When I sat down to watch the Tamil black comedy Perusu, which was released in theaters on March 14, 2025, and has been streaming on Netflix since April 11, 2025, I was captivated by its teaser, double-meaning dialogues in the trailers, and a different concept. Directed by Ilango Ram, the film is a remake of the 2023 Sri Lankan film Tentigo. Vaibhav Reddy, Sunil Reddy, Niharika NM, Chandini Tamilarasan, Bala Saravanan, and Redin Kingsley played the lead roles. Did this adult comedy make me laugh, think, or disappoint me? Let me tell you about my feelings, the film's highlights, and some of its shortcomings in this review!
What is the story?
Halasyam (Alexis), a respected man in a village, dies unexpectedly. While preparing the body, his two sons Samikannu (Sunil Reddy) and Duraikannu (Vaibhav Reddy) notice an unusual problem—a part of Halasyam's body is still "alive" due to a "terminal erection" (priapism)! They decide to keep it a secret and perform the last rites, thinking that it would be a shame if the villagers and relatives found out about this problem. In this sequence, Sami's wife Shanti (Niharika NM), Durai's wife Neela (Chandini Tamilirasan), Halasyam's wife (Nakkalites Dhanam), her sister (Deepa Shankar), and the gossipy neighbor Kamala's sister, Chittappa (Munishkanth) create chaos in the story. The family's efforts to keep this secret, their estranged relationships, and the truths that come to light about Halasyam's love life drive the story forward. How do Sami and Durai solve this problem? Did the funeral take place? The movie answers.
My Feelings: Laughter and some discomfort
Shortly after the movie started, the natural chemistry between Vaibhav and Sunil Reddy (real-life brothers, right!) lit up the screen. The scenes where Sammy and Durai deal with the corpse and divert the villagers were laugh-out-loud funny. Especially, the dialogue and Crazy Mohan-style wordplay of Bala Saravanan and Redin Kingsley in one scene, “Settha Unga Appa Mari Savanam” (It would have been better if I had died like your father), made me laugh. “You have done such clean comedy with such a bold concept!” I thought. The scenes of gossiping neighbors in the village and suspicious Chittappa are realistic and relatable. An emotional scene between Sami and Durai—a scene where they talk to each other after many years—touched my heart and made my eyes water a little.
However, some scenes in the second half felt stretched. As the story revolved around a single joke (an erection issue), it felt repetitive. The double-meaning dialogues and phallic jokes made me laugh at first, but then got a little bored. “More dick jokes!” I felt. Some of the dialogues seemed to glorify male dominance (Halasyam is about polygamy), and I felt uncomfortable. The film would have gained weight if more emotional depth had been given to the bond between Sami and Durai, and their relationship with Halasyam. Although the climax ended decently, it felt a little rushed.
Technical aspects, acting
Sathya Thilakam's cinematography captured the rural atmosphere well, the scenes had a natural feel. Arun Raj's background score elevated the comedy and emotional scenes well, but the songs were not that memorable. Surya Kumaraguru's editing was crisp, but some scenes in the first half felt slow. Stone Bench Films, Baweja Studios' production values were decent.
In acting, Sunil Reddy is the show stealer as Sami! His matured performance as the elder brother who shouldered the family responsibilities is super, and he touched the heart in the emotional scenes. Vaibhav made us laugh with his drunken vibe as Durai, his comedy timing was good. Niharika NM is okay as Shanti in her debut role, but her role has less scope. Chandni Tamilarasan is decent as Neela, but her role is also underutilized. Bala Saravanan, Redin Kingsley, Munishkanth, and Deepa Shankar provided laughs in supporting roles, especially Deepa Shankar as the gossipy older sister.
Likes and Dislikes
Likes:
Vaibhav, Sunil chemistry—Real brothers' natural acting is great.
Comedy—Double meaning dialogues, wordplay made me laugh.
Supporting cast—Bala Saravanan, Redin Kingsley, and Deepa Shankar added fun.
Emotional scenes—Saami, Durai bond touched my heart.
Visuals, BGM—Satya Thilakam's cinematography, Arun Raj's score is plus.
Dislikes:
Repetitive jokes—Phallic jokes bored me in the second half.
Male Dominance Dialogues—The scenes that glorify a love life are uncomfortable.
Lengthiness—The first half of the 120-minute runtime is slow.
Limited Emotional Depth—The brothers' relationship needs more focus.
Underutilized Female Roles—The roles of Niharika and Chandni have less scope.
Who can watch it?
Perusu is a decent watch for those who like adult comedies and black humor. With an ‘A’ certificate, it suits the youth audience due to its double meaning dialogues and ranchy humor, but it is not suitable for family audiences, especially with young children. Vaibhav and Sunil fans may like it for their comedy timing and chemistry. It is available on Netflix with Telugu dubbing, so you can binge for light entertainment on the weekend. However, those who have objections to sensitive themes and those who expect a strong story should stay away.
Rating: 3/5
Perusu is a bold adult black comedy, Vaibhav and Sunil Reddy's chemistry, Bala Saravanan and Redin Kingsley's comedy timing made me laugh. The double meaning dialogues, wordplays, and rural vibe are fun. But, the repetitive jokes, male dominance dialogues, and limited emotional depth stop the movie halfway. Those who want a light laugh on Netflix can watch it once, but don't have high expectations!
Release Date: March 14, 2025 (Theaters), April 11, 2025 (Netflix)
Streaming: Netflix
Director: Ilango Ram
Cast: Vaibhav Reddy, Sunil Reddy, Niharika NM, Chandini Tamilarasan, Bala Saravanan, Redin Kingsley, Munishkanth
Music: Arun Raj