''CTRL'' is a 2024 Indian Hindi-language screenlife

thriller Thriller may refer to: * Thriller (genre), a broad genre of literature, film and television ** Thriller film, a film genre under the general thriller genre Comics * ''Thriller'' (DC Comics), a comic book series published 1983–84 by DC Comics i ...

film directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, written by Motwane and Avinash Sampath with dialogues by Sumukhi Suresh. Produced by Nikhil Dwivedi and Arya Menon under the banners of Saffron Magicworks and Andolan Films, the film stars Ananya Panday and

Vihaan Samat Vihaan Samat (born 9 March 1996) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi-language films and series. He is best known for playing the lead part in the Netflix series ''Eternally Confused and Eager for Love'' (2022) and a supporting part in the ...

. It premiered on Netflix on 4 October 2024.

Premise

Nella and Joe are a popular social media influencer couple. When he cheats on her, she turns to an AI

app App, Apps or APP may refer to: Computing * Application software * Mobile app, software designed to run on smartphones and other mobile devices * Web application or web app, software designed to run inside a web browser * Adjusted Peak Performan ...

to erase his digital existence on her computer and social media. However, the maker of the AI secretly begins to take control of her data and life, illegally invading her privacy.

Cast

* Ananya Panday as Nalini "Nella" Awasthi *

as Joe Mascarenhas * Devika Vatsa as Bina * Kamakshi Bhat as Shonali *

Suchita Trivedi Suchita Trivedi (born 20 September 1976) is an Indian actress, who is known for her work in Hindi TV dramas. She is widely remembered for her portrayal of Meenakshi Thakkar in the acclaimed dramedy ''Baa Bahoo Aur Baby'' on Star Plus, for which ...

as Nella's mother * Samit Gambhir as Manish Hirani * Kundan Pandey as Kundan * Ravish Desai as Aryan K * Aparshakti Khurana as Allen (voice)

Production

The film was announced in February 2023. Principal photography of the film wrapped in February 2024. The teaser was released on 4 August 2024. The film is cinematographically inspired by the POV art-style of

Aneesh Chaganty Aneesh Chaganty (; born January 30, 1991) is an American film director and screenwriter. He made his feature film directorial debut with the 2018 thriller ''Searching'', for which he won the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize at the 2018 Sundance ...

's directorial debut Searching (2018).

Music

Reception

Saibal Chatterjee of '' NDTV'' gave 3.5 stars out of 5 and stated that "CTRL, in spirit and substance, reinforces Vikramaditya Motwane's proven penchant for turning an established genre on its head." Sukanya Verma of '' Rediff.com'' rated the film 4/5 stars and called it an "eerie, immersive, real-time experience". Rishabh Suri from '' Hindustan Times'' termed the film an Indian version of '' Black Mirror''. Nandini Ramnath of Scroll.in considered it a "gripping thriller about data privacy in the age of AI". Shubhra Gupta of '' The Indian Express'' rated 2.5/5 stars and said in her review "While both Ananya Panday and Vihaan Samat do their job well, the film truly feels potent only when it comes off the screen." Anuj Kumar of ''

The Hindu ''The Hindu'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper owned by The Hindu Group, headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It began as a weekly in 1878 and became a daily in 1889. It is one of the Indian newspapers of record and the secon ...

'' stated in his review that "Director Vikramaditya Motwane succeeds in creating the mood, moments, and message but the thriller lacks the killer punch". Arushi Jain of '' India Today'' rated 2.5/5 stars and said "Ananya Panday's film offers an intriguing concept about AI's impact on life and love but falters with a tedious execution, ultimately failing to deliver a compelling message." Dhaval Roy of '' The Times of India'' gave 3 stars out of 5 and observed that "While CTRL excels in depicting social media obsession and AI's influence, its thriller parts are underdeveloped and don’t quite hit the mark. Despite thought-provoking themes and impressive visuals, it leaves viewers craving complexity and depth." Lachmi Deb Roy of '' Firstpost'' writes in her review that "Netflix’s CTRL teaches us to take control of our life and not to be slaves of technology. Engaging idea, but not executed well." '' The Statesman'' gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote that Ananya's ability to convey the emotional weight of Nella’s predicament elevates the film, making the audience empathize with her struggles, while supporting performances from the cast further enrich the narrative. The lauded the film's visual style, anchored in the digital landscape that enhances its thematic depth.

References

External links

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