Filmmaker Anurag Basu is back and how! After a flat delivery with Jagga Jasoos, Basu has now released his latest project, Ludo, on Netflix. With a fairly long list of actors, Ludo follows the stories of multiple lives that somehow find themselves interlinked with one dreaded criminal. Before settling down with a bag of popcorn, make sure to read this Ludo review.
Ludo is life… Life is ludo
The film begins with Sattu Bhaiya (Pankaj Tripathi) killing a man in his own bathtub. With each passing scene, we are then introduced to different characters and their stories. Aakash (Aditya Roy Kapur) and Shruti (Sanya Malhotra) find their sex tape on a porn site just days before Shruti’s wedding to someone else. Alok (Rajkummar Rao), an ex-con, is approached by his childhood sweetheart Pinky (Fatima Sana Shaikh) after her husband is arrested for murder. Rahul (Rohit Saraf) is stuck in a job with a bully as his boss. Nurse Sheeja (Pearle Maney) finds herself in a similar situation with bullying from her colleagues. Bittu (Abhishek Bachchan), who was once Sattu Bhaiya’s right-hand man, gets released from jail after finishing a six-year term. However, during his sentence, his wife ends up marrying someone else and his daughter now has no idea about his existence.
While traversing through their own scandalous lives, the characters find themselves linked to Sattu Bhaiya who has defeated death more than once. With Anurag Basu as the narrator, the film reveals each plot like the game of Ludo where one step can change the whole course.
Dialogues that make you chuckle
The movie does get a little confusing at times since there are so many stories to follow at the same time. However, what makes it all worth it are the amazing performances delivered by each actor. Every actor feels like a perfect fit for the characters they play. Pankaj Tripathi as Sattu Bhaiya is a delight to watch with some of the most epic dialogues. For instance, at one point in the film, he says, “When luck suck, everyone fuck.” Speaking of dialogues, here are some of my favourite ones from the film:
Ludo review: Final thoughts
Out of all the characters, Rajkummar Rao shines like the brightest diamond! As Alok, every single expression that he portrays makes you giggle and wonder about the marvels of Rajkummar Rao. He is undoubtedly one of the greatest actors of his generation. But if you were a bit sceptical about his talents till now, I’d suggest watching him in Ludo.
The film can feel like a drag at times with a run time of two hours and 30 minutes. But overall, I’d say it is definitely something you should not miss. It has some quirky elements, great songs, and a group of actors delivering their best. Go watch it!
Related: ‘Outsider’ Rajkummar Rao Turns 36: Here Are 11 Of His Most Iconic Roles
