“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 haves 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
Edited By- Rumela Gupta
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