Class (2023 TV series) explained

Based On:Elite by Carlos Montero and Darío Madrona
Screenplay:Kersi Khambatta
Country:India
Language:Hindi
Num Seasons:1
Num Episodes:8
List Episodes:
  1. Episodes
Executive Producer:Ashim Ahluwalia
Runtime:44 – 59 minutes
Network:Netflix

Class is an Indian Hindi-language crime drama thriller television series adapted by Ashim Ahluwalia and based on the Spanish series Elite. It is set in Hampton International, a fictional elite high school in Delhi, and revolves around the relationships among three working-class students enrolled at the school and their wealthy classmates. The series was produced by Bodhi Tree Multimedia and Future East Film.[1] [2] [3] [4]

The series explores a wide range of social issues affecting modern youth, including casteism, child neglect, corruption, homophobia, religious discrimination, and income inequality in India. Class' 8 episodes were released on 3 February 2023 on Netflix.[5] On 6 March 2023, Netflix confirmed that the series has been renewed for a second season.[6]

At the 2023 Filmfare OTT Awards, Class received 5 nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay (Series) (Khambatta).

Premise

After their local school is destroyed in a fire, three working-class friends – Dheeraj, Saba, and Balli – are offered scholarships to Hampton International, an elite private school in New Delhi. The scholarships are sponsored by the Ahuja Properties, who were at fault for the fire. At Hampton International, the three are initially ostracised by wealthy students. But as the school year progresses, their lives intertwine in a clash of lifestyles, resentments, envy, and sexual attraction.[7]

Cast

Main

Recurring

Reception

Viewership

Class debuted at Number 1 on Netflix India’s ‘Top 10 TV Shows in India Today’ list. It also debuted at Number 1 in Bangladesh while also debuting Top 10 in the ‘Top 10 TV Shows’ lists of Bahrain, Maldives, Mauritius, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, UAE & Sri Lanka.[9] [10] The series saw 27.7 million hours viewed from its release date till 30 June, which made it 718th most watched title on Netflix for the first 6 months of the year 2023.[11] [12]

Critical response

Joel Keller for Decider stated "Class takes the Elite formula and layers on commentary about a class system unique to India, shifting the tone of the series just enough to make it distinctive from the original version."[13]

Rohan Naahar for Indian Express rated 4 out of 5 stars and wrote "It is unclear if we’re meant to accept this version of the Capital as the truth. For instance, Faruq, who lives like a vagabond, goes on a date to Cafe Dori in one scene. Ridiculous as it often is, Class plays its drama dead straight. And this might be an issue. A little self-awareness goes a long way.[14] Tamma Moksha for The Hindu wrote "Featuring a host of debutants, the show is set in Hampton International, a private school in Delhi that boasts of giant swimming pools, coveted MUN conferences, and prestigious scholarships to study abroad — an archetype of the perfect dream school… until a student is found murdered outside the school premises and her acquaintances become prime suspects."[15]

Tushar Joshi for India Today rated 3.5 stars out of 5 stars and wrote "If you have watched Elite then you will end up drawing multiple parallels with Class. But if you let these comparisons stay far away from your experience, you are in for a reward. Class is some top-notch writing and also some brilliant casting. These boys and girls who represent two opposite diasporas of high school life look their part."[16]

Anand Singh for Deccan Herald stated "The original 2018 Spanish series was acclaimed as a phenomenal thriller, but the Hindi version seems a bit over the top and implausible."[17]

Archika Khurana of The Times of India wrote "Inspired by the Spanish version, the series producer and director, Ashim Ahluwalia, incorporates a posh school into the picture, where most of the scenes were shot. The production values are high and clearly on par with the Spanish school to depict the lifestyle of these hi-fi students."[18]

Udita Jhunjhunwala for Scroll.in wrote "Series director Ashim Ahluwalia creates an immersive world of haves and have-nots, of entrenched prejudices embedded in Indian culture – whether about community, class, caste or sexuality. The color palette – glossy and cool for the wealthy homes, saturated and grittier for the less well-to-do spaces, along with the music, production design, and cinematography work with the easy-breezy dialogue opposite to Gen-Z."[19]

