Perusu (2025), the Tamil remake of Tentigo, is a brilliantly crafted black comedy by Ilango Ram featuring Vaibhav and Niharika NM. Packed with satire, absurdity, and social critique, here’s the full review of this darkly hilarious entertainer.
BMR Rating: 8.2/10 ⭐
🎥 Directed by: Ilango Ram
🖊 Written by: Ilango Ram, Balaji Jayaraman
🧾 Based on: Tentigo (2023, Sri Lankan film by Ilango Ram)
🎭 Starring: Vaibhav, Sunil Reddy, Niharika NM, Chandini Tamilarasan, Bala Saravanan
🎵 Music by: Arun Raj
📸 Cinematography: Sathya Thilakam
✂️ Edited by: Sooriya Kumaraguru
🏢 Production Companies: Stone Bench Films, Baweja Studios, Emberlight Studio
🎞️ Distributed by: Sakthi Film Factory
📅 Release Date: 14 March 2025
⏱️ Runtime: 119 minutes
🌐 Language: Tamil
🇮🇳 Country: India
🎭 Genre: Black Comedy, Satire
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Perusu
: A Satirical Rollercoaster Anchored in Absurdity and Truth
Ilango Ram returns with Perusu, a razor-sharp black comedy and a Tamil remake of his own critically acclaimed 2023 Sri Lankan film Tentigo. With its quirky characters, biting wit, and deeply ironic undertone, Perusu is not just laugh-out-loud funny—it’s a thought-provoking exploration of hierarchy, respectability, and the strange systems that define rural and political life.
🧩 Plot Summary (No Major Spoilers)
Perusu (translated as “Respected Elder”) is set in a fictional rural village where the concept of respect is currency, and power is maintained through outdated customs and laughable egos. The story centers on Siva (Vaibhav), a seemingly ordinary man who finds himself elevated to a position of reverence due to a clerical mistake.
As Siva becomes the “Perusu” of the village, his life spirals into a world of unearned power, bizarre expectations, and absurd rituals. Niharika NM plays Maya, an outspoken social media influencer who arrives in the village and begins to question the bizarre traditions. Sunil Reddy and Bala Saravanan bring in comedic chaos as rival elders trying to out-“respect” one another, while Chandini Tamilarasan adds emotional weight as Siva’s grounded yet confused partner.
What unfolds is a perfectly balanced mix of dark comedy and social satire, where the joke is never just for laughs—it always carries a punch of reality.
🎭 Performances
- Vaibhav delivers one of his most mature and complex performances yet. His transformation from a humble villager to a bewildered “respected leader” is as hilarious as it is tragic. His comedic timing is impeccable, yet he never loses the emotional core of his character.
- Niharika NM brings a modern, refreshing presence to the story. Her mix of sarcasm, confidence, and eventual empathy make her the perfect foil to the absurdities around her.
- Sunil Reddy and Bala Saravanan are riotous in their supporting roles, constantly trying to outdo each other with symbolic gestures of respect and control.
- Chandini Tamilarasan plays her part with sincerity, grounding the narrative in moments of clarity amidst the madness.
🎬 Direction & Writing
Ilango Ram proves again that he has a unique voice in South Indian cinema. His storytelling blends cultural critique with absurdism in a way few directors attempt. The screenplay, co-written with Balaji Jayaraman, is tight, witty, and packed with satire that never feels forced.
Ilango uses local traditions, language quirks, and societal hypocrisy to frame a world that feels both hilarious and frighteningly familiar. The village isn’t just a setting—it’s a microcosm of larger systems, from bureaucracy to blind reverence for authority.
🎼 Music & Technical Aspects
Arun Raj’s soundtrack doesn’t dominate the film, but it enhances the experience with subtle themes that underline the shifting tones—from humorous to sinister. The background score perfectly matches the film’s absurdity, using quirky instruments and folk rhythms.
Sathya Thilakam’s cinematography captures the rural setting in vibrant colors but also plays with visual metaphors—power seen through towering angles, chaos through shaky frames, and irony through wide static shots of ridiculous village meetings.
Sooriya Kumaraguru’s editing ensures the story never drags. The pacing is crisp, with transitions that complement the film’s rhythm.
🎯 Themes & Social Commentary
Perusu excels at combining satire with substance. It questions:
- 🔹 The concept of blind reverence and hierarchical respect
- 🔹 The absurdity of traditional power structures
- 🔹 How misinformation and ego can spiral into chaos
- 🔹 The gap between perception and reality in rural politics
What makes Perusu standout is that it never preaches—it lets the audience laugh first, then reflect later.
🧾 Final Verdict
Perusu is a smart, wildly entertaining, and original film that proves Ilango Ram is a satirical voice worth watching. It isn’t just a comedy—it’s a clever critique of how ridiculous and harmful blindly followed systems can become.
🎟️ Recommended For:
Fans of black comedy, satire, films like Joker, Newton, or Mandela (Tamil), and anyone who appreciates humor laced with meaning.
🚫 Not For:
Those who prefer commercial masala films or expect emotional melodrama and conventional heroism.
🌟 BMR (Best Movie Review) Rating: 8.2/10
With strong performances, a razor-sharp script, and a uniquely absurd world that mirrors real-life madness, Perusu is one of the most refreshing Tamil films of the year. A must-watch for fans of dark humor and smart storytelling.
📢 What did you think of Perusu? Did it make you laugh or think—or both? Let us know in the comments below!