CTRL Movie Review: Ananya Panday’s Film Delivers Instagram Reel-Level Entertainment, Surprising Miss From Vikramaditya Motwane

CTRL movie review: If you know absolutely nothing about AI, you might find Ananya Panday's Netflix film mildly interesting. Otherwise, it’s a film that might not be worth your time.

CTRL movie review: When Vikramaditya Motwane decided to cast Ananya Panday in his film, there was a glimmer of hope that her hidden talent would finally be revealed. Unfortunately, Motwane’s film CTRL on Netflix doesn’t manage to live up to those expectations. This AI (Artificial Intelligence)-themed film lacks the entertainment factor that could have made it bearable. Once again, Ananya’s fanbase is left disappointed. 

CTRL movie plot

The story revolves around an influencer couple—Nella Awasthi (Ananya Panday) and Joe (Vihaan Samat). Both are making a fortune through social media, but Nella catches Joe red-handed with another girl, leading to their breakup. Enter AI, which brings one more twist to the film. However, this twist, if described in a single word, would ruin the already thin suspense, which isn’t much to begin with. 

How is CTRL movie?

There is nothing shocking or fresh in this film. What you see is exactly what you’ve seen before. To follow the story, you need to keep your eyes glued to the screen as plenty of text flashes throughout, which only adds to the frustration. The movie feels like a collection of Instagram Reels or WhatsApp forwards stitched together. As for the viewers, well, we’re left feeling a bit foolish for sticking through the runtime. I spent almost two hours on this film, and if you still want to invest your time after reading this, then it’s your choice. 

Performances

Ananya Panday once again plays a role that feels too close to her real-life persona. It’s as if filmmakers intentionally cast her in roles where she doesn’t need to step outside her comfort zone. Nella, like Ananya, belongs to the current generation, but Ananya fails to convince the audience that she’s truly inhabiting this character. She’s getting opportunities, but it’s crucial for her to start utilising them better. If she focuses on honing her craft rather than relying on false praise, she could establish herself as an actress worth remembering. Otherwise, the "nepo kid" tag will follow her throughout her career. Criticism may sting, but it’s meant to push artists toward growth. On the other hand, Vihaan Samat fares much better, often overshadowing Ananya. There’s a scene where both have to pose and smile together, and that moment alone makes it clear who the better actor is. Other supporting actors don’t leave much of an impression. 

Direction

Vikramaditya Motwane, a filmmaker known for delivering the best from his actors, disappoints this time. The story lacks the depth and intrigue needed to engage viewers. We expect much more from Motwane, but here, he doesn’t even manage to get an “okay” performance from his cast, let alone their best. 

If you know absolutely nothing about AI, you might find this film mildly interesting. Otherwise, it’s a film that might not be worth your time. The choice, as always, is yours.