Netflix Comedy 'Best of the Best' Puts Bollywood Spin on College Genre, Guardian Review Finds

A new Netflix comedy set in the world of rival Bollywood dance groups on American college campuses follows a largely predictable formula but succeeds through its energy and choreography, according to a review published by The Guardian.

The film, titled "Best of the Best," is directed by Lena Khan, whom the review describes as one of the few Muslim female film-makers working in Hollywood. The screenplay was written by comedians Hasan Minhaj and Prashanth Venkataramanujam, both described in the review as millennials who appear to have researched Gen Z behaviour extensively for the project.

According to the review, the story follows lifelong best friends Maya, played by Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, and Anjali, played by Priyanka Kedia, who enrol together at UCLA. The review characterises Maya as "the clever difficult one" and Anjali as "the nice pretty one," noting that Maya is also portrayed as attractive.

During freshers' week, the two join the college's Bollywood dance club, where Maya clashes with club leader Ronak, played by Ankur Rathee, over creative direction for their routine. The review states that Ronak wants to base the group's new season on Bollywood wedding themes, which Maya argues is too traditional. To compete successfully against rival groups, the review notes, the characters conclude they need a more modern approach.

The Guardian review states that "there is absolutely nothing unexpected" about the film's plot, adding that "each plot twist is instantly familiar, every character recognisable, the essential formula untweaked from a dozen previous college comedies." Despite this, the reviewer describes the film as "funny and snappy," crediting Khan's direction for what is called "infectious energy" and praising the film's choreography and fast-paced storytelling as its most engaging elements.