So, Vikramaditya Motwane is back with CTRL, but is it the mind-blowing tech thriller we were all hoping for? Well… not quite. Ananya Panday shines as Nella, a clueless social media influencer, but the movie itself? Let’s just say it’s as confused as its main character. 😬
A Plot That Abandons Its Characters? Yup. 😑
Here’s the thing: CTRL kicks off with a murder and dives into a chaotic plot, leaving its characters in the dust. It’s all about conspiracies and secret societies, but honestly, the deeper the movie goes into its wild storyline, the more it loses focus on its characters. The plot takes center stage while Ananya’s Nella is left floundering. Where’s the heart, Motwane? 💔
Screenlife Thriller, but With Drama Missing 🎥👀
Executive producer Timur Bekmambetov, the guy who brought us thrilling “screenlife” movies, lends his name here. But unlike past movies that made sharp commentary on modern culture with engaging narratives, CTRL goes for cultural commentary over substance. The film slowly morphs into a paranoid thriller in its second act, leaving us scratching our heads. 🙄
Ananya Panday Is Good, but the Writing? Eh. 🤷♀️
Ananya’s Nella starts off living her best influencer life in Mumbai with her boyfriend Joe (Vihaan Samat). But after catching him cheating at a random café (ouch 💔), she finds herself tangled in a conspiracy involving a shady Meta-like company called Mantra. Sounds cool, right? But the way the story unfolds makes you question Nella’s intelligence—and not in a fun, relatable way. She’s supposed to be this savvy influencer, but the movie makes her behave like she’s never heard of internet privacy. 🤨
Digital Dependence: The One Thing CTRL Gets Right 📱😱
One part where the movie nails it is when it taps into our unhealthy digital obsession. Nella, like so many of us, relies on her phone for everything. The terror of getting locked out of her accounts? Totally relatable. That panic? Real. CTRL does a decent job at showing how vulnerable we are in our digital worlds, but it’s just not enough to save the film from feeling disconnected.
Final Act: A Shift in Tone, but a Little Too Late 😓
By the time the film reaches its third act, it slows down, allowing Ananya to shine in more vulnerable moments. But here’s the thing: it feels like too little, too late. The rushed, chaotic plot from earlier leaves us too detached to fully care.
Verdict: Bold, but Overcooked 🍳🎬
CTRL swings for the fences but trips over itself trying to do too much. Ananya Panday’s performance is solid, but the film’s messy narrative and forced twists bury what could’ve been a thrilling watch. It tries to make big statements about our digital lives, but in the end, it feels more like a missed opportunity than a gripping commentary.
Rating: ⭐⭐/5