In spite of reading warnings about online frauds and invasion of privacy, most people are lax about security. Nobody reads the terms and conditions before clicking on ‘I Accept’ because it’s too complicated and time consuming. Vikramaditya Motwate’s film CTRL (on Netflix), written by him and Avinash Sampath, is a cautionary tale about the consequences of allowing social media apps too much access into personal details.
Nella (Ananya Panday) and her boyfriend Joe (Vihaan Samat) are popular influencers, which means they share everything about their lives together to gather more followers. The numbers get them endorsement deals.
One day, Nella wants to surprise Joe at a restaurant where he is meeting work buddies, and is publicly humiliated when she catches him kissing another girl. Her meltdown, also captured on camera makes her the laughing stock on social media. Worse than loss of face is loss of followers and livelihood.
In a mood of despair she signs up for an AI app, chooses a male assistant to help rid her online platforms of Joe’s images. She gives the app admin access, and basically all permissions to read and access her mails and messages. The AI Avatar she names Allen (voiced by Aparshakti Khurana), would have been creepy in the real world, but Nella just needs emotional support– she seems to have just one offline friend, who, like Allen, is not available all the time.
Initially, she is thrilled when she becomes a solo success as an influencer; then she gets news that Joe has gone missing, and it hits her just how much the app has embedded itself into her life.
The film is slickly and truly contemporary when dependence on digital devices has become an epidemic. Many youngsters and seniors too would be lost, and maybe, lonely, without their smartphones. Companies data mining to sell products to consumers is a step away from controlling every aspect of our lives, dictating preferences and expressing thoughts on our behalf. It’s a scary dystopian situation of mind control, and it’s almost here. Deep fake videos and voices are being used to con or blackmail the vulnerable.
The format of the film is screenlife, which means for most part the action is seen on a screen; very few scenes are offline. It can be disconcerting to watch, because of the phoney excitement that’s part of the contest sharing deal. The comments and emojis– mostly trolling– are constantly running at the side.
Ananya Panday’s performance, without the filter of vanity, is earnest. All young stars have an online presence and are aware of the risks of oversharing and trolling. Since she belongs to the generation of smartphone-addicted youngsters, she brings a certain veracity to the character, comfortable with the jargon and visual quirks.
Directed by: Vikramaditya Motwane
Cast: Ananya Panday, Vihaan Samat, Devika Vatsa and others
On Netflix
