Web Show: Class

Director: Ashim Ahluwalia

Cast: Gurfateh Pirzada, Anjali Sivaraman, Ayesha Kanga, Chayan Chopra, Chintan Rachchh, Cwaayal Singh, Madhyama Segal, Moses Koul, Naina Bhan, Piyush Khati, Zeyn Shaw

OTT: Netflix

Rating: 3 Moons

The term 'class' can have multiple meanings. One can refer to the class you're studying in and the other is defined by the economical and caste structure followed by society for the longest time. Bringing both definitions of the term together, director Ashim Ahluwalia adapts the world of the Spanish series, Elite, for the Indian audience. Headlined by Gurfateh Pirzada, Anjali Sivaraman, Ayesha Kanga, Chayan Chopra, Chintan Rachchh, Cwaayal Singh, Madhyama Segal, Moses Koul, Naina Bhan, Piyush Khati and Zeyn Shaw, Class is the latest series to premiere on Netflix today.

The 8-episode show, adapted from Elite, revolves around a bunch of school children. Set in Delhi, three students of a government school named Noorpur Khatola get direct admission into one of the city's best schools, Hampton International, after the educational institute is down to ashes. Dheeraj (Piyush Khati), Saba (Madhyama Segal) and Balli (Cwaayal Singh) are the three new entrants at Hampton International, a school filled with rich, spoilt brats. However, Suhani (Anjali Sivaraman) is rather more compassionate, unlike others which brings enough trouble to her. Suhani's brother Veer (Zeyn Shaw) dislikes Dheeraj but over a period of time, he grows closer to Saba, ditching his existing girlfriend Yashika (Ayesha Kanga). The other students of the school are Dhruv (Chayan Chopra), Sharan (Moses Koul) and Koel (Naina Bhan). Each of them has a different story to tell. 

However, the lives of these students of Hampton International change when Suhani is found dead. Dheeraj and his brother Neeraj (Gurfateh Pirzada) are at the receiving end along with her parents and brother. The whodunnit unravels gradually over a period of 8 episodes with close to 50 minutes of runtime. 

In the eight episodes of Class, director Ashim incorporates multiple subplots. Despite being an adaptation, the show manages to hold the attention for most of the duration. Capturing the essence of Delhiites, even if that could come across as stereotypical, Ashim holds a mirror to the reality of society and the privileges of the elites. He doesn't seem to be in a hurry to reach a conclusion and hence, every episode burns slowly, steadily and tastefully.

The series scores a plus point for allowing space for almost every major character to breathe freely and let him/her make a place for themselves in the minds of the audience. Right from handling the conversation around LGBTQ+ delicately to understanding why greed and circumstances make people commit crimes, willingly or unwillingly. Standing up against prejudices of society on various matters, Class makes for an engaging watch. It never puts too much effort to prove a point. The added advantage that Class gets is that the director has enough time to play around with the subplots, give a chance to the bunch of young actors to show their acting prowess and despite flaws, it remains to be engaging throughout. Yes, there are stereotypes, but you are expected to ignore them for pure entertainment. 

Having said so, it cannot be ignored that Class gets repetitive after a point. Frequent sex scenes, parties, drugs and multiple love stories and angles dampen the narrative to a greater extent. This just adds more screen time to the already lengthy series.  

The star performer of Class is Anjali Sivaraman. She is the beating heart of the show. The actress, as Suhani, is instantly likable and effective on-screen. Be it Suhani's vulnerabilities, confidence, angst, or change in behaviour due to horrific past incidents, Anjali does a fabulous job. She wears the role like her second skin. Anjali balances softness and sternness effortlessly. Zeyn Shaw is charming as Veer and will live rent-free in the minds of the audience for a long time. Piyush Khati does a terrific job as Dheeraj. He adds calmness to the chaos and shines out-n-out. What else is needed to fall in love with his work?  

Gurfateh Pirzada does a commendable job as Neeraj. There's a rustic touch to his character and that's what works in his favour. Madhyama Segal is a revelation too. Cwaayal Singh is fun to watch. Ayesha Kanga, Chayan Chopra, Chintan Rachchh, Moses Koul and Naina Bhan add a ray of sunshine to the story.

Speaking of the technical department, the cinematography is done beautifully. The background score given to the show matches its vibe and suits the flavours incorporated in the narrative. The editing could have been sharper as the duration could come across as a hindrance. 

The series is produced by Bodhitree Multimedia which is a dynamic film production company in the industry. Since its inception, it has produced more than 30 shows for the majority of major broadcasters and OTT platforms.

In a nutshell, Class is a good web series that will manage to keep you hooked throughout. Despite some misses, it majorly works because of the impactful performances given by the leading cast of the show. 

PeepingMoon gives Class 3 Moons