Best of the Best review – college comedy formula gets a Bollywood makeover
Netflix comedy *Best of the Best* follows two lifelong friends who join rival Bollywood dance groups at UCLA and compete in a college dance contest. Although its storyline and characters closely follow familiar campus-comedy conventions, the film stands out for its rapid-fire humour, energetic direction and inventive choreography.
Maya and Anjali, played by Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Priyanka Kedia, clash with their dance club’s traditional approach before developing a more contemporary routine. Directed by Lena Khan and written by Hasan Minhaj and Prashanth Venkataramanujam, the film combines jokes about second-generation South Asian experiences with a climactic routine centred on stealing the Koh-i-Noor, balancing cultural tradition with a modern diaspora perspective. It is available on Netflix from 18 September.
- Familiar college comedy given a lively Bollywood makeover.
- Fast-paced humour and standout dance sequences drive the film.
- Cultural identity and diaspora experiences add depth.