BOTTOM LINE
Non Stop Youthful Fun
OUR RATING
2.75/5
CENSOR
U/A, 2h 7m
What Is the Film About?
MAD is about three friends, Manoj, Ashok and Damodar. How do they come together in an Engineering college? Their escapades during graduation, love stories, and fights comprise the plot.
Performances
The movie is mostly about male bonding in college with love stories thrown in parts. Narne Nithin, Sangeeth Shobhan, and Ram Nithin play the main leads.
Narne Nithin is given a brooding, intense guy role who is usually the pack’s leader. He comes around when the team is in need and helps with his heroic act. The actor looks decent in full-grown stubble, but that’s it. The good thing is that he doesn’t clamour for space, lets others have their share, and appears only when necessary.
Sangeeth Sobhan is easily the standout actor from the pack. His characterisation of an inhibited guy from a small town works to his advantage. The timing is spot on, which often helps land the silliest jokes. Even the emotional and funny arc towards the end relates to his role and makes it compelling.
Ram Nithin is the flirt of the gang who goes after every girl in the college. He does those parts smoothly as much as the writing allows. A scene or two during the second half further helps him register, but they aren’t the kind that would make him stand out.
Analysis
Kalyan Shankar writes and directs MAD. It is an over-the-top, nonsensical campus comedy with relatable characters, which has become a staple genre in the OTT world. Only here, it’s for the big screen.
The director sets the tone within the first ten minutes, and we know where the movie is headed. It is set in an Engineering college and about the friendship and fights between a few characters.
The narrative here extensively focuses on gags to drive the proceedings. So, we have the different stages of college life presented one after one with the sole purpose of entertainment.
It all starts when a home-sick guy wants to run away from the college and is followed by joining day, ragging, seniors vs. juniors, freshers day, friendship, love, exams, and so on, relatable events to the farewell day at the end.
Each of these events of college life occurs like a block and is filled with gags. Initially, it looks like they are trying too hard. Some comedy still works, but the gap seems far at earlier stages. However, things get more packed as the narrative progresses.
Amidst all these, one wonders where the story is, and it arrives in the form of individual love stories from various characters. It feels like a mere formality, though, as what comes ahead is more nonsensical fun tracks.
Post intermission, the gags hit the target more frequently and held the audience’s attention well. Each successive block has a punch in between which, however senseless, manages to entertain.
However, no real dramatic progress exists on the love stories threads opened at the interval point. Everything moves forward to a cliche and then is concluded via comedy. The one minor twist related to a character becomes a significant driving factor during the pre-climax, and it ends well.
Overall, MAD is a typical, youthful entertainer set on a campus, but significant effort went into writing the humor. It caters to its target audience, although it lacks anything particularly memorable. The film offers consistent humor, with a couple of characters stealing the show throughout.
Performances by Others Actors
Apart from the main male leads, the rest can be considered supporting actors as the cast is huge. The three heroines, Sri Gouri Priya Reddy, Anathika Sanilkumar, and Gopika Udyan, are given a love track, but they don’t drive the narrative as actors. They look decent as a pair in the time that’s offered.
A couple of guys from the supporting cast stand out. The major one among them is Vishnu, playing Shiva, aka Laddu. He is terrific and steals the scenes a few times. The other actor impresses during his characterisation that delivers answers in extremes. The rest of the artists are okay for the respective parts, like Raghu Babu, Muralidhar Gaud, Racha Ravi etc.
Music and Other Departments?
Bheema Ciciroleo provides the music lacking anything memorable. The background score is alright, keeping up with the nonsensical, loud comedy. Shamdat and Dinesh Krishnan B handled the cinematography, which could have been better. Naveen Nooli’s editing is sharp, giving a racy feel to the proceedings. The writing is well in tune with the youth’s sensibilities—however, not all the content works.
Highlights?
Entertainment (With Few Cuss Words)
DD and Laddu Characterisations
Fast Paced
Drawbacks?
Wafer Thin Story
Repetitive In Parts
Okayish love tracks
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, for youthful comedy
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, if you like this genre
MAD Movie Review by M9
Final Report:
MAD is a silly but entertaining time-pass with a focus on characters rather than the plot. Give it a try if you enjoy youth comedies; it offers nonstop gags, and it is a decent watch for the target audience.
Final Report:
MAD is a silly but entertaining time-pass with a focus on characters rather than the plot. Give it a try if you enjoy youth comedies; it offers nonstop gags, and it all ends neatly despite predictability.
First Half Report:
MAD is a campus comedy where punches are thrown left, right, and center. Some work big, and some don’t, but the jokes never stop. The story takes a backseat in the process, with the main conflict arriving at the interval. All eyes are now on the second half to see if the tempo is maintained.
— MAD show started in a college setting, where a group of friends were introduced. Stay tuned for the first-half report.
Stay tuned to MAD Telugu Review, USA Premiere Report.
Cast: Narne Nithin, Sangeeth Shobhan, Ram Nithin, Sri Gouri Priya Reddy, Ananathika Sanilkumar, Gopikaa Udyan, Raghu Babu, Racha Ravi, Muralidhar Goud, Vishnu, Anthony, Srikanth Reddy
Written And Directed By : Kalyan Shankar
Presenter: S. Naga Vamsi
Producers: Haarika Suryadevara & Sai Soujanya
Music : Bheems Ceciroleo
Editor : Navin Nooli
DOP : Shamdat – Dinesh Krishnan B
Art Director : Raam Arasavilli
Additional Screenplay : Praveen Pattu & Pranay Rao Takkallapalli
Fight Master : Karunakar
Costume Designer : Chinmayee Kakileti
Co-Director : Vijay Kumar Moturi
Direction Team : Karthik Chowdary Gottipati, Jayanth Deepala, M. Sujith Kumar Reddy, Vineel Ravella, Suri Sadanala
Banners: Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas
MAD Movie Review by M9