Cast: Narne Nithin, Sangeeth Sobhan, Ram Nithin, Sunil, Subhalekha Sudhakar, Vishnu Oi, Raghubabu, Ravi Antony Pudota, Muralidhar Goud, Priyanka Jawalkar, and others
Music: Bheems Cecirolio
Background Score: Thaman S
Cinematography: Shamdat
Producers: Harika Suryadevara, Sai Soujanya
Director: Kalyan Shankar
Rating: 3/5
Suresh Kavirayani
It’s sequel time in Tollywood, and now Mad Square has hit the screens. The first film, Mad (2023), was a small-budget college-based entertainer that turned out to be a massive hit. Riding on that success, the makers have now come up with Mad Square. Directed by Kalyan Shankar, the film brings back most of the original cast while introducing a few new faces like Sunil and Subhalekha Sudhakar.
With high expectations surrounding the film—thanks to its hilarious trailer and the success of its predecessor—Mad Square is backed by Sithara Entertainments, with Harika Suryadevara and Sai Soujanya as producers. Let’s dive into how the film unfolds.
Story
In this sequel, the story revolves around Laddu’s (Vishnu Oi) wedding. His college friends Ashok (Narne Nithin), Manoj (Ram Nithin), and DD (Sangeeth Sobhan) attend the wedding, bringing along another friend. However, just as the ceremony is about to take place, the bride elopes with this unexpected guest, leaving Laddu heartbroken.
To cheer him up, the friends decide to take a trip to Goa, where they unwittingly get involved in a costly necklace theft. With the police on their tail and a mafia don, Bhai (Sunil), also after the necklace, things take a chaotic turn. Bhai kidnaps Laddu’s father (Muralidhar Goud) and demands the necklace in exchange for his release.
Will these friends manage to retrieve the necklace and save Laddu’s father? Who is the gang that the police are hunting? The rest of the story unfolds with plenty of comic twists and turns.
Analysis
The first installment, Mad, was a college-based comedy filled with natural humor and engaging writing. The actors suited their roles perfectly, making the film an instant hit. In contrast, Mad Square seems more like an attempt to capitalize on that success, with some comedy sequences feeling forced.
The first half focuses on Laddu’s wedding and the mischief that unfolds there, while the second half shifts to Goa, where the protagonists get caught up in a minor crime. Unlike the original, which had a more organic storyline, the sequel appears to have been written primarily to generate laughs rather than tell a compelling story.
While the film is not as impactful as Mad, it still delivers several laugh-out-loud moments. The comedy takes precedence over logic, much like Jathi Ratnalu. If you go in expecting pure entertainment without questioning the storyline, Mad Square works well as a fun watch.
Laddu steals the show in the first half, especially during the wedding sequences. The second half is more chaotic, featuring crime and humor in equal measure. The Sunil-Muralidhar Goud combination is one of the highlights, and Satyam Rajesh adds to the humor quotient. The song Swathi Reddy, which appears in the second half, stands out as a musical highlight.
Although some scenes feel forced, the film remains entertaining throughout its crisp two-hour-five-minute runtime. However, the female leads have minimal screen presence, appearing only in a handful of scenes.
Performances:
The lead actors once again deliver strong performances, with Vishnu Oi’s Laddu standing out. His comic timing and emotional expressions are noteworthy. Narne Nithin, Sangeeth Sobhan, and Ram Nithin reprise their roles with slight variations from the first part, with Sangeeth Sobhan being the most energetic of the trio.
Sunil makes an impact in the second half, displaying his comedic expertise with ease. Subhalekha Sudhakar complements Sunil well. The phone scene between Sunil and the group is a hilarious highlight. Raghu Babu appears in a brief cameo, while Satyam Rajesh and Ram Prasad (of Jabardasth fame) contribute to the comedy.
Priyanka Jawalkar has very limited screen time, while Reba Monica John’s special number, Swathi Reddy, adds glamour to the film. Cameos by KV Anudeep and several other actors provide additional moments of fun.
Technical Aspects
Bheems Cecirolio’s music is decent, and Thaman’s background score effectively elevates both the comedic and dramatic moments. The dialogues are entertaining, with several punchlines that add to the humor. Shamdat’s cinematography is functional but not particularly remarkable.
Verdict:
Mad Square is designed purely for entertainment, with little emphasis on storytelling. While it has its share of hiccups, it delivers laughs if you don’t overanalyze the plot. However, compared to Mad, this sequel falls short. Still, it serves as a decent time-pass film with fun moments.
