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CTRL: A Cautionary Tale of AI and Heartbreak
Netflix’s new release CTRL, directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, taps into a familiar modern-day nightmare: losing control of one’s life to the algorithms, devices, and applications that power the digital world. Through the story of Nella Awasthi (played by Ananya Panday), a social media influencer seeking to “delete” her breakup memories using a controversial AI application, CTRL draws audiences into a commentary on the perils of tech overreach. While the film creatively unfolds in a “screenlife” format—where the entire story is told through the screens of Nella’s devices—this ambitious structure offers both strengths and limitations.
The “single-screen” format of CTRL immediately recalls films like ‘Searching’ and ‘Unfriended’, both of which were praised for creatively using screens to reveal hidden truths and mounting tension. Here, Nella's laptop and phone screens become the main frame through which we observe her every reaction, move, and decision, creating an intimacy between the character and the viewer. Motwane’s decision to tell the story solely through devices effectively captures the isolating effect of a technology-driven life. We watch Nella at her most vulnerable, confronting heartbreak and channeling her desperation through the advice of the AI program CTRL, which promises to help her erase all digital traces of her ex, Joe (Vihaan Samat). The audience experiences her life at the same detached, device-driven pace that the character does, making her struggles with tech addiction and emotional dependence on AI eerily relatable.
At the heart of the film is Ananya Panday’s portrayal of Nella, a woman stuck in the throes of a breakup and overwhelmed by her reliance on digital guidance. Panday’s performance has been widely praised for her ability to capture the subtleties of this tech-mediated isolation and vulnerability. It is through her expressions, restrained yet relatable, that we see Nella’s transformation from someone trying to move on to someone unwittingly trapped in a maze of digital memories and advice
Samat’s character, Joe, Nella’s ex-boyfriend, plays an integral yet limited role in the film, surfacing in flashbacks and memories that underscore the superficiality of their social media-heavy relationship. His line, “Our relationship was all about what to post, when to post, what will get us better engagement,” sums up the pressures that social media places on personal connections. These moments drive home the impact of a relationship lived online—a theme that’s all too familiar for today’s audiences and sets the film apart as a strong critique of social media dependency.
Through the character of Nella and the AI assistant CTRL, the film deftly critiques society’s growing reliance on artificial intelligence to navigate personal issues. The AI, speaking in a detached, robotic voice, offers advice that ranges from banal (“delete his photos”) to unsettlingly invasive, urging her to take drastic steps to “move on” in ways that feel eerily detached from human empathy. Motwane uses this as a tool to illustrate how much control we’re surrendering to algorithms designed without the capacity for compassion. As Nella’s journey progresses, she begins to hack into Joe’s private accounts, invading his digital life. This development cleverly reflects our modern-day habit of peeking into others’ lives online and raises questions about privacy, personal boundaries, and ethical conduct online. While the digital invasion is fictionalized, it’s not far removed from real concerns over data leaks, tech privacy, and digital boundaries—a powerful reminder of the control tech companies and AI applications can hold over our lives and minds.
Despite its timely and compelling subject, CTRL is not without its flaws. The film suffers from pacing issues, especially in the first half, which feels drawn-out with repetitive sequences that test viewer patience. The montage of breakup advice, where Nella follows ‘CTRL’s ’instructions to “delete his photos” and “shame him on social media,” is interesting at first but drags as it repeats similar advice in different ways. This segment, which runs for about ten minutes, can feel like an overextended introduction to a story that would have benefited from a quicker pace.
This slow build-up is followed by an increase in tension as the film pivots towards Nella’s invasion into Joe’s accounts. Here, the story finally picks up speed and intrigue, yet the film’s payoff lacks the dramatic tension it had built. Critics have noted that while the film succeeds in raising ethical questions and evoking a sense of eeriness, it stumbles in delivering a climactic resolution. The conclusion leaves much of the tension unresolved, leaving viewers feeling like they’re left hanging on a message rather than a narrative resolution.
One of CTRL's standout elements is its visual authenticity. Shot in natural light and featuring realistically designed apps, the film feels raw and unpolished in a way that underscores its message about tech’s natural presence in our lives. Motwane’s eye for realism allows even the video calls and social media apps to appear familiar, almost like reflections of our own digital lives. This aesthetic choice reinforces the feeling of being “trapped” within Nella’s screen, making the film’s critique of digital life even more impactful. Vikramaditya Motwane’s choice to incorporate real-life pop culture references into CTRL gives the film an added layer of realism and immediacy, making Nella’s story feel like a page ripped straight from today’s social media headlines. By featuring popular creators like Tanmay Bhat and Yashraj Mukhate, both of whom have significant influence on Indian internet culture, Motwane deepens the film’s commentary on viral fame, digital invasions of privacy, and the ways in which personal moments can become fodder for public consumption.
One of the most notable scenes shows Nella’s breakup video going viral, with Tanmay Bhat watching it in his signature reaction format, jokingly dissecting it alongside fellow comedian Rohan Joshi and others. This playful yet pointed moment captures the way social media influencers, including comedians, often interact with viral content, blending humor with a critique of its absurdity. This real-life-inspired setup, in which a real figure like Tanmay appears to treat her heartbreak as just another piece of content, underscores the ease with which people’s personal struggles are sometimes trivialized in the quest for entertainment. Yashraj Mukhate’s appearance brings another dose of digital authenticity to CTRL. Known for creating catchy tunes from viral audio clips, Mukhate takes Nella’s video and turns it into a hit song, mirroring his actual process of transforming popular dialogues or emotional outbursts into musical content. This fictionalized version of Mukhate amplifies the surreal experience of watching one's vulnerability become entertainment for millions. For Nella, her moment of heartbreak being looped into a danceable track highlights both the reach and impact of social media on personal privacy—her emotions are no longer her own but something to be shared, remixed, and danced to.
Ultimately, CTRL is a cautionary tale for an audience already acutely aware of the effects of social media and AI but still grappling with its implications. The film underscores the danger of a life overrun by data privacy issues, algorithms, and an endless cycle of online validation, and it succeeds in making its message clear: be wary of a world where AI knows too much and empathy is reduced to coded responses. While not entirely original, the message feels fresh, resonant, and timely.
CTRL is a film with an important, if familiar, message. Motwane’s commitment to a digital-only narrative is bold, and Ananya Panday’s performance lends the story a genuine emotional core. Yet the film’s slow pacing and lack of a clear resolution leave room for improvement. For viewers interested in exploring the psychology of tech-driven lifestyles and the ethical quandaries posed by AI, CTRL is worth a watch. While it may not completely captivate audiences hoping for a tightly wound thriller, CTRL is a thought-provoking film that underscores the uneasy dance between our human instincts and our AI-dictated routines. It’s a timely reminder of the boundaries we must protect if we’re to retain control in a world increasingly ruled by digital “assistance.”
Rating: ★★★★☆
Directed by: Vikramaditya Motwane
Written by: Vikramaditya Motwane
Avinash Sampath
Sumukhi Suresh
Produced by: Nikhil Dwivedi
Arya Menon
Starring:
Ananya Panday
Vihaan Samat
Cinematography: Pratik Shah
Edited by: Jahaan Noble
Music by:
Sneha Khanwalkar
Amit Trivedi
Yashraj Mukhate
Production
companies:
Saffron Magicworks
Andolan Films
Distributed by: Netflix
Running time: 99 minutes
Country: India
Language: Hindi
