If you are a fan of Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and her hit series *Never Have I Ever*, *Best of the Best* feels like an extension of Devi’s college life—except this time, her name is Maya. Anjali and Maya have been best friends since childhood and are both excellent dancers. Unfortunately, Maya becomes infamous after being struck by a drone during a duet performance. At college, they decide to join UCLA Agni, a Bollywood fusion dance troupe. The stakes are high, as the team aims to win the "Best of the Best" competition.
Maya is a determined, strong-willed young woman with ideas that could lead the group to victory; however, her proposals are largely ignored, and the group chooses the more easygoing Anjali to lead the "Bollywood Shaadis" themed routine. An accidental mishap caused by Maya—followed by an academic probation issue she also inadvertently triggers—forces Anjali to leave the group, with Maya stepping in to take her place as leader.
Ironically, Maya had originally been the first choice to lead, but the team’s leadership considered her difficult to work with. Amidst the chaos and Maya’s budding romance with Ronak—the team captain, on whom Anjali had a major crush—will UCLA Agni manage to win "Best of the Best," or will their dreams be shattered, much like the drone that hit Maya?
Director: Lena Khan
Writers: Prashanth Venkataramanujam, Hasan Minhaj
Stars: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Priyanka Kedia, Chaneil Kular
When you start watching *Best of the Best*, you come in with certain expectations. You’ll see high-energy Bollywood dance numbers and impressive performances—the kind that make you want to tap your feet along—delivered by Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Priyanka Kedia, and the rest of the cast. Yet, little by little, you realize that Maya—Maitreyi Ramakrishnan’s character—is essentially just a continuation of Devi.
Even the clichés are so similar that it’s impossible not to be reminded of the past. Maya gets both herself and her friends into trouble; she isn't easy to deal with, but—like Devi—she is the best at what she does. It feels like the creators didn't try very hard to innovate: they didn't write the character with Maitreyi Ramakrishnan specifically in mind; instead, they thought of Devi and created a clone of her under a different name. There is also a peculiar argument between two American teens from rival dance crews, conducted in Hindi but with a heavy English accent. I’m not sure what the point of keeping—or even writing—that scene was, but oh well; we can just choose to ignore it.
The plot of *Best of the Best* is very predictable. And no, for once that isn't a bad thing, as it’s one of those feel-good movies you watch to tune out the real world. Would I watch it again? Probably not. It’s the kind of plot that’s easily forgotten.
As for the acting and dancing, the cast does a great job. Maitreyi Ramakrishnan really shines with the *locking* and *popping* moves she shows off. Priyanka Kedia also looks great with her dance steps. There are plenty of songs playing in the background, and I have to say, the creators chose Bollywood tracks that fit the movie's theme perfectly.
The pacing is good. Even though the plot is predictable, the storytelling is brisk, so you won't get bored. In short, if you’re a fan of *Never Have I Ever* and have wondered what Devi’s life might look like, check out *Best of the Best* to see what Maya gets up to. Otherwise, it’s worth a watch if you want a feel-good movie and are a fan of Maitreyi Ramakrishnan.
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