We didn’t expect to see another Stockholm Syndrome romance in 2023, but here we are. Perfume is a frightening stalker romance that weaves your classic Beauty and the Beast story with predictable tension, poorly explained psychology, and mid-action. Perfume is the latest addition to the film’s to hit the Telugu box office this weekend. Unlike a handful of films with typical stories that visit theaters every weekend, Perfume has a highly distinctive storyline that probably no other Telugu film has attempted.
Plot:
Vyas (Che Nag), a nature photographer who lives his life on his own terms, is born with the ability to smell odors. Wait, what????? Well, yes, you read that right. However, a specifically formulated scented perfume stimulates his senses. As a result, he becomes vulnerable to a new psychiatric condition, which eventually causes him to experience orgasm whenever he smells the odor. When he leaves his house, the disorder causes him to commit a crime. Vyas should be apprehended by the police before he becomes a crazed killer. Meanwhile, classical dancer Leela (Prachi Thaker), who is interested in studying the criminal’s mentality, learns some disturbing information about the victim. What occurs after Vyas kidnaps Leela? Will he ever be apprehended by the police? All these will be answered once you head to the theaters.
Analysis:
We don’t see many films in Tollywood with plots like this, where the protagonist has a smelling obsession and later turns into a psycho killer. The story takes its time establishing the characters and setting the right mood for viewers to grasp the theme. Director JD Swamy kept a good pace throughout the first half and built the story neatly and without deviations.
Vyas, the protagonist, attempts to decode his disorder while also confronting the constant struggle caused by the smelling disorder within him.
However, the second half has gone slightly awry due to Vyas’s unconvincing backstory. His childhood in the village was his first love experience at school. His innocent mind is disturbed by the school gossip. As a young boy, he faces discrimination at school because he belongs to a small caste and thus avoids honor killing.
While establishing the boy’s traumatic childhood, the director attempted to weave the events into a sequence, but he was unable to properly connect the dots. In the second half, the boy’s backstory is neither tightly woven nor intriguing. In school, the protagonist, later known as Vyas, went by another name.
Hero’s strong sense of smell and his frequent feelings of orgasm could have been explored more thoroughly on the screen.
One point that drives home the message at the end is how the female lead’s love heals this psychologically ill man, who is nearly orchestrated by society due to his abnormal behavior.
Perfume puts a light on issues like psychiatric disorders, love, and woman safety. However, the miscasting of the main protagonist is a major letdown for the story. Director JD Swamy neatly drives home a point about how a man’s psychological condition can be destructive to society with the right mix of elements and a reasonably good screenplay.
Performances:
Che Nag’s portrayal of the protagonist, Vyas is a complete miscast. The film’s outlook would have been different if it had been played by a senior actor (likely a well-known face). Leaving aside his physical appearance, Che Nag delivers a convincing performance as a psychologically ill man battling a mental disorder. Prachi Thaker’s portrayal of criminal psychology student Leela is excellent. Thaker landed a good role in Perfume after appearing in the suspense thriller ‘Rajugari Kodipulao’. Actress Abhinaya gave an outstanding performance as a senior cop who leaves no stone unturned in her pursuit of justice for women in society. Her portrayal of an aggressive Dabang police official on screen is brilliant. Others like Harishchandr, Krishna Tej, and Bhushan Chave contributed significantly in the end.
Technical aspect:
Ajay Arasada, who composed the film’s background score and tunes, did an excellent job. The background music and songs ‘Evi Evi Ekkatledu,’ Ilanti Prema Eshwarude, and ‘Kaalipothunna’ that explained the protagonist’s mental and emotional pain were excellent. The camera work in general is adequate, but the lighting and color gradient in the visuals are lacking.
Verdict:
An interesting concept made with a decent attempt
Rating: 2.75
