What Is the Story About?
Nella and Joe are the ideal influencer couple everyone’s envious of and their digital channel ‘Njoy’ is a raging success. However, growing online fame takes a toll on their relationship and Nella catches Joe cheating on her. Soon, she takes the help of an AI app – CTRL – to erase Joe from her life. In a few days, Joe goes missing.
Performances?
Ananya Panday is a perfect fit to play Nella. She does everything to draw us into the proceedings and invest in the highs and lows in the character’s life, even at the risk of being unlikeable. Vihaan Samat makes progress as an actor from his shaky performance as a lead in ‘Eternally Confused and Eager for Love’. Devika Vatsa, Kamakshi Bhat, Samit Gambhir, Ravish Desai are decent in their brief appearances.
Analysis
Ananya Panday is gradually turning out to be OTT’s favourite child, with direct-to-web outings like Kho Gaye Hum Khan, Call Me Bae complementing her off-screen persona to perfection. The actress’ latest release – CTRL – further cements her authority in the digital space. A cautionary tale on the perils of AI and the desperation for online fame, the crisp 100-minute film is relatable, dystopian and engaging at once.
Nella and Joe have everything going for them, finding joy in each other’s presence, and dumping all significant moments from their love life on social media, eventually contributing to their digital popularity. Over time, love takes a backseat and the quest for fame affects the couple. Nella catches Joe cheating on her. When she resorts to an AI app to eliminate his presence from her digital footprint, all hell breaks loose.
CTRL paints an authentic, immersive portrait of the dangers lurking around our digital presence – discussing everything from data theft, misuse of personal information to deep fake videos and how corporates in a capitalistic world are leaving netizens little chance but to succumb to their influence across all spheres of life. The storytelling has just the right urgency and tension to ensure a rush of adrenaline.
The anxiety in the film escalates as Joe goes missing – exactly sometime after he tries meeting Nella to explain the gravity of his situation. Vikramaditya Motwane exaggerates the screenplay convincingly to warrant a viewer’s attention – especially after Nella stumbles on a video that elaborates on Joe’s stance. One sympathises for Nella despite her follies – she was merely used as a pawn in a wicked game after all.
As Nella embraces normalcy after her setbacks, the director makes the viewer feel that he/she could’ve been in her place too. CTRL is an important film for it explores data theft, manipulation and AI in a narrative language a modern-day netizen could comprehend. The film doesn’t create a fake sense of hope among the viewers and just nudges them towards leading a private life, without letting tech take you for a ride.
With its 100-minute runtime, director Vikramaditya Motwane is very much aware of the scope of the story and doesn’t resort to any forced commentary, using a clever screenplay to make his point. CTRL, as a film, is not entirely novel or out of the box. It, however, deserves credit for being very today in its setting, mirroring the anxieties, angst and impulsiveness of a generation.
Music and Other Departments?
Composer Sneha Khanwalkar delivers the goods in a narrative-driven score that stays true to the film’s tense, trippy ambience. Pratik Shah’s vibrant colour palette sets the tone for the film, even though it predominantly revolves around digital screens after a point. Jahaan Noble’s freaky edits lend a new dimension to the narrative while the costumes and the production design add significantly to its appeal.
Highlights?
Trippy, gripping screenplay
Relevant for the times
Ananya Panday’s performance
Drawbacks?
Gets predictable after a point
The exaggeration could’ve been toned down at places
Did I Enjoy It?
Mostly
Will You Recommend It?
If you’re game for futuristic, cybercrime thrillers
CTRL Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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