Gamblers Movie Review: A cinematic equivalent of a poor improv show

I like to think of myself as a positive person, especially when it comes to reviewing smaller, lesser promoted films. At a theatre, every film is equally big or small; I am a firm believer of this. This is precisely why it hurts a lot when a film like Gamblers arrives — a film so sincere to stand out yet so poorly put together, that it literally hurts to write against it. But the filmmakers didn’t help me much - Gamblers is a complete misfire.

Cast: Sangeeth Shobhan, Prashanthi Charulinga, Rocking Rakesh, Prithviraj Banna, Sai Swetha, Jasvika

Direction: KSK Chaitanya

Directed by KSK Chaitanya, Gamblers starts on an intriguing note. An ageing gambling addict leaves a lesson for his impressionable son, in the form of a coin. As the writers set up the premise, there are plenty of varying elements served to the viewer, throwing us off about how they could all possibly come together. There are sprinkles of ambition throughout the narrative, be it the outlandish backdrop against which the narrative unfolds — a labyrinth-like space decorated with victorian art pieces and gaudy modern decor at once, a maze supposed to disorient you, just like the characters who arrive there for a shot at luck. KSK Chaitanya also impresses in his use of dissolves and transition shots, to switch between past and present.

And yet, Gamblers also feels like a foolhardy attempt at creative gambling, where the writers throw a few quirks and eclectic gimmicks on the wall, and see what sticks. Not much does, sadly. There is something very bizarre to watch a movie that is so consciously different and ineffectual at once.

There is an attempt at philosophical reflections under the guise of a mystery-thriller, and yet you can never make out what the makers are trying to say. There are conventional morality tropes at play here, like the ideas of sin, redemption and comeuppance. But none of it lands because in its desperate attempts to create an eccentric narrative, the writers forget to create enough emotional depth in its characters. The ineffective performances by actors across the board further dampen the proceedings.

The only actor throwing in a few surprises is Sangeeth Shobhan in the lead part, lending credibility to his portrayal of a mysterious man capable both of goodness and evil. Going against the grain of a conventional thriller, where all the puzzle pieces fit perfectly into a larger picture, The film increasingly crumbles under the weight of the wide coterie of characters who have distinct motives yet whose backstrories remain emotionally incongruent till the end. After a point, it becomes clear that all the principal characters are in pursuit of a particular object, which lands up on a mysterious island. But it’s never explained why the unattainable object (named Ladybird) is so important to them all. At one point, a primary character ponders upon how a card game can be helpful in understanding someone’s true nature. However, the gimmick-driven screenplay here makes no visible attempts at exploring its characters.

Additionally, the tone keeps shifting from suspenseful to slapstick so fast that you stop trying to catch up after a point. At moments where you expect tension, writers incorporate sequences with goofball humour that add neither to the proceedings nor to the characters’ motivations.  The more it becomes clear that Gamblers lacks any emotional coherence, the more its quirks bother us — like the visual of four drummers who always accompany Angel (Sangeeth Shobhan). Like most other elements here, it’s just another embellishment serving to distract us from the narrative chaos, instead of lending it some charm. 

The only sequence that truly grabs your attention is the climactic action sequence. It’s shot with plenty of style and a touch of humour. More importantly, it’s a rare sequence where KSK Chaitanya seems in command of his narrative. For rest of it, Gamblers is unfortunately all over the place.