Bollywood's yesteryear actor-singer Bhagwan Dada's song 'Qismat Ki Hawa Kabhi Naram Kabhi Garam' forms the theme of Anurag Basu's lyrical, poetic anthology 'Ludo'. A story of chaos, of finding love, of finding happiness as life takes its unpredictable course much like a game of dice, 'Ludo' warms you up with its stunning frames, heartwarming performances and its little details.

At the core of the story is Sattu Bhai, a gangster (Pankaj Tripathi) who also serves as the common thread in the four stories. There's a leaked sex tape that an estranged couple must take care of, a desperate wife takes the help of her childhood friend and admirer to get her husband out of the jail who has been wrongly implicated, two uncanny people- united by circumstances and fate are on the run with two big bags full of cash and an ex henchman finds himself in the company of a six-year-old who gives him life lessons that help him find closure.&nbsp;

Much like his previous films, Basu makes 'Ludo' a visually rich experience. Each of the scenes is framed stunningly, with the filmmaker serving as the cinematographer as well as the writer of the film. As a result, Basu implements exactly how he may have envisioned each of the scenes. The characters and their story graph are based on the colours of a Ludo board game. Green is for envy, red is for anger, blue is used for bullying and yellow for happiness. He demarcates the characters and their storyline accordingly- thereby making the film look like a rich palette of colours. Of course, when it comes to Basu, he pays dollops of tribute to filmmakers from the world over. In 'Ludo' there were scenes that looked like an ode to Wong Kar Wai's 'In The Mood For Love' and some of the chase sequences were similar to Charlie Chaplin's style and some to Jacky Chan's. And while many would argue that Basu unnecessary lifts ideas, I feel his tributes are very well incorporated into the plot of a film.&nbsp;

<img alt="ludo" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b64f83e7-a4de-4e84-9f80-6fb19ffe6672" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202020-11-12T142116.280_1.jpg" />

'Ludo' has a stellar star cast and every actor performs their part well. There is not a single false note. Pankaj Tripathi once again proves his range as the witty, ruthless gangster who kills and romances with equal nonchalance. It's always a delight to watch Tripathi who doesn't just deliver the best lines but also emotes through his eyes and expressions. There's, of course, Rajkummar Rao who, once again proves that given a good script, he can prove his mettle at comedy. Rao plays a lovelorn Aaloo, who willingly lets hid childhood crush Pinky (Sana Fatima Sheikh) govern his life. He can do anything for her- give up his life savings, rescue her husband from the jail and even get rid of a dead body. Channelising his inner Mithun, Rao's Aalu is a delight to watch - particularly because of how the actor plays him effortlessly.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZT9Gihrxa4Q" width="560"></iframe>

Perhaps the most endearing track of the lot is the one featuring Abhishek Bachchan and a little girl called Inayat Verma. Bachchan plays Bittu- a once dreaded criminal - who now after serving 6 years jail term- pines for his daughter and estranged wife ( Asha Negi). Circumstances lead him to the Inayat's character- a seven-year-old who is too smart for her age and who herself pines for the attention of her busy parents. Some of the most heartwarming scenes of the film feature these two. The child is talkative while the man is brooding and the two form an uncanny bond of friendship.&nbsp;

<img alt="ludo" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1b4e4ec3-4d96-4e71-9571-f6ea87177608" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202020-11-12T142058.969.jpg" />

A word on how the women of the anthology are written-Basu makes them unapologetic in his film. One knows how to manipulate the man who has loved her all her life (Sheikh), one openly seeks a rich man to settle down with as a trophy wife (Sanya Malhotra), one is calculative, smart and foresees a better future with a man she has just met(Pearle Maaney). The women in 'Ludo' may not always be speaking out- but are strong individuals who know what they want in life and how to get it.&nbsp;

Since it is an anthology, the filmmaker takes leisurely time to establish each of the plots. A lot is happening on screen and the filmmaker gives a detailed introduction of each track. As a result, the film appears to be long. With multiple chase sequence and several intertwining of plots, it can become a task to keep track of each of the stories. It is certainly a bit chaotic but the flaw is salvaged because of the detailed screenplay which most often leaves you smiling.&nbsp;

<img alt="ludo" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="372e05e4-ead5-4f53-8183-cc29a600bcc6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202020-11-12T142202.090.jpg" />

Anurag Basu and Pritam have in the last decade made some memorable music together. 'Ludo' does not have as many songs as Basu's last screen outing 'Jagga Jasoos' but even then they are beautiful and leave the last impression. If 'Aabaad Barbaad' is about unrequited love, in 'Meri Tum Ho' love takes ownership. The songs are so picturesque - you want to keep watching them over and over again.

