CTRL

Vikramaditya Motwane’s CTRL: A Screenlife Thriller That Was a "Geek Fest" Behind the Scenes

Vikramaditya Motwane’s CTRL (2024) isn’t just a thriller—it’s a technical experiment. The film, starring Ananya Panday and Vihaan Samat, marks the director’s first foray into the "screenlife" genre, where the story unfolds entirely through screens—phones, laptops, and apps. But behind the polished final product lies a production process Motwane himself called a "time-consuming but fun geek-fest" .

**Why CTRL Was a Technical Marathon**

Screenlife films demand precision. Every frame must feel authentic, from the way notifications pop up to the timing of video calls. Motwane’s previous work, like the period drama Jubilee (2023), couldn’t be more different, making CTRL a bold pivot. In an interview, he revealed the challenges of shooting a film where the camera never leaves a digital interface. "It was a geek fest," he said, hinting at the meticulous planning required to make the tech feel seamless ^[2].

The film’s premise—a scorned influencer using an AI app to erase her cheating boyfriend—adds another layer of complexity. The AI’s behavior had to be both eerie and believable, requiring collaboration between writers, VFX teams, and actors to ensure the digital interactions felt organic.

Ananya Panday: The "Troll-Able" Star Motwane Needed

Panday’s casting wasn’t just about star power. Motwane explained that CTRL required a young actor who could handle the internet’s harsh spotlight. "We needed someone who is troll-able," he said, referencing Panday’s real-life experience with online scrutiny . Her role as Nella, an influencer navigating both a toxic relationship and a rogue AI, plays to her strengths—balancing vulnerability with the performative confidence of social media fame.

Vihaan Samat, as her cheating boyfriend Joe, provides the perfect foil. The film’s tension hinges on their dynamic, making their chemistry crucial. While the evidence doesn’t detail their off-screen rapport, the script’s reliance on their digital interactions suggests a tight collaboration between the leads.

A Script Written for the Screenlife Format

CTRL wasn’t just directed by Motwane—he co-wrote it with Avinash Sampath, with dialogues by comedian Sumukhi Suresh . The screenplay had to work within the constraints of the screenlife format, where every line of dialogue and on-screen action must feel like a natural part of a digital conversation. Suresh’s comedic background likely added a sharp edge to the film’s darker moments, balancing satire with thriller elements.

The film was produced by Nikhil Dwivedi and Arya Menon under Saffron Magicworks and Andolan Films ^[4][5][6]. While the evidence doesn’t reveal budget details or shooting schedules, the technical demands of a screenlife film suggest a production that prioritized post-production and VFX work.

What We Don’t Know (Yet)

Despite the buzz, some details remain under wraps:

• Box Office or Streaming Numbers: The evidence doesn’t mention how CTRL performed on Netflix, where it’s currently streaming.
• Behind-the-Scenes Drama: No snippets hint at conflicts or challenges beyond Motwane’s comments about the film’s technical demands.
• Audience Reception: While the premise is intriguing, there’s no clear consensus on whether CTRL resonated with viewers or critics.

The Bottom Line

CTRL is a bold experiment for Motwane, blending tech paranoia with influencer culture. The film’s success hinges on its ability to make screens feel as tense as a traditional thriller. With Panday’s star power and Motwane’s reputation for innovation, it’s a project worth watching—even if the behind-the-scenes details are still scarce.