Vikramaditya Motwane made a smashing debut as a feature filmmaker in 2010 with Udaan. Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section, Udaan wowed international critics before winning over Indian audiences, where it was hailed as one of the best coming-of-age dramas in Indian cinema. Often associated with Anurag Kashyap, Motwane was quickly recognised as a filmmaker to watch out for. While his subsequent films didn’t match the compelling storytelling of his debut, they still stood out from their peers. His latest film, CTRL, which started streaming on Netflix on October 4, is a cyber-thriller exploring the negative consequences of artificial intelligence and social media obsession. ‘CTRL’ Review: Critics Like Ananya Panday’s Performance But Not Her ‘Tedious’ Netflix Thriller on Artificial Intelligence.

Ananya Panday stars in CTRL as Nella, an online influencer, with Vihaan Samat as her love interest. The film follows Nella as she lets an AI app control her social media, leading her into a conspiracy with deadly consequences. Much of CTRL is presented in a screenlife format, using laptops, smartphone, and television screens. However, despite its intriguing premise, the film stumbles in delivering a gripping thriller about cyber insecurities.

So, where does CTRL fit in Motwane’s impressive filmography? In this feature, we rank his feature films from worst to best, excluding web series like Sacred Games and Jubilee. (If included, Jubilee would have topped the list!)

CTRL

CTRL had the potential to be an engaging cyber-thriller about the impact of AI and social media on ordinary people, but it becomes too preachy and lacks a sharp enough screenplay to hold our attention. It’s easily the weakest film in Motwane’s filmography. Streaming on Netflix. ‘CTRL’ Movie Review: Vikramaditya Motwane’s Cyber-Thriller Starring Ananya Panday Loses Control of Its Own Potential.

AK vs AK

Like CTRL, AK vs AK, also on Netflix, leans on an interesting visual and narrative gimmick. The premise, with Anil Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap playing fictional versions of themselves locked in a feud, offered potential for black comedy and satire. While the Harshvardhan Kapoor cameo was amusing and Anil Kapoor was too good, the film failed to build something compelling out of its quirky setup, leaving it rather ordinary. Streaming on Netflix. AK vs AK Movie Review: Anil Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap’s Onscreen Rivalry Is Entertaining in Parts in This Meta Black Comic Thriller.

Bhavesh Joshi Superhero

Bhavesh Joshi Superhero is a vigilante film that almost gets everything right—except for its casting and a couple of action sequences. The plot, focused on the water mafia, is grounded, and the protagonist’s motivations feel relatable. However, Harshvardhan Kapoor feels miscast in the lead, and the second half could have used some trimming. Streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. Bhavesh Joshi Superhero Movie Review: Harshvardhan Kapoor Delivers an Earnest Act in Vikramaditya Motwane's Gripping, Smart Vigilante Thriller.

Trapped

While I wasn’t entirely sold on the circumstances that led to Rajkummar Rao’s character being trapped in a flat, this survival drama is still gripping. Much of its success rests on the shoulders of Rao’s brilliant performance and the movie manages to show his character's pitiful attempts to escape his trap in the grittiest manner possible. I also loved how Motwane explores the paradox of a man’s helpless isolation in a city that never sleeps. Streaming on Zee5.

Lootera

If you ask me my favourite film of either Ranveer Singh or Sonakshi Sinha, I’d point to Lootera. Motwane and screenwriter Bhavani Iyer take loose inspiration from O Henry’s short story, The Last Leaf, and add beautiful layers of love, guilt, compassion, and redemption, making Lootera a touching, heartrending drama. Both Singh and Sinha deliver excellent performances, and Amit Trivedi’s soundtrack is among his best. Streaming on Prime Video.

Udaan

Even after reviewing all of his films, Udaan remains Motwane’s best to date, setting an incredibly high benchmark that his future movies struggled to surpass. This coming-of-age drama boasts a relatable storyline, touching moments and stellar performances from Rajat Barmecha, Ronit Roy, and Ram Kapoor. You can’t help but cheer for the protagonist as he takes 'flight' from an abusive relationship, even if his feet remain grounded. Streaming on Netflix.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 04, 2024 07:22 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).