<img alt="ludo" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f9208e96-f96a-42cf-8524-53561af9cce9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202020-11-12T142235.927.jpg" />

A lot of things may not make sense in &nbsp;'Ludo'. Like how Rohit Saraf and Pearle Maaney fall in love or how Sanya Malhotra goes on a wild goose chase looking for a missing camera with Aditya Roy Kapur two days before her wedding.&nbsp;There is chaos almost at all times, and much like the police in the film, you may be a little frazzled with what's happening on screen. But much like Basu (who also serves as the narrator) himself- you need to sit back and enjoy the chaos on screen. Everyone is chasing something- love, money, happiness - which you may relate to.&nbsp;

Anthologies are always elaborate, 'Ludo' is no different but its actors, the music and its overall message make this one a winner.&nbsp; 
'Ludo' is streaming on Netflix. &nbsp;

Bollywood's yesteryear actor-singer Bhagwan Dada's song 'Qismat Ki Hawa Kabhi Naram Kabhi Garam' forms the theme of Anurag Basu's lyrical, poetic anthology 'Ludo'.

Bollywood's yesteryear actor-singer Bhagwan Dada's song 'Qismat Ki Hawa Kabhi Naram Kabhi Garam' forms the theme of Anurag Basu's lyrical, poetic anthology 'Ludo'. A story of chaos, of finding love, of finding happiness as life takes its unpredictable course much like a game of dice, 'Ludo' warms you up with its stunning frames, heartwarming performances and its little details. At the core of the story is Sattu Bhai, a gangster (Pankaj Tripathi) who also serves as the common thread in the four stories. There's a leaked sex tape that an estranged couple must take care of, a desperate wife takes the help of her childhood friend and admirer to get her husband out of the jail who has been wrongly implicated, two uncanny people- united by circumstances and fate are on the run with two big bags full of cash and an ex henchman finds himself in the company of a six-year-old who gives him life lessons that help him find closure. Much like his previous films, Basu makes 'Ludo' a visually rich experience. Each of the scenes is framed stunningly, with the filmmaker serving as the cinematographer as well as the writer of the film. As a result, Basu implements exactly how he may have envisioned each of the scenes. The characters and their story graph are based on the colours of a Ludo board game. Green is for envy, red is for anger, blue is used for bullying and yellow for happiness. He demarcates the characters and their storyline accordingly- thereby making the film look like a rich palette of colours. Of course, when it comes to Basu, he pays dollops of tribute to filmmakers from the world over. In 'Ludo' there were scenes that looked like an ode to Wong Kar Wai's 'In The Mood For Love' and some of the chase sequences were similar to Charlie Chaplin's style and some to Jacky Chan's. And while many would argue that Basu unnecessary lifts ideas, I feel his tributes are very well incorporated into the plot of a film. 'Ludo' has a stellar star cast and every actor performs their part well. There is not a single false note. Pankaj Tripathi once again proves his range as the witty, ruthless gangster who kills and romances with equal nonchalance. It's always a delight to watch Tripathi who doesn't just deliver the best lines but also emotes through his eyes and expressions. There's, of course, Rajkummar Rao who, once again proves that given a good script, he can prove his mettle at comedy. Rao plays a lovelorn Aaloo, who willingly lets hid childhood crush Pinky (Sana Fatima Sheikh) govern his life. He can do anything for her- give up his life savings, rescue her husband from the jail and even get rid of a dead body. Channelising his inner Mithun, Rao's Aalu is a delight to watch - particularly because of how the actor plays him effortlessly. Perhaps the most endearing track of the lot is the one featuring Abhishek Bachchan and a little girl called Inayat Verma. Bachchan plays Bittu- a once dreaded criminal - who now after serving 6 years jail term- pines for his daughter and estranged wife ( Asha Negi). Circumstances lead him to the Inayat's character- a seven-year-old who is too smart for her age and who herself pines for the attention of her busy parents. Some of the most heartwarming scenes of the film feature these two. The child is talkative while the man is brooding and the two form an uncanny bond of friendship. A word on how the women of the anthology are written-Basu makes them unapologetic in his film. One knows how to manipulate the man who has loved her all her life (Sheikh), one openly seeks a rich man to settle down with as a trophy wife (Sanya Malhotra), one is calculative, smart and foresees a better future with a man she has just met(Pearle Maaney). The women in 'Ludo' may not always be speaking out- but are strong individuals who know what they want in life and how to get it. Since it is an anthology, the filmmaker takes leisurely time to establish each of the plots. A lot is happening on screen and the filmmaker gives a detailed introduction of each track. As a result, the film appears to be long. With multiple chase sequence and several intertwining of plots, it can become a task to keep track of each of the stories. It is certainly a bit chaotic but the flaw is salvaged because of the detailed screenplay which most often leaves you smiling. Anurag Basu and Pritam have in the last decade made some memorable music together. 'Ludo' does not have as many songs as Basu's last screen outing 'Jagga Jasoos' but even then they are beautiful and leave the last impression. If 'Aabaad Barbaad' is about unrequited love, in 'Meri Tum Ho' love takes ownership. The songs are so picturesque - you want to keep watching them over and over again. A lot of things may not make sense in 'Ludo'. Like how Rohit Saraf and Pearle Maaney fall in love or how Sanya Malhotra goes on a wild goose chase looking for a missing camera with Aditya Roy Kapur two days before her wedding. There is chaos almost at all times, and much like the police in the film, you may be a little frazzled with what's happening on screen. But much like Basu (who also serves as the narrator) himself- you need to sit back and enjoy the chaos on screen. Everyone is chasing something- love, money, happiness - which you may relate to. Anthologies are always elaborate, 'Ludo' is no different but its actors, the music and its overall message make this one a winner. 'Ludo' is streaming on Netflix.

