Suriya's upcoming Tamil film Scene has generated an interesting box-office talking point ahead of its theatrical release, with the Jithu Madhavan directorial reportedly registering a significantly higher hourly ticket-booking rate than Ranbir Kapoor's ambitious epic Ramayana.
The early trend has caught the attention of trade circles, particularly because Ramayana is one of the biggest Indian film productions and has been generating enormous expectations across the country.
According to advance booking reports, Scene sold approximately 7,000 tickets within an hour after bookings opened on November 3, while Ramayana reportedly registered around 3,000 ticket sales during a comparable one-hour period. The development has created considerable interest among Suriya's fans and the Tamil film trade, with the actor's latest release showing encouraging signs ahead of its November 6 opening. However, the hourly booking comparison needs to be viewed in the right context.
Scene opened its advance bookings only on Tuesday night, whereas Ramayana had been available for advance reservations for more than a week. Therefore, the initial hourly figures indicate the immediate response to Scene rather than suggesting that it has overtaken Ramayana in overall advance collections.
Suriya's Scene makes an impressive start
Directed by Jithu Madhavan, Scene has emerged as one of the most anticipated Tamil releases of the Deepavali season. The director earned considerable recognition in Malayalam cinema with films such as Romancham and Aavesham, with Suriya has generated curiosity among audiences across South India. The film brings together an interesting combination of actors, with Suriya sharing screen space with Malayalam stars Nazriya Nazim and Naslen. The casting itself has helped the film attract attention beyond the traditional Tamil-speaking audience.
Suriya plays Inbaraj, a fun-loving police officer who finds himself investigating a series of murders. The trailer suggests that the film combines crime, mystery, comedy and thriller elements, offering a different kind of theatrical experience for the actor's fans.
Naslen plays Eeswaran, a character presented as a psycho killer, while Nazriya plays a significant role in the narrative. The combination of Suriya's established star power and the popularity of the Malayalam actors has given the film an additional advantage in Kerala.
Ramayana continues to dominate overall advance bookings
While Scene has attracted attention through its hourly ticket sales, Ramayana remains considerably ahead in terms of overall advance bookings. According to Sacnilk figures reported on November 4, Ramayana had crossed approximately Rs 100 crore in nationwide advance gross bookings, including blocked seats, with more than 27 lakh tickets sold.
Its Hindi version accounts for the largest share of the advance sales, while the Telugu and Kannada markets have also contributed significantly. The Tamil and Malayalam versions have comparatively smaller contributions to the overall advance figures, highlighting the film's predominantly Hindi-market-driven opening.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. The film also features Sunny Deol and several other prominent actors. Its massive production scale, extensive visual effects and pan-Indian appeal have made it one of the most closely watched theatrical releases of 2026. The film is scheduled to arrive in theatres on November 5, a day before the release of Scene.
Kerala could be an important market for Scene
One of the interesting aspects of Scene is its potential to attract audiences in Kerala. Jithu Madhavan's popularity following the success of Romancham and Aavesham, coupled with the presence of Nazriya and Naslen, gives the film a strong regional connection. Suriya also enjoys a considerable fan following in Kerala, and his films traditionally receive attention from both Tamil cinema enthusiasts and general audiences. The presence of familiar Malayalam performers could further strengthen the film's opening in the state.
6 am shows in Tamil Nadu could boost the opening
Another factor that could work in favour of Scene is the Tamil Nadu government's recent decision to permit up to six shows daily for new Tamil films during their first week of release. The government order allows screenings from 6 AM to 2:30 AM, providing exhibitors with additional opportunities to accommodate audience demand during the opening week.
The return of early morning shows is particularly significant for big-star releases, as fan celebrations and first-day-first-show screenings have traditionally played an important role in Tamil cinema. The additional shows could help Scene maximise its opening-day ticket sales, especially in centres where Suriya has a strong fan base. At the same time, screen availability and the allocation of shows will remain important factors in determining the film's actual box-office potential.
Can Suriya deliver a Deepavali box-office winner?
The initial advance booking trend has certainly provided Scene with a positive start. More importantly, the film has managed to generate a talking point alongside a massive pan-Indian production like Ramayana, even before its theatrical release.
With Ramayana arriving on November 5 and Scene following on November 6, the Deepavali box-office battle will be an interesting one to watch. While Ramayana carries the advantage of its enormous scale and nationwide reach, Scene will depend on Suriya's star power, Jithu Madhavan's storytelling and, primarily, its appeal among Tamil and Malayalam audiences.
