ABO Review : `MAD`| AndhraBoxOffice.com

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Review

6-10-2023

ABO Review : `MAD`

ABO Rating: 3/5

Headline: Loads of MAD fun!

Plot:

Damodhar (Sangeeth Shoban), Manoj (Ram Nithin), and Ashok (Narne Nithin) are Engineering undergrads in a college notorious for indisciplined students and juvenile seniors. Manoj woos a girl, while Ashok is wooed by a classmate. As for Damodhar, he concludes no girl is going to like him. Much to his disbelief, a mystery girl named Vennela starts wooing him through letters and phone calls. Meanwhile, the three friends have to fight for their college`s right to use a canteen in the neighbourhood. After a series of gags and crazy events over a period of four years, the MAD trio realize that life has taught them what they need.

Performances:

Any comedy needs strong and sincere performances. Director Kalyan Shankar wins half the battle by getting the right casting done. Sangeeth Shobhan, Narne Nithin and Ram Nithin (in that order) tickle the funny bone. The ease of Sangeeth is going to make him the audience`s favourite. The shot where he wonders about eating the Vanilla flavour is proof that he is a natural. Narne Nithin has got good looks and he might well surprise the audience in the coming years. Vishnu Oi is not a lead actor but he deserves to be called one. In terms of the screen time and dialogues, he gets a cool deal!

Sri Gouri Priya Reddy of `Writer Padmabhushan` fame is cute. Gopikaa Udyan is good as well. In a film full of newcomers (even character artists like Muralidhar Goud are of recent origin), Raghu Babu is the only senior. As a college principal who is taken for a ride by his students, he should have got a couple of more scenes.

Technical Departments:

Music (songs): Bheems Ceciroleo`s songs didn`t catch up before the release. But they are enjoyable on the big screen.

Background Score: Thankfully, no typical cues and sounds.

Cinematography: Very good.

Production Values: Decent Enough.

Analysis:

Right from the beginning, the makers have advertised `MAD` as a mindless comedy. In an era when the word `mad` has been used to denote anything that comes with wild energy, the choice of the title itself shows the confidence of the makers.

Director Kalyan Shankar resorts to regular ideas (like ragging, intimidating seniors, a generic presentation of college rituals, a clash between two rival colleges), but he also has the advantage of a contingent of comedians who rise to the occasion. Sangeeth and Vishnu Oi uplift the film in turns. On the other hand, the other two lead actors prevent the film from completely sliding into a comedy piece.

Merits:

1. Jovial campus comedy scenes and a consistent mood.

2. Sangeeth Shoban`s leading performance. Vishnu Oi deserves a pat.

3. The brand of humour is unapologetic. There is no recourse to routine melodrama.

4. Contemporary brand of humour with lingo that the 2000s and 1990s kids can enjoy.

5. No in-your-face double-meaning comedy.

6. The girls` hostel scene in the second half.

Demerits:

1. Clear rehash of the brand of comedy seen in `Ee Rojullo` and `Bus Stop` in some places.

2. Can be a disadvantage if you expect a `Jathi Ratnalu`-type comedy.

ABO Rating: 3/5

Box-office Verdict: More Likely to succeed than not!