Is ‘Scene’ inspired by ‘Blind Detective’, or are the similarities merely a coincidence? That is the question doing the rounds among moviegoers following Suriya's latest release.
SPOILERS AHEAD
The Jithu Madhavan directorial has drawn comparisons with the 2013 Hong Kong film, particularly over its portrayal of a visually impaired detective who continues to solve complicated cases.

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The comparison is not entirely without reason. Both films revolve around police officers with impaired vision who continue to solve crimes despite their condition. The way their investigative abilities become central to the story has prompted viewers to look more closely at the similarities between the two films.

Also Read: ‘Scene’ movie review: Jithu Madhavan serves up a roller coaster of comedy, chaos and action 

Directed by Johnnie To, ‘Blind Detective’ stars Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng. The film follows Johnston Chong, a gifted detective who is forced to leave the police force after losing his eyesight. He makes a living by helping the police crack unsolved cases in return for rewards. His ability to reconstruct crime scenes through memory, hearing and imagination catches the attention of Goldie Ho, a young police officer who seeks his help in solving a personal case involving a childhood friend who went missing.

‘Scene’, meanwhile, features Suriya as DSP Inbaraj, an unconventional police officer whose eyesight has been deteriorating. Although his condition forces him away from active police duty, he remains determined to investigate a series of murders. With the help of Maya, played by Nazriya Nazim, he takes on a case involving a methodical serial killer, played by Naslen. The film combines the investigation with humour and an assortment of unusual characters.

The similarities have also found their way into film reviews. A review published by TeluguCinema.com described ‘Scene’ as a reworking of ‘Blind Detective’, pointing to its central premise and the similarities in the lead characters. Another review by Rediff suggested that the film was loosely inspired by a Chinese movie directed by Johnnie To, without naming the title.

Social media reactions have been divided. One viewer bluntly called ‘Scene’ a copy of the 2013 Hong Kong film. Others, however, have argued that the Tamil film offers enough of its own to stand apart. One viewer praised it as a well-crafted entertainer, saying it was even better than ‘Blind Detective’.

Also Read: ‘Reason for my comeback to Tamil cinema is...’ Nazriya reveals why she said yes to Suriya’s 'Scene’ 

Another person drew attention to the unusual group of characters brought together in ‘Scene’. The film features an alcoholic psychologist, a forensic expert with dementia, a house help with a seizure disorder and a cab driver struggling with cocaine addiction. Describing them as a team of misfits, the viewer felt that their unlikely combination was part of what made the film entertaining.

Despite the comparisons, there has been no official confirmation from the makers that ‘Scene’ is a remake of ‘Blind Detective’.

‘Scene’ marks the first collaboration between Suriya and Jithu Madhavan, who earned attention with Malayalam films such as ‘Romancham’ and ‘Aavesham’.

Also Read: ‘Scene’ OTT release: When and where to watch Suriya, Nazriya Nazim's crime thriller 

The film also stars Nazriya Nazim, Naslen, Lal and Anandraj, with music by Sushin Shyam. Released in theatres on November 6 for Diwali, it marks Nazriya's return to Tamil cinema after a gap of 12 years.