Best of the Best: A College Comedy Gets a Bollywood Twist
Listen to the story
Netflix's new film Best of the Best takes the well-worn college comedy formula and gives it a Bollywood-style transformation, according to a review published by the Guardian.
The film relies on familiar elements of the genre while introducing vibrant dance sequences inspired by Indian cinema.
Directed by Lena Khan, the project is described as a Bollywood fusion dance movie made specifically for Netflix audiences.
Khan has spoken about her intention to blend a recognisable American college narrative with the visual energy of Bollywood musical traditions.
The cast includes Janina Gavankar, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Chaneil Kular, who lead the story.
Hasan Minhaj also collaborated with Khan on the film, though the exact nature of his involvement was not detailed in the source material.
In discussing her creative choices, Khan revealed that she asked Ramakrishnan to bring 'Channing Tatum energy' to her performance.
This reference to Tatum, a Hollywood actor known for his dance-focused films, suggests Khan wanted a confident, physically expressive style of acting.
A trailer for the film has already been released, offering audiences a preview of its story and choreography.
The promotional material highlights the blend of comedic storytelling with Bollywood-inspired musical numbers, positioning the film as a distinctive entry in the college comedy genre.
Early reviews suggest that this cultural crossover gives new life to a genre that has followed similar patterns for decades.
Critics have often noted that the traditional college comedy relies on predictable character types and plot structures, and Best of the Best appears to challenge that predictability through its Bollywood influences.
The film's makeover of the genre reflects a wider trend in streaming cinema, where familiar formats are being reimagined for global audiences with diverse cultural references.
Netflix has not released additional details about the film's production beyond what has been shared through interviews and promotional trailers.
Best of the Best is now streaming, offering viewers a chance to judge for themselves whether the fusion of styles succeeds.
Vocabulary7 words
- fusion
- a mix of two different styles or things
- cast
- all the actors in a movie
- genre
- a type or category of story, like comedy or drama
- trailer
- a short video that shows parts of a movie
- review
- a written opinion about how good or bad something is
- makeover
- a big change that makes something feel new
- choreography
- planned movements used in dance
📚 Ready to use these words in a real conversation?
Practice live with a real tutor on Preply.
Quiz
Answer key
1. It gives the formula a Bollywood-style makeover 2. To bring 'Channing Tatum energy' 3. True
✅ Nice work on the quiz!
Keep the momentum going — book a live English lesson with a Preply tutor.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think directors sometimes mix genres, such as college comedy and Bollywood dance, in one film?
- Do you think adding cultural elements from different film traditions makes a movie more interesting? Why or why not?
- What do you think Lena Khan meant by asking for 'Channing Tatum energy' in a performance?
- Would you be interested in watching a film that blends two very different movie styles? Explain your answer.
🎓 Enjoyed this story?
Turn today's reading into real speaking practice with a live Preply tutor.
