Ludo is possibly the finest entertainer of the year courtesy Pankaj Tripathi and company

Helmed by Anurag Basu, Ludo is out on Netflix and features Abhishek Bachchan, Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra, and Aditya Roy Kapur in the lead roles. It is a culmination of 4 different stories, the control of which seems to be in the hands of the one and only, Sattu Bhaiya (Tripathi). But how all of that comes to life is what the dark comedy explores, and beautifully so.

While the movie opens on a rather interesting note, with time, it only gets more interesting with the stories unfolding one at a time. For starters, there are 4 different stories that run one after the other, and while one might want to be intrigued at that, it also feels rushed in certain instances. The performances are an absolute entertainer and keep the movie right on point. However, the premise of the movie is what keeps you hooked to the screens throughout.

Now Sattu is playing a game of his own which in turn, affects the lives of every single character, one linking to the other and eventually, it all makes sense in the end. And well, that is the beauty of the thriller that this film is. While the writing is a great element that is highlighted through the premise, the cinematography also grabs our eyeballs, courtesy of classic Basu style visuals, one that he has maintained since forever.

Aditya as Akash and Sanya as Ahana have a story that is full of complications, you'll know why when you see it! (going to spare you from the spoiler) Their performances, though overshadowed by the likes of Bachchan and Tripathi, have created quite the impact. Abhishek plays Bittu, and after coming out of jail, he finds out that his wife and kid have moved on, while Raj and Fatima, are yet another complicated relation that keeps you hooked, but also make you wonder just what went wrong earlier! 

Like mentioned earlier, the loose ends do seem to be a problem time and again, and so is the case with them. Finally, there is Rohit as Rahul and Pearle as Sheeja, who are embroiled in the mess and have managed to make it look bigger with their acting skills, despite not much screen-time, if we may add.

With some hard-hitting performances, a story that all comes to a close just fine, and some absolutely amazing high points, the movie successfully qualifies as one of the possibly finest entertainers of the year. 

Ratings: **** stars (4/5)