CTRL Review: Assume ‘Ctrl’ is just a key on your laptop, but it controls your life. We spend hours scrolling through reels on mobile screens, play games without reading terms and conditions, and knowingly or unknowingly remain oblivious to how our online activities are being stored by various apps, making us addicted.

Has it ever occurred to you that you discuss buying something with a friend or family member, and as soon as you open your social media account, you start seeing ads for that product? It may seem convenient, but are you aware that your phone’s microphone is sharing all your information with others without your knowledge?

Vikramaditya Motwane’s film ‘Ctrl’ makes you understand, shows, and even frightens you… but what it reveals is what we are all facing. Nella and Joe meet in college, struggling with loneliness, and find solace in each other. Like us, they start sharing their lives on social media.

Their life blogging channel, Njoy, makes them influencers. But on their relationship anniversary, Nella discovers Joe’s intimate relationship with another girl. The story of this online couple’s separation mirrors that of a popular YouTuber’s recent divorce, which sparked massive online trolling.

‘Ctrl’, however, goes beyond that. Nella uses an AI tool to erase Joe from her memories. But the AI assistant does something that makes Joe disappear. ‘Ctrl’ exposes how internet giants manipulate our lives and how we’re trapped in their apps and social media.

Co-written by Avinash and Sumukhi, Vikramaditya Motwane weaves ‘Ctrl’ into a realistic narrative, confined to a few characters and rooms, mirroring our lives stuck to mobile devices. It’s frightening to see how apps record our lives without permission and influence our thoughts.

Vikramaditya Motwane’s treatment makes ‘Ctrl’ remarkably realistic, devoid of drama, but highlighting the rat race of social media appearances and the abyss that follows. Pratik Shah’s cinematography and Noble’s editing keep ‘Ctrl’ under control.

‘Ctrl’ is Ananya Panday’s film. Vikramaditya Motwane cast her as Nella because Ananya’s image perfectly fits the character. This is the film’s masterstroke. Vihaan’s casting and performance as Joe Mascarenhas also work in Ctrl’s favor.

Unlike their recent release ‘Call Me Bae’, which is far from reality, Ananya and Vihaan paint a vastly different picture here. Other actors appear as mere fillers, much like how our families and friends have become stuck to mobile screens.

Watch Ctrl, as it jolts us into realizing how we’re losing control of our lives by granting data access to social media and apps.

Review by — Ashwani Kumar