“Class” Netflix Series Review

“This life is not one I choose. I was compelled to do it. Being impoverished in
this country is a sin. And a curse to be a Dalit," declares a character in the
most recent Netflix web series Class, and daily newspapers, annual reports,
and the blood and tears of those forced to dwell on the periphery seem to
confirm this.

Making of the series

Ashim Ahluwalia, Raghav Kakkar, and Kashyap Kapoor's Class is an
inventive adaptation of the Spanish television series Elite (2018) for the
Indian market. It was made with an eye toward the quirks and nuances of
Indian society. In addition to introducing several fresh faces to the screen, it
also included some highly compelling yet seamless plots that complemented
one another admirably, creating a series with some decent intersections. A
Dalit teenager, Dheeraj Kumar Valmiki, is accused of killing the daughter of
a wealthy builder and is not only pleading not guilty but also admitting his
love for her as the screen opens with an interrogation scenario. The only
thing he could muster to say when questioned about his involvement in the
murder, any confession, or his apologies was, "I wonder if I hadn't entered
that school if she would still be alive."

Story
The Hampton International School, Delhi's Finest School, was the haven of
privileged, upper-class, wealthy children. After their school was set on fire
and the people responsible for it sent Neeraj, Saba Manzoor, and Balli
Sehrawat—all of whom were from marginalized castes, religions, and classes
—into this lair to quell the unrest. The harsh treatment they received from
their peers, who never missed a chance to make fun of them, is something
that all three of them manage to deal with. Saba, a Muslim hijabi girl who
was comfortable in her skin and in who she was, had a highly unique and
powerful personality. She not only outperformed everyone academically, but
she also had the guts to put anyone who dared to mess with her in their
place. She once responded to someone calling her a charity case by saying,
"He burns our houses, that's what he does. For individuals like you, this is
being done. It's a PR stunt.

The series' exploration of queerness and how it interacted with class,

religion, and ideology as it traveled through history was another novel
perspective. There aren't many non-annoyingly awkward queer angles on
Indian platforms. Faruq (Saba's brother), who appears to help his father
with the shawl business but distributes all kinds of narcotics, falls in love
with Dhruv, the wealthy student and son of Hampton's principal, among
other people who might be seen experimenting with their sexuality. In the
presence of memorials to those who gave their lives for love, they can be
seen expressing their love for one another in the vicinity of historical
monuments. Faruq also recalls the horrifying recollection of his uncle, who
was murdered by a mob for having an affair with a man. These two maintain
their position, in both love and defiance, as the story progresses.

If closely observed, the series attempts to create a cinematic impact

somewhat akin to the South Korean film Parasite (2019) by its stark contrast
between the oppressor and oppressed caste as well as the rich and poor.
The Indian adaptation (which was not just about India) gave us a chance to
observe the criminalization of the Dalit caste, the slow-moving police
investigation process, the entrenched biases of Indian society towards
women, gender roles, the commodification of love, and the capitalization of
emotions.

Critical Analysis
Trauma caused in children as a result of poor parenting, inaccessible
parents, and dysfunctional families, which could be witnessed on both the
have's and have-nots sides, was another significant component that was
brought up rather forcefully. Whether it's Suhani who decides to poison
herself to escape her parents' criticism for having brown skin, Faruq whose
father imposed his desire of becoming a swimmer on him without asking
how he felt about it, Yashika, whose parents abandoned her following their
divorce, seeks by whatever means possible to obtain Hampton Gold or
Dhruv, who is mocked even by his father for his existence, to help her
escape the loneliness.

Conclusion
In summary, it was a truly enjoyable drama to watch, especially for Gen-Z,
and it provided plenty of material for thought to consider after the screen
goes blank.
Ratings: 3/5
Written by: Kirti Garg