Movie: MAD Square
Rating: 2.5/5
Banner: Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four
Cast: Narne Nithiin, Sangeeth Shobhan, Ram Nitin, Priyanka Jawalkar, Muralidhar Gowd, Raghu Babu, Reba Monica John, Satyam Rajesh, Anish Kuruvilla, KV Anudeep, Reba Monica John and others
Music: Bheems Ceciroleo
Background score: Thaman
DOP: Shamdat
Editor: Navin Nooli
Production Designer: Sri Nagendra Tangala
Additional Screenplay: Pranay Rao Takkallapalli
Fight Master: Karunakar
Presenter: S Nagavamsi
Producers: Haarika Suryadevara and Sai Soujanya
Directed by: Kalyan Shankar
Release Date: Mar 28, 2025
"MAD," a college comedy, became a surprise hit, with its madcap humor striking a chord with audiences. Now, the makers are back with a sequel featuring the same gang. But does MAD Square live up to the original?
Let me know if you want a more formal or punchier version!
Story
Manoj (Ram Nithiin), Ashok (Narne Nithiin), and Damodar, aka DD (Sangeeth Shobhan), have moved on from their college days — one is now contesting for the position of Sarpanch, another has become a police officer, and the third works as a bartender. Meanwhile, their friend Laddu (Vishnu Oi) has landed in prison.
The sequel unfolds with Laddu narrating how he ended up behind bars. It all began when his MAD trio friends arrived for his wedding celebrations — only for things to take an unexpected turn when his bride ran off with someone else.
What follows is a wild trip to Goa, ultimately leading to Laddu’s arrest. But what really happened there?
Performances
Ram Nithiin, Narne Nithiin, and Sangeeth Shobhan reprise their roles as Manoj, Ashok, and Damodar, mostly finding themselves in comedic situations. Unlike the first film, they don’t have romantic tracks this time. Narne Nithiin and Sangeeth Shobhan get better scenes compared to Ram Nithiin.
Vishnu Oi, in the central role of Laddu, steals the show with a standout performance, making the most of his character’s prominence.
Sunil enters at the interval and takes over much of the second half, delivering a few laughs. Muralidhar, as Laddu’s father, is hilarious once again, while Satyam Rajesh’s comedy falls a bit flat.
Priyanka Jawalkar appears as Laila, the girlfriend of Anudeep, and features in a song. Reba Monica John makes her item song debut, adding a dose of glamour.
Technical Aspects
Bheems Ceciroleo’s music in the first film — particularly College Papa — was a chartbuster and remains a wedding favorite. In this sequel, only Swathi Reddy manages to leave an impression, while the rest of the soundtrack feels loud and unremarkable.
The dialogue occasionally sparkles but is mostly uninspired. Other technical aspects, from cinematography to editing, are routine.
Highlights:
Humorous moments in Laddu’s wedding sequence
Vishnu Oi’s acting
Drawback:
Forced comedy situations
Patchy sequences
Near Script-less narration
Many jokes don’t click
Analysis
Director Kalyan Shankar, building on the characters and story of MAD, kicks off the sequel on a humorous note. Within the first fifteen minutes, the story shifts to Vishnu’s wedding, where the MAD gang — Manoj, Ashok, and Damodar — arrive uninvited, setting off a series of fun moments. Some comedy bits, like Muralidhar Goud drying himself without underwear in front of the gang and Vishnu’s bride eloping, elicit genuine laughs.
However, not all jokes in this wedding sequence land effectively. While this portion fares comparatively better, the film loses its spark once the bride runs away. From that point on, the entertainment quotient dips significantly.
The abrupt shift to Goa — reminiscent of Dil Chahta Hai — might have seemed like a good idea on paper, but in execution, it falls flat. The humor dries up, and the inclusion of two unnecessary songs — one set in a brothel and another an item number featuring Reba Monica — only slows the narrative further. The so-called comedic sequences involving Satyam Rajesh and Sunil feel forced and largely unfunny.
The second half drags aimlessly, with no real plot progression. Even the late entry of Anudeep, known for his deadpan humor, fails to inject life into the proceedings. While a few jokes land, the overall silliness becomes tiresome.
It’s surprising that director Kalyan Shankar and his writing team couldn’t craft a solid follow-up to the first film. With virtually no story to tell, the film simply meanders, ending with a vague hint at a third installment.
The original MAD also had a thin plot, but its hilarious campus sequences and Sangeeth Shobhan’s ‘bakra’ moments made it an enjoyable ride. This sequel, however, struggles to recreate the same magic.
Skipping romantic tracks for the lead characters is an acceptable creative choice, but the film fails to deliver an engaging tale of friendship.
Overall, MAD Square delivers occasional laughs but feels stretched even within its two-hour runtime. With a weak story and forced comedy, it works only in parts and falls far short of its predecessor.
Bottom-line: Mostly Unfunny