Tillu Square Review

DJ Tillu, the fast-talking, charismatic, audacious character created by Siddhu Jonnalagadda for his crime comedy, became an instant Telugu cultural icon when the film came out in 2022. The film's title song became a street dance anthem, and its tagline "atluntadhi manathoni" entered our lingo. It didn't matter that the movie's plot was leaky; Tillu anna stole hearts from the moment he burst onto the screen in a shimmering Sherwani, flashing his goggles, saying clever things with perfect comic timing. Is it any wonder Tillu is back with a sequel?

Tillu Square oozes the same charm and wit as the first film. Tillu is now a big-time DJ, running a wedding planning company with his parents, although we barely catch a glimpse of him at the turntables before he gets trapped in another misadventure. Pretty women are still his biggest blindspot. The first time Tillu lays eyes on Lilly (Anupama Parameshwaran) is after she has just vomited all over his white shoes - it's a sarcastic take on the meet-cute trope of romantic films - but that doesn't stop him from aggressively flirting with her. Before long, they are in his car, and he is counting her birthmarks and vying for a kiss.

If this all looks and sounds familiar, it is because Tillu Square revels in referencing its predecessor. Once again, on Tillu's birthday night, he gets a call from a worried Lilly, asking to meet her at an apartment. Funny enough, it is the very same one in which his ex, Radhika, accidentally killed a man a year ago, tossing Tillu into a royal mess involving the police and crime bosses. This time, though, Tillu knows better than to dance his way into another disastrous night.

Tillu Square is so comfortable with its formula (Hot Girl + Tillu = Disaster) that it barely gets a tweak. Its famed title track makes a jubilant return. Tillu's striking fashion sense is just as iconic. Leopard prints mingle with florals, and there is a silver disco ball-esque jumpsuit - a white-and-red bi-colour statement suit that reflects his oxymoronic personality of a "delicate mind" and a sharp tongue.

Plot be damned, Tillu Square is just a good excuse to hear more Tilluisms. Tillu crafts intricate metaphors about fast women, comparing them to litigated plots of land or cab services. But even the dialog is not so sardonic - Siddhu's impeccable comic sense and inimitable body language keep the laughs coming. Siddhu captures the surprising depths of Tillu's persona as a self-aware, self-deprecating, completely loveable museum specimen of a man. It is Siddhu's solo act, and not even Anupama Parameshwaran's significant role as a seductress Lilly can distract from that.

Tillu Square may not be twice as fun as DJ Tillu, but it is a rather jolly trip inside Tillu's dazzling world. No Telugu character of recent times comes quite as close to being so memorable and instantly recognizable as Tillu, and it feels like there is a lot more gas left in this character's tank. Five more sequels? Ten more? Have Tillu visit us once every year like a Telugu Santa Claus? People wouldn't complain, although the ending of Tillu Square leaves us with a sense that Siddhu himself may be ready to say goodbye and move on.