MAD Square (2025) Review – A Familiar Sequel That Trades Surprise for Safe Laughs

Introduction: Déjà Vu Dressed as Comedy

Kalyan Shankar’s MAD Square, the sequel to the breakout college comedy MAD, returns with all the manic energy of its predecessor—but also its limitations. While fans of the original may enjoy revisiting their favorite characters, the jokes don’t land quite as hard the second time around. This sequel plays it safe, rehashing the same gags and comedic rhythms that once felt fresh but now feel familiar.

Plot Overview: From Campus Craziness to Crime Chaos

This time, the story shifts from the chaos of college to the chaos of Goa. Our favorite trio—DD (Sangeeth Shobhan), Manoj (Ram Nitin), and Ashok (Narne Nithiin)—find themselves entangled in a bizarre tale of mistaken identities, mafia chases, and crime capers. But while the plot raises the stakes, it loses some of the grounded relatability that made the original MAD so enjoyable.

The humor here follows the same pattern: setup, misdirection, and absurd punchline. It’s a formula that worked well once, but now that we know the trick, the surprise is gone. Instead of evolving, MAD Square feels like a remix of the same old chaos—with a glossier Goan setting.

Performances: Energy Intact, Material Recycled

Sangeeth Shobhan continues to excel at deadpan absurdity, and his timing is one of the film’s highlights. Ram Nitin and Narne Nithiin maintain their camaraderie, and Vishnu Oi’s re-entry as Laddoo brings back the high-octane madness. Muralidhar Goud, as the eternally frustrated father, is still a comic treat—even if it feels like he’s playing the same role in every film.

However, even with a solid cast, the film struggles to find new comic beats. The cast’s chemistry remains fun, but the script doesn’t give them anything new to explore.

Direction & Writing: Playing it Safe

Kalyan Shankar knows his audience—and he caters directly to them by repeating everything that worked in the first film. Flashbacks, absurd one-liners, action-spoof sequences, and chaotic climaxes are all back, almost to the letter.

But where MAD thrived on unpredictability, MAD Square feels predictable. The attempt to amplify stakes with a crime-driven storyline results in a disconnect between narrative and comedy. The film asks us to suspend disbelief, but doesn’t offer enough payoff for doing so.

Music & Visuals: Goa Adds Color, But Not Creativity

One area where MAD Square shines is its music. S Thaman’s background score elevates the mood, and Bheems Ceciroleo’s folk-inspired tracks inject rhythm into the madness. Goa is a visually rich location, but the film doesn’t tap into its comedic potential—it simply serves as a backdrop rather than a character in itself.

Final Verdict: A Safe, Funny-Enough Sequel That Misses the Spark

Rating: ★★½ (2.5/5)

MAD Square delivers more of what fans loved in the first film, but without the freshness that made MAD stand out. It’s an entertaining ride if you go in expecting familiarity, but it lacks the unpredictability and originality that elevated the first installment.

If Kalyan Shankar continues to mine the same formula in future sequels, he may need to inject more novelty to keep the madness from becoming monotonous. For now, MAD Square is like watching a favorite comedy rerun—you still laugh, but you know exactly when the punchline hits.