Director Mithun Balaji ki film Stephen ek Tamil psychological serial killer thriller hai jo Netflix par stream ho rahi hai. Yeh film humein yeh yaad dilati hai ki insaan ke dimaag ke gehre kone mein aise andhere raaz chhupe hote hain, jahan tak sochna bhi mushkil hota hai — aur wahi jagah ek writer ke liye storytelling ka sabse dangerous playground ban jaati hai.
Film ki shuruaat ek chhote bacche ke shot se hoti hai jo ek giant wheel (Ferris wheel) ko hairani se dekhta hai. Usse apne maa–baap ki awaaz sunai deti hai jo use ride par bulate hain. Jaise hi woh wheel ghoomna shuru karta hai, aap samajh jaate ho ki Stephen ki kahani bhi ek baar jo ghoomne lagti hai, woh rukne wali nahi hai.
Shuruaat mein Stephen ek typical psychopath story jaisi lagti hai — ek aadmi jo 9 auraton ka murder karne ke baad khud police ke saamne surrender kar deta hai. Woh un ladkiyon ko acting ka chance dene ke bahaane apne ghar bulaata tha. Film ka look aur production bhi kaafi amateur sa feel hota hai, jaise koi routine crime thriller chal rahi ho. Saath hi humein ek familiar backstory dikhaayi jaati hai — childhood trauma, abusive parents, mommy-daddy issues… sab kuch jo hum pehle bhi kai films mein dekh chuke hain.
Jab aapko lagne lagta hai ki serial killer films ab saturation point par pahunch chuki hain, tab Stephen dheere-dheere apna asli rang dikhaata hai. Yeh film batati hai ki insaan ke dimaag ke cracks ke andar kitni ajeeb aur dangerous possibilities chhupi hoti hain.
Stephen (Tamil)
Director: Mithun
Cast: Gomathi Shankar, Michael Thangadurai, Smruthi Venkat, Vijayashree
Runtime: 123 minutes
Storyline: A serial killer’s confession takes a cop and a criminal psychologist on a frantic trip into his godforbidden psyche.
Gomathi Shankar ne Stephen Jebaraj ka role play kiya hai. Pehli baar jab aap Stephen ko dekhte ho, woh ek bilkul normal aadmi lagta hai — jaise koi bus mein saath baitha common man. Bilkul waise hi jaise is film ko dekh kar pehle laga tha ki Netflix ne itne newcomers ke saath yeh project kaise greenlight kar diya? Lekin history humein yeh sikhati hai ki sabse khatarnaak log aksar sabse harmless dikhte hain.
Film ka emotional core Stephen ke childhood abuse ke around bana hai. Uska father ek alcoholic P.T. teacher hai jo uske puppy ko maar deta hai aur apni wife ko peetta hai. Lekin jab uski maa apne haath mein control leti hai, tab violence aur bhi zyada darawni ho jaati hai. Power struggle ko film ek Ferris wheel ke metaphor ke through dikhati hai — jo endless ghoomta rehta hai, aur beech mein phansa hua baccha helpless hota hai.
Kahani tab twist leti hai jab do investigators — ek cop Michael aur criminal psychologist Seema — Stephen ke past mein “teesre character” ki possibility par sochna shuru karte hain. Yaha se audience ke dimaag mein guessing game start ho jaata hai. Aksar aisi situations mein ya toh woh character pehle se kisi roop mein maujood hota hai, ya phir bilkul naya entry karta hai. Stephen in dono possibilities mein se ek ko choose karta hai, lekin saath hi kaafi smart subversions bhi daalta hai jo aapko seat se seedha kar dete hain.
Technical aspects ki baat karein toh film ka cinematography kaafi strong hai. Shadows, close frames aur tight spaces Stephen ke disturbed mind ko achhe se reflect karte hain. Background score tension build karta hai, haan kabhi-kabhi thoda zyada loud lagta hai. Editing mostly tight hai, lekin final act aur crisp ho sakta tha.
Film ki sabse badi weakness uska overambitious climax hai. Ek ke baad ek twists daalne ke chakkar mein film apni hi banayi hui psychological depth ko thoda sa nuksaan pahuncha deti hai. Giant wheel ka metaphor yahan bilkul perfect baithta hai — jaise Stephen ka dimaag rukta nahi, waise hi film bhi rukna nahi jaanti. Agar climax thoda restrained hota, toh Stephen ek solid psychological masterpiece ban sakti thi.
Final Verdict:
Agar aap psychological crime thrillers ke fan ho aur thoda messy ending bardasht kar sakte ho, toh Stephen aapke liye ek intriguing watch ho sakti hai. Atmosphere strong hai, concept powerful hai, bas ending thodi overcooked lagti hai. Phir bhi, yeh film aapko sochne par majboor kar degi — aur shayad thoda sa disturb bhi karegi.