'Ludo' review: In pursuit of love and happiness, Anurag Basu's film leaves you with a smile

Nothing fascinates an avid movie watcher more than having a whole bunch of stories bound together by a single theme. For the uninitiated, this genre of cinema is known as an anthology. As filmmakers look to mesmerize their viewers by choosing to narrate their story in immersive formats of storytelling, one has seen the prominence of anthology films across various languages.&nbsp; 
 
Anurag Basu's latest film 'Ludo' which is slated to release on Netflix on November 12 is also an anthology with four distinct tracks bound by a common theme. Bollywood though isn't alien to this idea. Here 5 Indian anthology films that should be on everyone's watch list.&nbsp;

Bombay Talkies (2013): We all have fresh memories of a bunch of Bollywood stars dancing to the title song called the 'Bombay Talkies' as a tribute to 100 years of Indian cinema. This anthology was much more than that for it featured four fabulous film-makers in the form of Karan Johar, Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar and Dibakar Banerjee narrating wonderful stories related to cinema. The stories explored extra-marital relationships, stardom and the craze behind a film star in a never-seen-before avatar. Starring Rani Mukerji, Randeep Hooda, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Ranvir Shorey, Vineet Kumar Singh and Amitabh Bachchan in a special appearance across these four films, each one of them left a smile on your face making you fall in love with cinema all over again.

Dus Kahaniyaan (2007): As the title suggests, this anthology had 10 stories, directed by 6 directors and featured a stellar ensemble cast. Amongst our favourites was 'Strangers in the Night', directed by Sanjay Gupta, which stars Mahesh Mahesh Manjrekar and Neha Dhupia for its brilliant plot and conversational style of storytelling. 'Zahir', that features Dia Mirza and Manoj Bajpayee, has a twist at the end that you will never be able predict. The stand out short films in this list are 'Rice Plate', that sees veteran actors Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah bring their A-game on display, 'Gubbare' - a heartfelt tale that sees Nana Patekar pack a punch like always and 'Rise &amp; Fall' - a gangster tale at its best. &nbsp;

Putham Pudhu Kaalai (2020): Shooting a film during the lockdown was certainly no easy task. Doing an anthology in that time surely deserves a mention in this list. 'Putham Pudhu Kaalai' consists of five short film segments, directed by five of the most recognized directors of the South Indian film industry - Sudha Kongara, Gautham Menon, Suhasini Maniratnam, Rajiv Menon, and Karthik Subbaraj. Having released on October 16, here’s a film that will raise your spirits through its stellar cast, enchanting soundtrack and novel concept. 
&nbsp; 
Lust Stories (2019): It was time for the fantastic quartet of 'Bombay Talkies' (Karan Johar, Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar, and Dibakar Banerjee) to weave their magic yet another time as they explored the idea of sexual desire over four short films. Despite each one of them catering to different interpretations of the word lust, what one sees is the sincerity and intensity in each of the relationships shown in these stories. Showcasing how lust can make someone feel powerful and yet so helpless at the same time, 'Lust Stories' is one such anthology that will leave you with ample food for thought.

