Snakes And Ladders Tamil TV Series Review

Snakes & Ladders introduces us to four inseparable schoolboys, a group of determined cops investigating a robbery and assault, and a ruthless gang of criminals terrorizing a fictional hill town. This Tamil web series, created by Kamala Alchemis and Dhivakar Kamal, weaves these elements together to tell a moderately engaging crime thriller.

Despite its promising premise, the series lacks intensity and feels uneven at times. With Karthik Subbaraj serving as the creative producer, Snakes & Ladders employs familiar cops-and-robbers tropes but aims to explore deeper themes of family and friendship, showing how these bonds provide strength in the face of unforeseen dangers. While the narrative touches on these emotional undercurrents, the execution falls short of delivering a consistently gripping experience.

Snakes and Ladders Tamil TV Series Review

Snakes and Ladders Tamil TV Series Plot Summary:

YouTube (Prime Video India)

“Snakes and Ladders” is set in the quaint hill station of Rettamugadu in Tamil Nadu and follows five school kids: Gilbert aka Gilli, Bala, Santosh aka Sandy, Iraiyan aka Irai, and Raagitha aka Raagi. They are best friends, but each of them carries personal struggles. Gilli’s parents are missing from his life, Sandy’s father is mostly absent, and Raagi is dealing with a health condition. Their relatively normal lives take a grim turn when Gilli accidentally causes the death of a burglar, Blade, who dies of asphyxiation after being trapped in a cupboard. This sets off a chain of life-threatening events, as Blade’s gang members come after Gilli and his friends. The series then follows the children through a dangerous survival game against ruthless criminals.

Snakes and Ladders Tamil TV Series Cast Details:

MS Samrith as Gilbert aka Gilli
S Surya Ragaveshwar as Bala
S Surya Kumar as Santosh aka Sandy
Tarun Yuvraaj as Iraiyan aka Irai
Sasha Bharen as Raagitha aka Raagi
Nandaa Dorairaj as Sub Inspector Chezian (Irai’s father)
Manoj Bharathiraja
Naveen Chandra as a crooked IT guy

Snakes and Ladders Tamil TV Series Review:

“Snakes and Ladders” starts with the promise of a thrilling adventure, but while the foundation is solid, it falters as the episodes progress. What begins as a crime-thriller with an engaging premise quickly loses steam due to uneven pacing and inconsistent writing. The series borrows elements from films like Stranger Things and Godfather, but fails to deliver on the gripping tension and dark comedy that Karthik Subbaraj’s projects are typically known for.

The series does well in its early episodes, especially under Bharath Muralidharan’s direction, which manages to engage the audience with tight storytelling. However, as the show shifts to the episodes directed by Ashok Veerapan and Kamala Alchemis, it loses focus. The tone of the series becomes inconsistent, and the plot begins to drag, making the nine-episode run feel unnecessarily long.

What Works:

Performance of the Teen Cast: The young actors—MS Samrith, S Surya Ragaveshwar, S Surya Kumar, Tarun Yuvraaj, and Sasha Bharen—shine in their respective roles. Their performances are natural, and their onscreen friendship feels genuine, adding emotional depth to the narrative.
Engaging First Few Episodes: The initial episodes create suspense and intrigue, setting the tone for what could have been an excellent dark comedy-thriller.
Cinematography and Atmosphere: The setting of the hill station is well-utilized, creating a visually appealing and tense atmosphere that fits the crime-thriller genre.

What Doesn’t Work:

Inconsistent Writing: The series suffers from a lack of cohesion. The storyline becomes convoluted with the introduction of unnecessary subplots and characters that detract from the main narrative.
Lack of Dark Humor: Given Karthik Subbaraj’s involvement, viewers expect a signature blend of dark comedy and thrills. However, the show barely scratches the surface of dark humor, relying more on clichés.
Lengthy and Stretched Plot: Nine episodes feel like too many, especially when the pace slows down in the middle. Tighter writing would have made for a more compelling and concise narrative.

Snakes and Ladders Tamil TV Series Cast Performances:

The cast, especially the five teenagers, carry the show with their performances. Each character has a distinct personality, and the actors bring out these traits effectively. The portrayal of their friendship is heartfelt, and their reactions to the unfolding chaos feel authentic. Among the adults, Nandaa Dorairaj as the cop and Naveen Chandra as the shady IT guy perform adequately, but their characters are underdeveloped, limiting their impact on the overall plot.

Snakes and Ladders Tamil TV Series Technical Aspects:

Direction: While Bharath Muralidharan’s direction stands out, the efforts of the other two directors, Ashok Veerapan and Kamala Alchemis, dilute the impact of the show.
Cinematography: The visuals are stunning, especially the shots of the hill station, which add to the suspenseful atmosphere of the show.
Editing: The editing could have been sharper to reduce the lag in the middle episodes.
Music: The background score complements the dark and tense tone of the series but doesn’t elevate it to a higher level.

Verdict:

“Snakes and Ladders” offers a promising start with its crime-thriller plot and talented young cast but fails to maintain the momentum throughout its nine episodes. While the teen actors deliver strong performances, the inconsistent writing and overstretched plot prevent the series from reaching its full potential. If a second season is on the horizon, tighter writing and a better balance of dark humor and suspense could turn it into the adventure it aspires to be.

Snakes and Ladders Tamil TV Series Director:

Directors: Bharath Muralidharan, Ashok Veerapan, Kamala Alchemis

Snakes and Ladders Tamil TV Series Rating:

Rating: 3/5

Where to Watch Snakes and Ladders Tamil TV Series:

Available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

FAQs: (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is “Snakes and Ladders” about?
“Snakes and Ladders” is a crime-thriller series about five school kids who get entangled in a dangerous situation after accidentally causing the death of a burglar. The series follows their struggle to survive against criminals seeking revenge.
Who are the main actors in “Snakes and Ladders”?
The main cast includes MS Samrith (Gilli), S Surya Ragaveshwar (Bala), S Surya Kumar (Sandy), Tarun Yuvraaj (Irai), and Sasha Bharen (Raagi).
How many episodes are there in “Snakes and Ladders”?
The series consists of 9 episodes.
Who directed “Snakes and Ladders”?
The series was directed by Bharath Muralidharan, Ashok Veerapan, and Kamala Alchemis, making their directorial debut.
Is “Snakes and Ladders” suitable for children?
Although the series stars teenagers, it deals with adult themes such as crime and violence, making it more suitable for a mature audience.
What is the main theme of “Snakes and Ladders”?
The show explores themes of crime, friendship, and survival as the five teenagers navigate through a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse with gangsters.
Will there be a season 2 of “Snakes and Ladders”?
There is no official confirmation yet, but the ending hints at the possibility of a second season.
What are the weaknesses of “Snakes and Ladders”?
The main issues are inconsistent writing, a lack of dark humor, and an overstretched plot that makes the series feel longer than necessary.
How does “Snakes and Ladders” compare to Karthik Subbaraj’s previous works?
While Karthik Subbaraj is known for dark humor and gripping narratives, “Snakes and Ladders” falls short of delivering both. It lacks the signature edge found in his other works.
Where can I watch “Snakes and Ladders”?
“Snakes and Ladders” is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.