Best of the Best continues to make waves as a high-energy dance comedy streaming on Netflix. Directed by Lena Khan and written by Hasan Minhaj and Prashanth Venkataramanujam, the film follows childhood best friends Maya and Anjali as they join UCLA’s competitive Bollywood-fusion dance team. Their journey to the U.S. Championship proves to be far more raucous and cutthroat than they ever anticipated.
The movie features dynamic choreography by Phillip Chbeeb and Makenzie Chbeeb, with co-choreography by Joya Kazi, and boasts a star-studded ensemble cast. In a continuation of her interview with film enthusiast Maria Akhtar, director Lena Khan discussed how she crafted the film’s eclectic musical soundscape and the classic Bollywood inspirations that shaped the project.
Capturing the Diaspora Experience Through Music
Director Lena Khan sat down with journalist Maria Akhtar to discuss the standout elements of how seamlessly it blends traditional South Asian sounds, such as Coke Studio tracks, Pakistani music, Garba, and Kuthu, with modern Western influences like Labrinth and A.R. Rahman. When asked how she managed to mix these diverse genres without making them feel out of place, Khan emphasized that the key was authenticity to the diaspora experience. “These are not Bollywood dances; these are intercollegiate American Bollywood dances. It’s inspired by the North American Bollywood circuit… meaning these are not Indian kids. These are diaspora kids, and diaspora kids already have those different parts of their identity that they are flexing.”
To bring this vision to life, Khan collaborated closely with music supervisor Kier Lehman and music remixer Ryan Confrido (drawing inspiration from competition DJs). Rather than sticking to standard hip-hop elements often seen in collegiate circuits, Khan pushed to showcase a wide variety of South Asian styles alongside Western tracks that fit the narrative beat count. Notable pairings included matching “Welcome to the Party” for hype moments and working with a favorite mashup: the “Oo Antava” and Labrinth remix.
’90s Bollywood Cinematic Influences
When discussing the cinematic influences behind the film, Khan shared that the team drew inspiration from major Bollywood classics and romance retrospectives. To prepare the cast and crew, Khan had everyone watch foundational films like Saawariya and Om Shanti Om, alongside the documentary series The Romantics, focusing heavily on the vibrant style of ’90s-era Bollywood.
You can stream Best of the Best exclusively on Netflix.
