Siddhu Jonnalagadda
Bala Gangadhar Tilak "DJ Tillu"
Overview
Balagangadhar Tilak, also known as Tillu, is rebounding from the heartbreak inflicted by Radhika. He returns to what he excels at: being a DJ, embodying a flamboyant lifestyle, and managing the Tillu Events company with his family and friends. He becomes the center of attraction at every gathering. Just when life seems favorable, Lilly enters his life, captivating him completely. But who is Lilly? Is she akin to Radhika, or is there more to her than meets the eye?
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readThe DJ Who Couldn’t Escape His Own Beat
I’ll admit it: I wasn’t prepared for how much I’d like DJ Tillu. Not the character—though Siddhu Jonnalagadda’s performance is undeniably magnetic—but the film itself, Tillu Square, which arrives two years after its predecessor with the kind of swagger that usually masks insecurity. Sequels, especially in comedy, often feel like they’re trying too hard to recapture lightning in a bottle.
But here, the bottle is already cracked, and the lightning keeps zapping Tillu anyway. That’s the charm of it.
The film picks up with Balagangadhar Tilak, aka DJ Tillu, a year after the heartbreak that defined the first movie. He’s back to his old tricks—spinning records, flirting shamelessly, and running his family’s event management business with the kind of chaotic energy that suggests he’s one bad decision away from disaster. And, of course, disaster arrives in the form of Lilly Joseph (Anupama Parameswaran), a woman who walks into his life with the kind of mystery that usually spells trouble.
(Spoiler: It does.)
What makes Tillu Square work—or at least what makes it entertaining—isn’t its plot, which is as predictable as a rom-com meet-cute turned crime caper. It’s the way the film embraces its own ridiculousness. Tillu isn’t a hero; he’s a guy who stumbles into situations he can’t control, and Jonnalagadda plays him with a mix of self-awareness and cluelessness that’s hard to resist.
There’s a scene early on where Tillu tries to impress Lilly by showing off his DJ skills, only to accidentally trigger a fight that escalates into a full-blown brawl. It’s stupid, it’s over-the-top, and it’s exactly the kind of moment that defines the film. The humor isn’t subtle, but it’s effective because it feels organic to Tillu’s character.
He’s not trying to be funny; he’s just trying to survive his own bad choices.
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reports"(Tillu)²" (2024): The Messy, Madcap Return of DJ Tillu
The hapless DJ Tillu is back—and this time, his love life is even more chaotic. Tillu Square (stylized as (TILLU)²), the 2024 sequel to the sleeper hit DJ Tillu, reunites audiences with Siddhu Jonnalagadda’s lovably clueless protagonist, now tangled in fresh romantic and criminal misadventures. latestnetflix.com's take is that Directed by Mallik Ram and produced by Suryadevara Naga Vamsi and Sai Soujanya under Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas, the film promises the same blend of crime and comedy that made its predecessor a cult favorite.
Familiar Faces, Fresh Chaos
Jonnalagadda reprises his role as DJ Tillu, the well-meaning but perpetually unlucky romantic who stumbles into trouble. Anupama Parameswaran joins him as the female lead, stepping into a story that picks up a year after the events of DJ Tillu. According to IMDb, Tillu’s one-night stand spirals into a series of "messier kerfuffles" tied to his past, suggesting the sequel will lean harder into the crime-comedy tone that defined the original.
The supporting cast includes Murali Sharma, Brahmaji, and Muralidhar Goud, all returning from the first film, alongside newcomers like Neha Shetty and Prince Cecil. The ensemble hints at a larger, more convoluted plot—one that might explain the film’s title, which playfully nods to both Tillu’s squared-off troubles and the Telugu word for "square" (chowk), possibly referencing a key location or recurring motif.
Sequel Pressure: Bigger, Funnier, Riskier?
Jonnalagadda, who co-wrote the film, has teased that Tillu Square will feel "familiar but more fun" than its predecessor. In an interview with The Hindu, he emphasized the challenge of balancing nostalgia with fresh energy, noting that the sequel’s humor and stakes are dialed up to match audience expectations. The original DJ Tillu (2022) was a surprise hit, praised for its quirky tone and Jonnalagadda’s charismatic performance, so the pressure to deliver a worthy follow-up is real.
Production details remain scarce, but the film’s stylized title—(TILLU)²—suggests a meta approach, possibly playing with the idea of Tillu’s life spiraling into a "square" of complications. Whether this translates to a literal plot device or just a branding gimmick is unclear, but the sequel’s marketing has leaned into the mathematical motif, teasing a story that’s both a continuation and a reinvention.
What’s Next for Tillu?
With Tillu Square hitting theaters in 2024, fans are already speculating about the franchise’s future. Jonnalagadda’s comments hint at a long-term vision for the character, but whether this sequel sets up a trilogy or stands alone remains unconfirmed. The film’s success could cement Tillu as a rare Telugu comedy icon—one who thrives on chaos, bad decisions, and just enough charm to keep audiences rooting for him.
For now, the focus is on delivering the same offbeat energy that made DJ Tillu a word-of-mouth sensation. If early buzz is any indication, Tillu Square is poised to double down on the formula: equal parts romance, crime, and cringe-worthy humor.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
Related movies
More titles in the same genres and with the same cast.
