Atlee calls Naslen a superstar in the making after Scene

Atlee has watched Scene, and his verdict on Suriya’s crime comedy came with capital letters. “SCENE. WHAT A MOVIE!” the director wrote, calling Jithu Madhavan’s film “a complete PAISA VASOOL entertainer to enjoy with friends and family.”

His note, posted on X over a still of Suriya, opened with the storytelling. “After a long time, a commercial entertainer with such a fresh and engaging narrative! Always been a huge fan of Jithu sir’s storytelling, but this one is truly special!” For Suriya, who plays the eccentric DSP Inbaraj, there was “a stunning performance.”

The biggest praise, though, went to the film’s villain. Naslen, the Malayalam actor best known for Premalu, makes his Tamil debut in Scene as Eeswaran, the young killer Inbaraj has to chase. “Naslen, MY GOD! What a performer! Such incredible charisma and screen presence! A superstar in the making, brother! You’re definitely going to rule the industry!” Atlee wrote.

Nazriya Nazim, back in Tamil cinema for the first time since Thirumanam Enum Nikkah in 2014, got a warm line as “my dear friend” for her effortless humour and “little nuances”, along with a request: “Want to see more of you!” Anandaraj was “super entertaining”, Sushin Shyam’s music “fantastic”, and the note signed off with congratulations to Zhagaram Studios and to Suriya and Jyotika, whose 2D Entertainment co-produced the film. Suriya kept his reply short: “Thank you for the love Dear Atlee.”

Atlee is the second big name to speak up for the film after Mahesh Babu, and the praise lines up with our own review, which called it Suriya at his best. It is also Jithu Madhavan’s first Tamil film, after Romancham and Aavesham in Malayalam.

The numbers have kept pace with the compliments. Scene opened on November 6, crossed ₹116 crore worldwide in three days, and had collected ₹94.40 crore net in India by the end of its fifth day.