CLASS Review - We have something here!

Let us first talk about the elephant in the room, we do - most of us have the tendency to diss a show only because it is a remake. Remakes have a bad reputation and rightly so. Most of our interactions and experiences with Hindi remakes of films and songs, more often than not, cannot/ do not live up to the expectation initially created.

With CLASS, we have something. 

CLASS is the remake of the Spanish show Elite. But here, the story here has been carefully crafted for the (north) Indian audience and revolves around young adults in Delhi from different social and economic backgrounds. 

When a fire breaks out at a school, students are transferred to a different school to complete their education. Three students - Dheeraj, Saba and Balli are sent to Hampton International - a school that caters primarily to children of the rich and elite.

Here these kids that come from humble, working-class backgrounds are introduced to a world they had never known. Different worlds collide and these collisions bring well-paced drama, drugs, parties, sex and a murder with it.

Directed by Ashim Ahluwalia CLASS is a riveting take on the modern-day life of the ultra-rich in India. School-going kids that have access to a buffet of all the drugs, drinks and food in the world. Amidst this, are the questions of class, identity, gender, egos, underlying secrets and you know the general B-town buzz.

The series sheds light on the uber-rich in India, which as much as you and I may hate or dislike - exist. This elitism reeks in every frame, in every person that goes to Hampton International, the school where all the mingling-magic happens. Every frame in the film, whether that be a posh party in New Delhi, or the patli-galiyaan that is famously purani-Delhi, looks picture-perfect.

The casting is top-notch, just like other aspects of the film like its cinematography(chefs kiss). Delhi looks as beautiful and chaotic as it generally is.

But what Panchami  Ghavri Casting has done for the casting of CLASS is absolutely genius. Each of the actors (obviously) went through a long series of auditions but in the chaos of it all, they found the people that breathe life into the characters of CLASS. They are fresh faces giving a performance that has glued audiences to their screens. It is hope for new-age Hindi cinema and we’re here for it. 

Ayesha Kanga as Yashika Mehta - a power-drunk mean girl completely losing it in her personal life - is one that I absolutely loved cause there was a point where I really hated Yashika but then I began to empathize and I left not liking her very much but I can’t wait to see what she does. Yk?

Cwaayal Sing as Balram Patwal will pierce through your heart ‘faster than a bullet train’. He is funny, street-smart, will most likely have your back during a fight and has washboard abs. Zeyn Shaw as Veer Ahuja, the cool rich guy with the unhinged temper issues plays his part with ease. There’s a visible character arch to this one, and it's a wonder to watch Veer trying to steer the course of what looks like a steady downfall.

Madhyama Segal as Saba Manzoor one of the transfer students, brings to life a character that is almost extremely sound in thought and action but shrouded by situations that test her core. Saba and Zeyn, as representations of two different worlds colliding make for a nail-biting screenplay and oh, do they eat! The chemistry between these two is palpable.

And if we’re talking chemistry, then Chayan Chopra as Dhruv Shangi and Chintan Rachchh as Faruq Manzoor will never go unmentioned.  I, like most of us, had been rooting for them all along. They bring a certain playfulness to their characters - a sense of fluidity or purity, if I may, one that allows them to be who they are around the people that understand them.

Piyush Khati as Dheeraj Kumar Valmiki and Gurfateh Pirzada as Neeraj Kumar Valmiki play the roles of brothers that are quite the opposite of each other to be falling for the same girl. While Neeraj is the elder, hot-headed, boldly anti-casteist, responsible elder brother. Dheeraj is more studious, he works hard, is shy and as opposed to Neeraj is as calm as they come. When pitched against each other, it is not an equal fight and Dheeraj isn't much of a fighter. But will his circumstances make him one?

Anjali Sivaram as Suhani Ahuja, a rich kid that makes questionable life choices but is fully aware of her family’s business rendezvous and completely objects to it, plays her role with vulnerability. Suhani Ahuja brings to the forefront the dangers of a world riddled with unwarranted opportunity (for everything and anything).

Moses Koul as Sharan Gujral a boy so lost in the noise of the chambers he has made for himself, plays the role of a tattered, confused and consumed boy very well. Sharan and Koel as a power couple on a sinking ship make sense to me because these two really are so far cut out from the reality of the world that they make their own version of it.

Naina Bhan as Koel Kalra a social butterfly that is almost inherently reared to take after her family’s business plays her part well. I would’ve preferred her character to be more fleshed out but I reckon we’re in for quite the ride in Season 2.

The script melds exceptionally well into the on-screen portrayal of the characters and scenes that have been written and designed to be top-tier even in the backdrop of high school (drama and) elitism.

It gives us a 21st-century, 360-degree view of the Gen-Z life of the super-rich. Access to everything and anything, and numb to a world outside their own. It is a raw, quick-paced, drama-filled watch that doesn't shy away from all the sex and drugs there is. And even though issues such as cast and religion were only briefly touched upon, there is an underlying sense of the said issues lingering throughout the show and that, I think, is one of its greatest feats. If they were only prepping us for the second season. Consider me prepped!

The second season has got to be better at highlighting these issues while it holds on to its central theme of mystery and (high-school) elitism. While we’re at it, we would also love to see more representation amongst the cast like people from different geographical locations in India, and representation of all body types, colours and forms. 

Season 1 has been easy on the eyes and ears (ugh, the music is SO GOOD) but we want more and we want better (representation). We are waiting! Thank you.