Every time I scroll past an Instagram couple’s account, I can’t help but wonder what will happen to their account if they break up. From their joint profiles to brand deals, these couples often seem to be in a “collaboration post” relationship. But why am I bringing this up? This feeling is perfectly captured in the first 10 minutes of Ananya Panday‘s latest Netflix film, CTRL.
Helmed by acclaimed director Vikramaditya Motwane, CTRL is a cyberthriller that follows Nella (played by Panday) and Joe (played by Vihaan Samat), an influencer couple whose seemingly perfect relationship goes downhill when Joe’s infidelity is exposed during a live stream. Or as Rohan Joshi says in the movie, “some girl liked and shared Nella’s boyfriend.”
Not Just A Bot
In the aftermath of this chaos, Nella, like many Gen Z-ers, seeks comfort in a Prateek Kuhad playlist as she attempts to rebuild her social media presence. In her quest for tools to boost her digital comeback, she discovers an AI platform featuring a chatbot avatar named Allen (voiced by Aparshakti Khurrana).
Allen assists Nella in deleting Joe from her digital life and curating her comeback content. However, what may seem like a simple app at first slowly takes over every decision she makes and much more than that. The more she starts growing on her followers, the more Allen dictates her life from taking over her personal chats without her knowledge to gaslighting her into more brand deals.
Social Media Facade
Motwane’s narrative in CTRL delves into the dark side of excessive social media validation and the disturbing effects of allowing AI into our personal lives—especially since it’s ultimately controlled by humans. The film explores the twisted nature of our digital dependence when we surrender our happiness and well-being to machines.
What’s haunting about CTRL is that it serves as an alerting tale, weaving in a certain level of personal politics throughout its narrative. We have often heard people saying these are just AI apps we have been using for a while; what harm can they do? The film points out the harm that it can potentially cause. You can also feel a Black Mirror deja vu in some of the scenes.
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While CTRL primarily tries to centre on Nella’s struggle to regain control after her heartbreak, the story leaves the powerful AI and its underlying conspiracy under-explored, something that I was really looking forward to. The film starts with a compelling premise; it lacks depth by the end, or maybe they are trying to drop part two.
The visual storytelling, enhanced by Pratik Shah’s cinematography, is captivating, particularly in scenes where Nella works on rebuilding her brand. One unsettling aspect is the constant presence of the AI bot, which raises questions about Nella’s naivety. The film is further complemented by Sneha Khanwalkar’s electronic and experimental score, contributing to its vibrant and edgy atmosphere.
As for performances, Ananya Panday excels in portraying her character’s transformation from a cheerful college student to a social media star and, ultimately, a broken soul. The film will definitely add good points to her growing filmography. Samat also delivers a strong performance, especially during his monologues and serious parts.
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In conclusion, CTRL effectively highlights the new generation’s obsession with social media and the influence of AI platforms. However, its thriller elements feel underdeveloped and fall short of expectations. While CTRL presents thought-provoking themes and striking visuals, it ultimately leaves audiences craving greater complexity and depth.
Also, read: Ananya Panday’s Call Me Bae Is Serving All The Drama With Style
