Vikramaditya Motwane’s latest release, CTRL, is a genre-defying exploration of the digital world’s impact on personal identity, relationships, and human emotions. The film, streaming on Netflix, paints a vivid portrait of the chaos and consequences of living in an increasingly virtual reality. Ananya Panday, in the role of Nella Awasthi, shines as a young woman who learns the hard way that life goes beyond reels, followers, and social media stardom.
Nella, a Delhi native residing in Mumbai, has spent six years as a rising social media influencer, enjoying the fruits of an online world filled with likes, subscribers, and brand deals. However, CTRL goes beyond the glitzy surface, revealing the emotional toll and isolation that can arise from a life lived in the digital spotlight.
The film’s inventive storyline, co-written by Avinash Sampath and Motwane, delves into the rabbit hole of virtual personas, cleverly blending sharp ideas with a unique cinematic style. As CTRL unfolds, we see Nella’s seemingly perfect life crumble when her boyfriend of five years, Joe Mascarenhas (played by Vihaan Samat), cheats on her, an act broadcast live during a surprise anniversary stream. This public humiliation quickly leads to a tidal wave of trolling, criticism, and the breakdown of her once-glamorous digital persona.
Seeking a fresh start, Nella signs up for an AI platform called CTRL, assigning an AI assistant named Allen (voiced by Aparshakti Khurrana) to help erase all traces of Joe from her online life. Initially, this seems like a solution to her emotional turmoil, but the AI’s ominous grip on her life tightens as Nella begins to lose control. The once-assuring phrase, “always there for you,” from Allen takes on a darker, more sinister tone as she realizes her life is no longer her own.
Motwane’s CTRL doesn’t just tell a story of heartbreak; it tackles the dangers of ceding control to technology in a world where human interactions are mediated by algorithms and artificial intelligence. The film’s pacing reflects Nella’s descent into a spiraling nightmare, expertly captured by Pratik Shah’s cinematography and Jahaan Noble’s crisp editing.
Ananya Panday brings depth to her character, transitioning seamlessly from carefree exuberance to profound vulnerability. Her journey is both thrilling and sobering, with Sumukhi Suresh’s sharp dialogues further elevating the film’s emotional weight.
CTRL continues Motwane’s trend of pushing the boundaries of conventional cinema, much like his previous works such as Trapped, Bhavesh Joshi Superhero, and AK vs AK. It is an uncategorizable blend of entertainment and introspection, refusing to conform to easy labels or predictable story arcs. While some of the ideas it throws out don’t fully land, the overall effect is a chaotic, exciting ride that leaves a lasting impression.
In a hyperconnected world where personas are crafted and discarded in the blink of an eye, CTRL forces viewers to confront the consequences of living in the shadow of technology. The film stands as a bold, inventive piece of cinema that entertains, challenges, and unsettles in equal measure.
Sources By Agencies
