Language: Telugu
Age Rating: U/A (Suitable for viewers above 13 years)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Coming-of-Age
The sequel to the 2023 hit MAD, MAD Square, directed by Kalyan Shankar, brings back the beloved gang of friends for another round of chaos and comedy. This Telugu coming-of-age comedy-drama explores life after college, diving into themes of friendship, marriage, and misadventures. With a decent buzz surrounding its release, the film finally hits theaters. Does it live up to the expectations set by its predecessor? Let’s find out.
Plot Overview
The story begins with Ganesh, aka Laddu (Vishnu Oi), arriving at Tihar Central Jail, where his presence strikes fear among the inmates. When asked about his past, Laddu narrates the series of events that led him there. The tale unfolds as his three friends—Manoj (Ram Nithin), Ashok (Narne Nithiin), and Damodhar (Sangeeth Sobhan)—turn his wedding into a disaster. What starts as a marriage fiasco spirals into a series of unexpected twists involving a honeymoon trip to Goa, a robbery subplot, and plenty of comedic chaos.
The film is essentially about friendship and how Laddu’s misadventures with his friends lead to both hilarious and unfortunate outcomes.
What Works
✅ Vishnu Oi’s Performance as Laddu
Vishnu Oi shines as the central character around whom the story revolves. His comedic timing and ability to make his struggles amusing keep the narrative engaging. Laddu’s character adds heart to the film while delivering plenty of laughs.
✅ Sangeeth Sobhan’s Comic Timing
Sangeeth Sobhan once again proves to be the standout performer among the trio of friends. His impeccable timing elevates many of the gags, making them funnier than they would otherwise be.
✅ Muralidhar Goud’s Humor
As Laddu’s father, Muralidhar Goud delivers some of the film’s funniest moments. His interactions with other characters are a highlight and add depth to the humor.
✅ Entertaining Wedding Chaos
The wedding sequences in the first half are packed with humor and provide some of the most enjoyable moments in the film. The chaos surrounding Laddu’s marriage is well-executed and keeps audiences entertained.
✅ Relatable Friendship Dynamics
The camaraderie between Laddu and his friends is portrayed in a relatable manner, making their antics enjoyable despite their flaws.
What Doesn’t Work
❌ Weak Supporting Characters
Sunil’s character Bhai and other supporting roles like Satyam Rajesh and Antony are underutilized. Their quirks fail to leave a lasting impression, missing an opportunity to add more layers to the comedy.
❌ Lackluster Second Half
After a strong start, the film loses momentum in its second half as it shifts focus to a robbery subplot in Goa. The new characters introduced here fail to add much value, making this portion feel dragged out and less engaging than the first half.
Performances
- Narne Nithiin (Ashok): Shows improvement from his debut in MAD, but his character lacks depth and memorable moments.
- Ram Nithin (Manoj): Takes a backseat compared to his role in the first film, with fewer impactful comedic sketches this time around.
- Sangeeth Sobhan (Damodhar): Delivers yet another stellar performance with sharp comic timing and witty dialogue delivery.
- Vishnu Oi (Laddu): The heart of the story, Vishnu Oi carries much of the film on his shoulders with his lively portrayal of Laddu.
Supporting actors like Muralidhar Goud excel in their roles, while Sunil and Satyam Rajesh fail to leave a significant mark despite their experience.
Technical Aspects
🎥 Cinematography: Adequate for a comedy-drama but doesn’t stand out visually. The Goa sequences could have been more vibrant given their setting.
🎵 Music: Bheema Cecerelio’s songs are forgettable except for Swathi Reddy. Thaman’s background score adds energy but lacks memorability.
✂️ Editing: While there are no major lags, some scenes feel unnecessarily prolonged due to weak gags.
💡 Direction: Kalyan Shankar delivers fun moments but struggles with pacing and character utilization in certain parts.
Final Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
MAD Square is an entertaining sequel that delivers laughs in parts but falls short of matching its predecessor’s charm and energy. While Vishnu Oi and Sangeeth Sobhan keep things lively with their performances, inconsistent humor and an underwhelming second half hold it back from being a standout comedy-drama.
If you’re looking for lighthearted entertainment without overthinking plot or logic, MAD Square is worth a one-time watch! Fans of MAD will enjoy revisiting these characters, even if this sequel doesn’t quite capture all of its predecessor’s magic.