The latest Tamil web series on Prime Video, “Snakes and Ladders,” makes an ambitious attempt to explore the chaotic ups and downs of life. The name itself suggests the unpredictability facing the main characters who find themselves entangled in a whirlwind of unintended consequences. However, the series finds itself grappling more with setbacks than it reputedly delivers any significant successes. It seems as though finding a ladder amidst a snake-infested park is easier than tallying the instances where the series truly shines.
The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of 2006 in a fictional hill station called Rettamugadu. Here, a group of friends — Gilbert (M.S. Samrith), Iraiyan (S. Surya Ragaveshwar), Sandy (S. Surya Kumar), and Bala (Tarun Yuvraaj) — are embroiled in an adverse situation following the death of a criminal known as Blade (Ramachandran). After Blade vanishes post-heist with a priceless locket, a chain reaction of events ensues, roping in gangsters, cops, teachers, parents, and even the notorious school bully, drawing the entire town into the fray.
Immediately, audiences may recognize a sense of nostalgia as this setup echoes tales reminiscent of Enid Blyton’s ‘Famous Five’ and ‘Secret Seven’. The similarity doesn’t stop there as elements comparable to ‘ET’, ‘Stranger Things’, and closer home, ‘Anjali’, can be felt throughout. When the storyline attempts to shift from being a serious thriller to a more darkly comedic narrative, it elicits vibes akin to ‘Panchatanthiram’, albeit with younger protagonists. The enterprising ideas sprouted by the children could even lend the series to serve as a prelude to the Kamal Haasan starrer, ‘Papanasam’, especially if one of its characters were named Suyambulingam.
One notable attribute of “Snakes and Ladders” is its refusal to condescend toward its youthful characters. Rather than depict them as annoyingly forward or puerile, the creators choose to portray them as young adults who bear full awareness of the consequences wrought by their adolescent impulses. Ironically, the adult characters, who veer disturbingly into caricature, come across as more childlike.
. This character treatise stands as both a strength and a shortcoming for the series. It was, however, refreshing to note that despite its youthful lead cast, this is far from a typical children’s adventure. A customary level of violence and profanity is maintained, akin to other offerings within the Indian OTT landscape, lending it a more mature appeal without feeling gratuitous. Now with contemporary series spotlighting child actors, there’s no reason to shy away from pushing boundaries.
Nevertheless, incidents of brilliant writing — such as scenes where the kids nearly succeed in their escapades only to be caught by their guardians, or clever symbolism like that of a man’s indecisive mind captured through a swing — remain sporadic. The primary dilemma for “Snakes and Ladders” is its struggle to discover a coherent identity. It teeters between desiring to be a full-fledge young-adult thriller while intermittently attempting to dip its toes into dark humor. Unfortunately, it neither wholly commits to nor excels in either genre, resulting in a somewhat lackluster execution.
The adult cast is drawn almost archetypically: the men are painted as either survivalist evildoers or noble law enforcers seeking justice, while the women are left in distress, awaiting rescue. In parallel, the young characters’ portrayals lack innovation as well; the academically promising one sports glasses and a stutter, while the solitary female protagonist contends with a medical ailment.
“Snakes and Ladders” treats its plot and character dynamics as disparate mechanical gears rather than interconnected puzzle pieces working collaboratively towards an overarching picture. It seldom delves deeply into the characters’ psychological and ethical landscapes, opting for conveniently facile resolutions that unduly simplify the complex trajectories of the children’s tumultuous experiences.
The depiction of the gangster subplot merits minimal commentary — it lurks as a weak link. The finale, reminiscent of a Rolex promotional ending, adds little to the narrative breadth. The seasoned actors like Naveen Chandra, Nandaa, and Manoj Bharathiraja remain underutilized, a disappointing reveal given Chandra’s previous excellence in Prime Video’s superior thriller offering, “Inspector Rishi”. “Snakes and Ladders” finds itself paling against Prime Video’s established track record, struggling to reach the benchmark set by past thrillers due to its uneven storytelling and tonal discordance. Ultimately, the series appears to roll the dice to its detriment.
Currently streaming on Prime Video, “Snakes and Ladders” continues to capture the curiosity of viewers while engaging them in its ups and downs, even if it may falter more than it triumphs.
