MAD Square, the sequel to the 2023 hit MAD, hit theatres on March 28. Directed by Kalyan Shankar and featuring Sangeeth Shobhan, Narne Nithiin, and Ram Nitin, the film received mixed reception but managed to collect Rs 48.4 crore worldwide, according to Sacnilk as of Tuesday. However, the box office performance did not silence online discourse on whether the film truly deserved its success or was riding on the success of its predecessor. On Tuesday, producer Naga Vamsi, who backed the project under the banner of Sithara Entertainments, confronted the media head-on in a heated interaction.
Responding to a question over the film’s ticket pricing, Vamsi was quick to justify the hike, stating, “We wanted to safeguard distributors, that’s why we hiked the price. Since the film played really well over the weekend, we are removing the hike now. It will be at normal pricing for MAD Square. Since the tenth standard board exams are going to finish today, all those kids can watch comfortably with their families.”
Despite the commercial success, the film received mixed reactions from critics and audiences. When asked about it, Vamsi took a direct aim at social media commentary. “Yeah, I have seen some tweets. People said that the film is pulling audiences only because it’s a sequel. But this is not Pushpa 2, Baahubali 2 or KGF 2, for audiences to directly jump to theatres irrespective of the content, right? Of course, those three films were very good. Now, don’t make this a controversy about what I just said.”
His frustration was particularly evident when he took a swipe at a senior critic from a popular news website, calling him as ‘our own Indian 2 in the media,’ referring to the meme on him. “He recently gave a notorious analysis that Court played well because the other film wasn’t up to the mark. But that’s not true. People watched Court because it was a good movie. Similarly, people are watching MAD Square because it is a good film,” he argued. He then ridiculed the critic’s comments on the film’s song choreography, suggesting that his preferences were too tacky for the film to meet his taste.
But his ire wasn’t reserved for just one person. He addressed more reviewers. “I have also read some more reviews. People said that the second half wasn’t cooked well or that Sunil’s character wasn’t up to the mark. But then I watched the second half many times in theatres. There are no big heroes, no heroic or high moments in the second half, yet I saw people constantly cheering and hooting. Why is that then? People don’t know as much about cinema as you guys do now? Or is it that only you people know cinema well?”
Despite his grievances, Vamsi insisted that he had initially avoided confrontation. “Although reviews came out on the release day, I held another press meet that evening but I didn’t speak about reviews because I know their job is theirs. Even today, I am not saying anything about reviews, it’s your opinion, I am fine with it. But when a film is playing well in theatres, you don’t need to give your thrash opinion and analysis on why the film is running, in your tweets. Nobody needs that!”
His argument pivoted to the symbiotic relationship between media and cinema. “This is the cinema industry. Both of us should co-exist. If we release films and they become a hit, only then your websites will run. If we give you interviews, only then your YouTube channels run. If we give out an ad, your websites run. Don’t try to kill cinema!”
When asked why he continued interacting with the media despite these frustrations, he responded, “Can you run your channels without a hero, actor, director or producer giving you interviews? That’s the mistake we are making, I guess. We do this whole press thing because of pressures from PROs, artists, and directors. Otherwise, producers don’t need to request anyone for anything.”
Vamsi also doubled down on his stance that MAD Square was never intended to be a film catering to critics. “See, I understand that review writing is your job. But right from the beginning before the release, I kept repeating that this film doesn’t have logic or a story. I told clearly that I was only making a madcap entertainer. Even then, I didn’t feel that all reviewers would like this film. I didn’t expect any positive reviews. I didn’t make a reviewer-friendly film, I made a proper commercial theatre-friendly film. People are accepting and enjoying it. But when I am getting good revenue and the film is playing well, why are you extending your reviews and spreading bad word that the film is not good?”
His most explosive remark came when he directly challenged the media to boycott his films entirely. “If you really have so much grudge on me… if you have the guts,” he said, snapping his fingers, “Ban me. Ban my movies, don’t write articles about them, don’t take ads from me, don’t review them! I am telling openly, ban my movies. Don’t write anything about my movies, I know how to promote them without your involvement. Films don’t run because of your websites, right? Making films is already a bloodbath today, shooting, selling rights to OTTs, negotiations and everything is already heavy. On top of that, do we producers need another headache like this?”
As questions about the film’s reported earnings being exaggerated emerged, Vamsi remained firm. “It’s an open challenge, tell them to prove it. I am making it open. You can check my phone too. I won’t get fake box office reports being a producer, right? Tell them to prove that the Nizam collections are false. Is this a big hero film that people will go full houseful on every show or that I have to do corporate booking?”
His final words were directed at audiences, urging them to not rely on reviews. “I am telling this to even audiences. Reviews are written from a personal viewpoint of a single person. If someone has a bad day, they might even write a negative review. Don’t blindly trust reviews.”
Despite the criticisms, MAD Square has managed to hold strong at the box office, with Vamsi concluding, “Entertainment is the star in our film.” Whether his statements will further divide opinion or rally support for the film remains to be seen. Meanwhile, Naga Vamsi has Vijay Deverakonda-starrer Kingdom coming to theatres on May 30.
