Ludo

Ludo, released in 2020, is an Indian anthology dark comedy crime film directed by Anurag Basu and produced by Bhushan Kumar. The film essentially revolves around the butterfly effect and focuses on how, just like pieces on a Ludo board, our lives are shuffled by fate and destiny. The powerful and ambitious screenplay is brought to life by a star-studded cast that includes Pankaj Tripathi, Abhishek Bachchan, Rajkummar Rao, along with Aditya Roy Kapoor, Sanya Malhotra, Fatima Sana Sheikh, and more.

The film is divided into four interrelated stories, each one representing a different color on the Ludo board, weaving a metaphorical relationship with the game throughout the narrative. The disparate lives of the protagonists get unpredictably intertwined, leading to a series of remarkable, humorous, and yet heartwarming events.

The formidable Pankaj Tripathi plays the role of Sattu, a flamboyant gangster who doesn't think twice before pulling the trigger. His performance, as always, is filled with charisma and chutzpah that adds the necessary spice to the storyline. Abhishek Bachchan as Bittu delivers an emotionally charged performance portraying a character fresh out of prison and trying to regain his lost ground. Rajkummar Rao, on the other hand, portrays the character of Aalu, a simple-minded man who seems to have permanently friend-zoned himself for a childhood love played by Fatima Sana Sheikh.

Aditya Roy Kapoor and Sanya Malhotra form another endearing pair in the movie recounting a story of a sex tape gone awry. Pearl Maaney and Rohit Suresh Saraf deliver a compelling narrative as two ‘strangers on a train’ scenario who find their lives labyrinth into a complex criminal thread.

Anurag Basu, who has gifted us gems earlier like Barfi and Life in a... Metro, does a splendid job with Ludo. The narratives are often underlined with Basu's trademark dark humor and wit. Every storyline for each of the four key tracks is presented in a way that it fits seamlessly into the whole cinematic puzzle. Special mention goes out to Basu’s outstanding skills in balancing the comedic and dramatic elements of the movie.

The film’s complex narrative is bolstered by fabulous cinematography that captures minutiae with precision. Rajeev Ravi's camera effortlessly floats around the city, tracing the various characters and their interconnected stories. With its lively cinematography and skillfully controlled chaos, Ludo is also a reasonable portrayal of urban life in a small Indian city.

Adding to the movie's layers is Pritam's soulful music that can range from being energetic and rambunctious in one moment, to mellow and touching in the next, thus perfectly complementing the film’s varying moods. The background score unobtrusively enhances certain scenes, steadily building the mood and emphasizing the emotions.

Moreover, the film explores the larger theme of life and its uncertainties, as depicted in the metaphor of the game of Ludo. The viewers are left pondering over the questions of right and wrong, moral and immoral, and how unpredictable life can really be.

Despite being a crime film, Basu manages to underscore the narrative with heart-touching moments of love, heartbreak, and redemption. Soaked in comic moments and edgy dialogue, Ludo maintains a fine balance between portraying the stark realities of life and blending it with elements of humor and irony.

While the film’s duration might come across as lengthy to some viewers, the engaging plot-line, well-chalked-out characters, and silver-tongued humor more than make up for it. Definitely, a movie that evolves with every watch and grows on one, Ludo is a marvel of Hindi cinema.

In conclusion, Ludo is a beautifully layered, quirky, and enjoyable film that offers a perfect blend of comedy, crime, and meaningful narratives. The engaging storytelling, impeccable performances, and uncompromising direction make it a worth-watching spectacle that's not just a film, but a thought-provoking cinematic journey.