongside Nazriya and Naslen, the joy is almost impossible to contain. Scene, Suriya's latest film, delivers exactly that rush - the kind that makes you grin, cheer and walk out feeling like the star is finally back in his element.Inbaraj (Suriya) is a reluctant police officer, a chain smoker who has submitted his resignation five times. But his superior, Stephen (Lal), refuses to let him go, repeatedly dodging his resignation and handing him major cases instead. Inbaraj's approach to police work is nothing short of torture. He makes people read forensic reports six times, sometimes more, until he gets to the tiniest detail that could help crack a case.When a serial killer case lands on his desk, Inbaraj notices an uncanny resemblance to the perfume killer case he had once solved. But this time, the murders are being carried out with chilling precision by a ruthless young killer, Eeswaran (Naslen). When Maya (Nazriya Nazim) joins Inbaraj in the investigation, what follows is a chaotic, unpredictable thriller packed with fun, suspense and unexpected turns.Following the success of Romancham and Aavesham is no easy task. But Jithu Madhavan manages to deliver something just as entertaining with a series of clever cinematic choices. He keeps the lead actors' star images firmly in the background, allowing their characters' eccentricities to take over. The result is a film where quirkiness, humour and chaos work in equal measure. Scene begins on a subdued note and takes its sweet time setting up the premise. The screenplay explores Inbaraj's strengths and shortcomings in considerable detail, so much so that the initial stretch might leave you feeling restless. But this is where Jithu's brilliance comes into play. Almost every interesting setup he places in the first half gets a solid pay-off as the story progresses. And that is when Scene begins to explore its full potential. At its heart, Scene is a serial killer-versus-genius cop story. Ideally, most investigative thrillers are given serious treatment. That is not the case in Jithu Madhavan's hands. He gives his characters their own quirks and lets their individual shortcomings become an integral part of the narrative. Take Inbaraj, for instance. He is not just a torturous genius cop who obsesses over every little detail. He also has a serious flaw that makes you question his suitability for the job. Eeswaran, meanwhile, comes across as a ruthless and menacing young man who looks every bit like a Mr Goody Two-Shoes. But beneath that seemingly harmless exterior is a killer who is just one misstep away from getting caught. Maya, too, is not merely Inbaraj's assistant. She is dealing with her own trauma while carrying out the instructions given to her. Inbaraj also has an unconventional support system in his father, who suffers from memory loss, and his alcoholic mother.Jithu Madhavan brings this zany bunch together to solve the case. The result is a rollicking comedy with one of the most inventive cat-and-mouse chases in recent times. In several places, Scene is not just a serial killer film; it also doubles up as a tribute to Suriya. From callbacks to his iconic film dialogues to a surprise cameo, the film knows exactly how to entertain his fans without making the entire exercise feel like a collection of references.Suriya delivers one of his most enjoyable performances in recent times. After going through a rough patch for over a decade and then bouncing back with Karuppu and Vishwanath and Sons, he has struck a hat-trick with Scene. The star takes a backseat for much of the film, allowing Inbaraj's vulnerabilities, eccentricities and comic timing to take precedence. And who helps him bring out the best in the character? Nazriya, who adapts effortlessly to the demands of her role. She gets her own fight sequences, an emotional arc, plenty of comedy and even a little romance. She is not simply there to complement Inbaraj; she gets moments that make Maya her own character.Apart from Suriya, Naslen steals the show with his casually cool act as the ruthless Eeswaran. Whether he is getting overjoyed at seeing a car-blast plan succeed or running his 'killing' business with two of his old associates, the actor is terrific. His effortless performance makes Eeswaran all the more fascinating. Lungi Boys fame Rajpriyan and Suresh Mathiazhagan, along with several other characters, also get their own moments to shine.Where Scene takes a dip is in its first half, which concentrates a little too much on setting up the characters and the premise. The comedy, too, does not quite land in some of the initial sequences. There are moments when convenience takes over, occasionally making you question the logic of what is unfolding. However, Jithu Madhavan makes up for these shortcomings with a brilliantly conceived first confrontation, his inventive treatment of the central trio and the way he turns everyone's flaws into advantages.That said, Scene is an experimental investigative drama that gets a refreshing treatment in Jithu Madhavan's hands. More importantly, it gives Suriya the space to shed his star image and simply have fun as an actor. When a star of his stature chooses to surrender to a story rather than make the story revolve around him, it deserves extra attention and applause. This is probably the Suriya the Tamil film industry has missed all these years. Scene delivers for him, and for his fans, too.- Ends