Love, Sex aur Dhokha (2010 ): A raw, unflinching, and brutally real in its portrayal of ‘Young India’. As the name suggests, each of the three stories have a common thread of love, sex, and dhokha in them. Two-time national award winner, Dibakar Banerjee knits three inspired-by-life stories to entertain as well as try to make a larger point about the invasive nature of our society. Taking into account just how voyeuristic the world is today, the film still stands relevant even after 10 years of its release.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Nothing fascinates an avid movie watcher more than having a whole bunch of stories bound together by a single theme. For the uninitiated, this genre of cinema is known as an anthology.

Nothing fascinates an avid movie watcher more than having a whole bunch of stories bound together by a single theme. For the uninitiated, this genre of cinema is known as an anthology. As filmmakers look to mesmerize their viewers by choosing to narrate their story in immersive formats of storytelling, one has seen the prominence of anthology films across various languages. Anurag Basu's latest film 'Ludo' which is slated to release on Netflix on November 12 is also an anthology with four distinct tracks bound by a common theme. Bollywood though isn't alien to this idea. Here 5 Indian anthology films that should be on everyone's watch list. Bombay Talkies (2013): We all have fresh memories of a bunch of Bollywood stars dancing to the title song called the 'Bombay Talkies' as a tribute to 100 years of Indian cinema. This anthology was much more than that for it featured four fabulous film-makers in the form of Karan Johar, Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar and Dibakar Banerjee narrating wonderful stories related to cinema. The stories explored extra-marital relationships, stardom and the craze behind a film star in a never-seen-before avatar. Starring Rani Mukerji, Randeep Hooda, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Ranvir Shorey, Vineet Kumar Singh and Amitabh Bachchan in a special appearance across these four films, each one of them left a smile on your face making you fall in love with cinema all over again. Dus Kahaniyaan (2007): As the title suggests, this anthology had 10 stories, directed by 6 directors and featured a stellar ensemble cast. Amongst our favourites was 'Strangers in the Night', directed by Sanjay Gupta, which stars Mahesh Mahesh Manjrekar and Neha Dhupia for its brilliant plot and conversational style of storytelling. 'Zahir', that features Dia Mirza and Manoj Bajpayee, has a twist at the end that you will never be able predict. The stand out short films in this list are 'Rice Plate', that sees veteran actors Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah bring their A-game on display, 'Gubbare' - a heartfelt tale that sees Nana Patekar pack a punch like always and 'Rise & Fall' - a gangster tale at its best. Putham Pudhu Kaalai (2020): Shooting a film during the lockdown was certainly no easy task. Doing an anthology in that time surely deserves a mention in this list. 'Putham Pudhu Kaalai' consists of five short film segments, directed by five of the most recognized directors of the South Indian film industry - Sudha Kongara, Gautham Menon, Suhasini Maniratnam, Rajiv Menon, and Karthik Subbaraj. Having released on October 16, here’s a film that will raise your spirits through its stellar cast, enchanting soundtrack and novel concept. Lust Stories (2019): It was time for the fantastic quartet of 'Bombay Talkies' (Karan Johar, Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar, and Dibakar Banerjee) to weave their magic yet another time as they explored the idea of sexual desire over four short films. Despite each one of them catering to different interpretations of the word lust, what one sees is the sincerity and intensity in each of the relationships shown in these stories. Showcasing how lust can make someone feel powerful and yet so helpless at the same time, 'Lust Stories' is one such anthology that will leave you with ample food for thought. Love, Sex aur Dhokha (2010 ): A raw, unflinching, and brutally real in its portrayal of ‘Young India’. As the name suggests, each of the three stories have a common thread of love, sex, and dhokha in them. Two-time national award winner, Dibakar Banerjee knits three inspired-by-life stories to entertain as well as try to make a larger point about the invasive nature of our society. Taking into account just how voyeuristic the world is today, the film still stands relevant even after 10 years of its release.

Before the release of 'Ludo', here are 5 other anthologies that you should watch

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'Ludo' review: In pursuit of love and happiness, Anurag Basu's film leaves you with a smile

Before the release of 'Ludo', here are 5 other anthologies that you should watch