Director: Kalyan Shankar.
Cast: Narne Nithin, Sangeeth Shobhan, Ram Nithin
Run Time: 2 hours 7 minutes
Release Date: 28 March 2025
Genre: Comdey, Drama
After the success of MAD, the makers are back with its sequel, MAD Square. With all the promotions and an exciting trailer, expectations are high. But does the film live up to the hype? Let’s find out!
Story
The movie opens in Tihar Central Jail, where Laddu (Vishnu) begins narrating his story. The scene then shifts to the lives of his three close friends—Damodhar (Sangeeth Shoban), who dreams of becoming the sarpanch of his village; Ashok (Narne Nithin), who is caught in a legal battle with his aunt; and Manoj (Ram Nithin), who works at a pub.
One day, the trio reunites and learns about Laddu’s wedding. Excited to celebrate, they set off to attend the ceremony. However, their plans take an unexpected turn when the bride elopes with her lover, leaving Laddu heartbroken. Frustrated and looking for an escape, the gang decides to chill in Goa.
Meanwhile, a priceless chain is stolen from the Goa Museum, and in a bizarre twist of fate, the three friends get caught in the chaos. What happens next? How do they deal with the chaos and clear their names? To find out, you have to watch the movie!
Performance:
Sangeeth Shobhan once again proves to be the heart of the film, delivering a fantastic performance with his effortless comedy and perfect timing. His expressions and dialogue delivery bring a lot of life to the film. Ram Nithin, while not as strong as Sangeeth, does a decent job and fits well into his role. However, Narne Nithin struggles to match the energy of his co-stars. His performance feels mismatched, and he appears uncomfortable in certain scenes, making his act come across as below average. His lack of spontaneity affects the overall impact of his character.
On the other hand, Vishnu, who plays Laddu, delivers a surprisingly good performance. He gets some of the best comic moments and handles them well. Muralidhar Goud, as Laddu’s father, does a decent job, playing his role convincingly and adding to the fun in key scenes. The supporting cast also adds to the fun, ensuring that the film stays engaging. Despite a weak link in the main cast, the overall performances keep MAD Square entertaining, especially in its comic portions.
Analysis:
The first half of MAD Square starts on a decent note, with engaging character introductions and fun-filled wedding sequences. The comedy works here and there, keeping the audience entertained. However, once the story shifts to Goa, the film completely loses its grip. The narrative becomes weak, and the humor starts feeling forced, with only a few comedy scenes managing to engage.
The second half takes a major dip, with a storyline that lacks any real depth or engaging setup. The film purely relies on comedy, but most of it feels like Jabardasth skits rather than well-written humor. The biggest issue with MAD Square is that it doesn’t even attempt to bring anything new to the table. Instead, it blatantly tries to cash in on the success of the first part, copying scenes and even dialogues. Many moments feel repetitive, making the film look like a lazy attempt at a sequel rather than a genuine effort to entertain.
Verdict:
MAD Square starts off well but gradually loses its charm. With a weak storyline and forced comedy, it relies too much on the success of its predecessor. Lacking originality, it ends up as a disappointing sequel.
Rating: 2/5
