By: Advika Anand
Opinion Editor
On Sept. 18, Netflix premiered their newest comedy movie, Best of the Best, a story that centers on college dance teams. Starring Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Priyanka Kedia, the movie follows dancers as they navigate the pressure of competition while balancing friendships, family expectations and college life.
The movie follows two best friends, Maya and Anjali, as they join UCLA’s competitive Bollywood-fusion dance team. After a rough ending to her high school dance career, Maya is initially apprehensive about participating in the activity, but after seeing a performance, she becomes hooked. Once Maya and Anjali audition for the team and make it, they rift within the team over power. Between intense rehearsals and disagreements among teammates, the dancers have to learn how to work together to make it to the U.S. Bollywood championship dubbed “Best of the Best.” As the competition approaches, the pressure increases, forcing Maya and Anjali to decide just how badly they want to win and what they are willing to sacrifice to get there.
One of the movie’s biggest strengths is its dance sequences. The performances combine Bollywood music with modern choreography, creating energetic routines that keep the viewers engaged. Each team brings its own style to the stage, making the performances one of the most entertaining parts of the movie. The costumes, music, and choreography also give the film a colorful visual style that separates it from a typical high school or college comedy.
The movie also relies heavily on its characters and their relationships. Rather than focusing only on the competition, Best of the Best shows the friendships that develop between teammates and the conflicts that can come with spending hours practicing together. The dancers do not always agree on their performance’s direction, but those disagreements create some of the movie’s funniest moments while also giving the characters room to grow.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, best known for playing Devi Vishwakumar in Netflix’s Never Have I Ever, brings her comedic timing and familiar personality to the film. Her chemistry with the rest of the cast helps to keep the movie light even when the competition becomes more serious. Priyanka Kedia also stands out as part of the ensemble, adding personality to the team dynamic.
Although Best of the Best is built around a dance competition, the movie is ultimately about finding a group of people who share the same passion. The dancers have different personalities and motivations, but they have to put those differences aside when they step onto the stage. For viewers looking for a lighthearted movie with comedy and plenty of drama, Best of the Best offers an entertaining combination. With its energetic performances and competitive storyline, the film puts a Bollywood twist on the classic dance movie formula while introducing audiences to the world of collegiate Bollywood dance.