It is safe to say that the makers of CTRL, director Vikramaditya Motwane and producer Nikhil Dwivedi, were in complete control of this path-breaking and genre-defining film starring Ananya Panday. CTRL, currently streaming on Netflix, not only presents a more modern and Gen-Z-friendly style of storytelling but it also puts into perspective how much control we’ve given to technology over our lives — and it’s frightening!
As Ananya Panday's Nella hands over her life's 'control and happiness' to an AI assistant to erase her ex-boyfriend from her digital life, she is subjected to the dark side of technology. Like any other regular youngster, Nella does not have a clue about the implications of using an AI service. As the story moves forward, both she and the audiences realise the deep invasion of privacy involved.
A new interactive format
Set entirely on laptop and smartphone screens, CTRL introduces a new kind of filmmaking to Indian audiences. You might have doubts about the format at first, but the near-perfect execution by the very skilled Vikramaditya Motwane makes it a seamless watch. You are drawn into the story right from the opening scene and not once this digital-style storytelling comes in the way. If anything, it elevates the theme of the film.
ALSO READ – CTRL Movie Review: Vikramaditya Motwane’s Digital Thriller Is Edgy And Sinister
Credit also has to go to Nikhil Dwivedi and Netflix India Content VP Monika Shergill for backing a project like this for it could appear risky on paper. It certainly is a bold move on their part and now that CTRL has almost established a new genre, we could expect other filmmakers to explore this format soon.
Why the theme matters
Truth be told, in today's day and age, smartphone addiction is real. We are constantly switching between various apps in daily life; some for our own pleasure, others for day-to-day functions. WhatCTRL does is that it makes us pause and think about how much of our personal information we have handed over to tech companies. In a way, we are under constant surveillance with tech giants tracking our location, bank balance, personal choices, and a lot more.
With so much of our data at their mercy, these companies can easily influence us to make decisions, even when we don’t realise it. CTRL highlights this without being preachy, making it even more effective.
In a time when AI is becoming central to our lives, CTRL reminds us to stay aware and not let technology control us.