Best of the Best Review: A Fun, Heartfelt South Asian Celebration

Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Priyanka Kedia shine in Lena Khan’s Bollywood-inspired college comedy, blending infectious dance sequences, heartfelt friendship and Gen Z drama.

There was something about Best of the Best that really piqued my interest before I sat down with it, much in part due to its trailer. It was flashy and bombastic with some dance segments that looked exciting to film, but there was something strong that held it together. After watching this film, it seemed to be that genuine sisterhood between its two main characters that stuck with me the most.

That’s because this film, under Lena Khan’s direction, understands the culture of passion versus practicality through the Gen Z experience. Its two main characters, Maya and Anjali, are two sides of the same coin and have traits that viewers can definitely relate to. Whereas Maya is the smart overachiever who’s slightly arrogant, she’s overshadowed by Anjali’s charm and looks, which pulls everyone towards her.

It’s a familiar story that touches upon jealousy and rivalry, but what makes Best of the Best unique is how it handles its story beats. The overarching challenge Maya and Anjali have to deal with is proving themselves to their new dance team at UCLA. Although this challenge is the main focus, the ups and downs involving romance, lies, and empathy is what makes this film fun to watch.

Plus, with all the glitz and glamor inspired by Bollywood, Lena Khan’s Best of the Best has an infectious energy that keeps the ball rolling.

Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Priyanka Kedia Take the Lead

Best of the Best wouldn’t be what it is without Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Priyanka Kedia in the leading roles as Maya and Anjali. Both of them really make these two characters feel realistic while emphasizing the challenges that every college student faces. However, Maya and Anjali are faced with two very different cases.

Whereas Maya wants to redeem herself after being embarassed on social media, Anjali struggles academically as her mother stresses her to do better. These problems are soft launching points for the two to eventually join the team, but the tension of these troubles linger in every scene they find themselves in.

Together, Ramakrishnan and Kedia are just fun to watch as they put themselves at the forefront of their team. In the conversational scenes, they ground Maya and Anjali in hopeful optimism, allowing us to feel some joy with them. However, as the two become more distant, the uneasiness that eminates from both these characters carries the right amount of awkwardness. Yet, Ramakrishnan and Kedia confidently show that Maya and Anjali still innately care for each other, infusing that much needed sympathy in both of them.

Best of the Best wouldn’t be more fun without its two male romantics.

For Maya, that’s through Chaneil Kular’s Arjun, who’s rooted in practical work, but appreciates Maya in his heart. For Anjali, it’s through Ankur Rathee’s Ronak, the dance team’s captain who admires Anjali more than Maya, despite her “lead energy.” Both of these characters work in creating that space for Maya and Anjali to test their strengths and weaknesses.

There’s also a variety of faces that pop in and out and Khan seems to recognize the traditional stereotypes. Shreya Navile’s Deepica and Becky Alex’s Dimple are the resident gossip girls who are fierce, but don’t seem to change as much. Nihar Duvvuri’s Nirbhay is the overexcited fanboy who gets a word in every now and then and Nico Greetham’s Harry is there as supportive comic relief too.

Even though there’s many characters, each actor in Best of the Best really helps propel Maya and Anjali’s story forward. Despite how much is narratively packed, all of these characters easily fit into Khan’s larger vision.

Best of the Best Bears the Hallmarks of South Asian Cinema

In a way, it does feel like Best of the Best plays up the narrative beats to emphasize that thematic understanding of sisterhood. From Maya and Anjali’s first steps on campus to the turning event that places Maya in the spotlight, Khan utilizes each moment to naturally let those emotions flow. Plus, with all that’s unsaid between Maya and Anjali’s over time, the worry really feels emphasized.

This is especially seen with how Maya and Anjali attempt to help each other. For example, Maya decides to let Anjali be the female lead, but her own intervention later on causes a painful incident. Another example can be seen when Anjali promises to support Maya at an event, but her desire for Ronak distracts her. The intertwining of these elements surprisingly ends up being cohesive.

Through all of these steps that Maya and Anjali take, each one emphasizes that they cannot be emotionally separated. With each interaction gradually tearing Maya and Anjali away from each other, that building stress doesn’t feel forced.

It’s through the establishing and execution of every story step that creates that natural intertwining. With so many things happening separately to Maya and Anjali, it may feel like a lot for viewers to absorb. However, it somehow coalesces into a conclusion that recognizes everything, even if elements, like Anjali’s mother, take a minor backseat.

Hasan Minhaj and Prashanth Venkataramanujam Add Some Witty, Relatable Humor

Furthermore, Best of the Best is carried by the hilarious humor, which is brought to screen by Hasan Minhaj and Prashanth Venkataramanujam. It shouldn’t be a surprise because Minhaj is a comedian and Venkataramanujam has collaborated with Minhaj before. Yet, the comedy, for the most part, lands.

Most of the jokes come from Minhaj’s professor character, who wants nothing to do with Maya and Anjali’s drama. The event where Anjali promised Maya she’d be at leads to some hilarious dialogue where he tries to fill the dead air. Furthermore, another scene where he tries to mend Maya and Anjali’s friendship has a little off-beat moment, but it does get some smiles.

Additionally, Saara Chaudry’s Ayesha and Kavi Ramachandran’s Shree are pretty funny in the handful of scenes that they’re in. They’re both a bit of jealous as rivaling co-presidents, but they don’t overstay their welcome.

Impressive Dance Sequences Make the Dream Work

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Bollywood-inspired film if Best of the Best didn’t have some fantastic dance sequences. There are so many different ones to pick from, but each one is proudly different from the previous one.

The opening sequence where Maya and Anjali envision their futures definitely stands out the most just for how serious both characters are. The one that takes second place sees the two trying to upstage Ronak’s former girlfriend and her posse, which really takes advantage of the outdoor setting.

The choreography from Phillip Chbeeb, Makenzie Dustman, and Joya Kazi gives each dance sequence a uniqueness that easily grabs your attention. The additional cinematography and editing, from Adam Carboni and Phillip J. Bartell respectively, supports all of that through the colorful capturing of each set piece.

Plus, it’s even more of a surprise to see Best of the Best‘s main cast actually doing all the dancing rather than letting them sit back. All of this gives that life and spark that a culturally inspired movie about dance like this needs. From the conversational moments to the intricate dances, Khan allows the cast to confidently play to their respective strengths.

Verdict

Best of the Best is a wonderful celebration of Bollywood cinema through the Gen Z college experience, which is happily brought to life by Lena Khan, Hasan Minhaj and Prashanth Venkataramanujam. Even though it’s a narrative web of dance, drama, and romance, it will definitely have viewers enjoying Khan’s perspective on exploring what sisterhood looks like today.

Best of the Best is now streaming on Netflix.

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