CTRL

One would find CTRL concept similar to few western movies but this Ananya Pandey starrer film is completely new to Bollywood. Screenplay quite similar to Missing or Searching, this Vikaramditya Motwane's creation focuses on current generation's dependability on social media.

Ananya's character named Nella who just broke up with her boyfriend trusts an AI to assist her to cope up with her relationship mishaps by providing it the access to her social life. Things go south when this AI takes full control of her life. A dark and gripping version of Black mirror, CTRL will make you think about AI influence on today's youth.

Ananya's performance is surprisingly good and she drives this thriller on her own. However, the narrative focuses solely on lead (Ananya), leaving the omnipotent AI God and conspiracy underexplored. Despite good performance and engaging plot, it leaves viewers craving complexity and depth.

"CTRL" (2024) presents a chillingly relevant exploration of our digital lives, tapping into the anxieties of a generation increasingly reliant on technology. While the film offers a thought-provoking premise and a glimpse into the potential consequences of our online presence, it ultimately falls short of its full potential.

Ananya Panday delivers a commendable performance as the protagonist, navigating the complexities of her character's predicament with conviction. The film's exploration of themes such as online privacy, social media addiction, and the blurring lines between the virtual and real world is both timely and relevant.

However, "CTRL" suffers from pacing issues and a narrative that occasionally feels convoluted. While the central premise is intriguing, the execution could have benefited from a more focused approach. The film's attempts to delve into deeper philosophical questions about technology and human connection feel somewhat underdeveloped.

Despite its flaws, "CTRL" is a worthwhile watch for its thought-provoking premise and Ananya Panday's compelling performance. It serves as a cautionary tale about the potential dangers of our digital lives, prompting viewers to reflect on their own relationship with technology.

Udaan, Lootera, Trapped, Bhavesh Joshi Superhero, Sacred Games, AK vs AK and Jubilee is a pretty eclectic and diverse filmography directed by a single film maker. If this filmography looks compelling and engaging then his latest venture CTRL will keep you hooked. For me Vikramaditya Motwane is perhaps one of the finest directors of the current era and with CTRL he certainly doesn't disappoint. CTRL is a Motwane show and a great example of edgy content in the hands of a daring and inventive director.

Many would get turned off by just looking at the sight of Ananya Pandey on the poster of the movie and thats why Motwane deserves extra credit for directing Ananya exceptionally well to deliver a very grounded and believable performance.....even though she is loosely playing herself sans the cringe and annoyance. If you found Ananya's performance in last year's Kho Gaye Hum Kahan good and credible, then she will not disappoint with CTRL. She pleasantly surprised me with her performances in both these movies.

The plot of this cyber thriller is pretty black mirror-esque and realistic as it ventures into the land of AI and serves as a timely commentary on our reliance on social media to stay connected with our fellow humans and how AI is taking over our existence making things less and less human and more and more artificial. It showcases how AI benefits the individual but also shows how it can potentially render an individual helpless. The plot is pretty straightforward - Nella and Joe are a famous influencer couple whose love lives diverge leading to Nella deciding to use AI to erase Joe's existence from her digital world.....but somehow ends up erasing his existence from the real world.

The movie is pretty gripping and very well shot using digital technology. There are a few other movies in recent times across the globe that have effectively used social media and webcam footage to tell a cyber suspense story. There are also other movies that have been warning us about the possibility of rogue and malicious AI over the years. CTRL brings both these elements together pretty well to keep tech savvy audiences glued to their screen. It may be confusing watch for those who are not familiar with the current tech world and difficult to palate for those who cant stand the leading lady but the movie hits the mark for those looking for an intelligent thriller.

The story is interesting, frighteningly real and pretty unsettling. The direction is crisp and well executed even though the movie is somewhat slow paced. The acting is real and pretty good. Motwane chooses a dystopian, melancholic and sardonic ending which feels very real and bitter sweet instead of a mainstream flashy ending which may turn off many viewers expecting fireworks. I enjoyed the movie and nervously smiled when the Netflix app coincidentally crashed during the scene when AI's ulterior motives were being exposed.....making the movie feel a bit more real and relevant. An enjoyable thriller for the tech literate fans of slow burn thrillers. 7.5/10.

CTRL (2024) brings an intriguing concept to the table, focusing on cybercrime and the dark web, but unfortunately, the execution doesn't fully live up to its potential. While the idea is fresh and timely, the movie struggles with pacing issues and a script that feels underdeveloped at key moments.

The lead actor does a good job, and the film's visuals, especially the hacking sequences, are commendable. However, the supporting characters felt one-dimensional, and the emotional depth needed to connect with them was missing. The story also had some predictable twists, which lessened the overall impact.

There are moments where CTRL shines, particularly in its portrayal of the digital world, but it ultimately lacks the tension and excitement that a thriller of this genre demands. It's an average watch that had all the ingredients for greatness but didn't quite hit the mark.

Vikramaditya motwani has brought the best out of ananya pande as nella the gen z girl who faces a problem in her relationship . She takes help from an AI assistant and the story slowly unfolds after that . It will make you wonder how you are slowly giving the control of your life to someone else ( the technology) . This kind of story has mostly been told in black mirror already but motwani tells in a Bollywood style . I was pleasantly surprised by ananyas acting . Probably this is her comfort zone , she blends into this role perfectly . You can see her being comfortable in this role . Even her sorrows look real .

Story is the real hero here , bring something like this more where viewers would be able to understand now there is very thin line between personal and social life . There is nothing like privacy now. You are not in control anymore...