Sanchita Jhunjhunwala of Zoom TV wrote "To be able to understand the dynamics and what goes through by just reading is something that won't be possible as there are quite a few complex plots and subplots all going at the same time, but they are all meaningful. With so many characters, it was rather easy to have lost the plot or either rush it up, but that does not happen with this show, for everything flows naturally, even the Indianisation of the entire storyline."[20]

Aishwarya Vasudevan for OTTPlay wrote "Class deserves a chance, not for the plot but for the performances that overpower everything."[21]

Debiparna Chakraborty of MovieWeb wrote "Despite having certain flaws, Class holds up on its own, and deftly interweaves a murder mystery with high school drama layered with caste, class, and religious clashes. The show's handling of themes like casteism, discrimination, and identity politics is sensitive and impactful, adding depth and complexity to its storylines. In fact, Class holds up on its own, perhaps even better than Elite, because of its robust politics and gritty stylistic choices that emphasize the suffocating reality it attempts to depict."[22]

Rahul Shinde for The Envoy Web wrote "The friendships depicted in the show don’t seem real at all. For instance, it’s suggested that Suhani and Koel are childhood friends, but the show doesn’t care to bring them together in one frame until the plot requires it."[23]

Upasana Dandona for Women's Web wrote "If you have eight hours to spare on a series about South Delhi elitism, then Netflix series Class is definitely for you. Though, be warned that the makers know very little about South Delhi elites and the culture within South Delhi schools. A personal suggestion would be to fast forward all scenes and only watch the ones featuring Faruq and Dhruv—the two make an adorable queer couple."[24]

Accolades

YearAward ceremonyCategoryNominee / workResultRef.
2023Filmfare OTT AwardsBest Adapted Screenplay (Series)Kersi Khambatta[25]
Best Background Music (Series)Tubby
Best Original Soundtrack (Series)Aditya N., Nayantara Bhatkal, Chakori Dwivedi, Keshav Dhar, Akhilesh Jain
Best Costume Design (Series)Lovedeep Gulyani
Best Sound Design (Series)Bigyna Dahal

Notes and References

  1. News: Netflix launches 'Class,' the Indian adaptation of popular Spanish series 'Elite' . 3 February 2023 . . 24 September 2022 . en-IN . 29 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221129120718/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/netflix-launches-class-the-indian-adaptation-of-popular-spanish-series-elite/article65930514.ece . live .
  2. Web site: Class Web Series (2023) Release Date, Review, Cast, Trailer, Watch Online at Netflix . . 3 February 2023 . en . 3 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230203085131/https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/class-web-series-113353 . live .
  3. News: Netflix announces 'Class,' an Indian adaptation of 'Elite' . 3 February 2023 . . 25 September 2022 . en . 25 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220925111451/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2378549/desi-teen-drama-incoming-netflix-announces-class-an-indian-adaptation-of-hit-series-elite . live .
  4. News: Basu . Sreetama . Netflix announces 'Class', the official Indian remake of the Spanish thriller series 'Elite' . 3 February 2023 . . 26 September 2022 . 27 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220927142546/https://www.lifestyleasia.com/ind/culture/entertainment/netflix-announces-class-the-indian-remake-of-the-spanish-thriller-series-elite/ . live .
  5. News: Class trailer: Murder, secrets, and drama take over this Indian adaptation of Netflix's Elite. Watch . 3 February 2023 . . 17 January 2023 . en . 3 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230203045707/https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/class-trailer-murder-secrets-drama-mix-at-an-elite-school-in-netflix-series-101673945089246.html . live .
  6. Web site: Netflix announces new seasons of She, Mismatched, Kota Factory, Delhi Crime, The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives and Class. Bollywood Hungama. 8 March 2023. 8 March 2023. 8 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230308083322/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/amp/news/bollywood/netflix-announces-new-seasons-mismatched-kota-factory-delhi-crime-fabulous-lives-bollywood-wives-class/. live.
  7. News: Class Season 1 Web Series (2023) Release Date, Review, Cast, Trailer, Watch Online at Netflix . Gadgets 360 . en . 2023-02-03 . 2023-02-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230203085131/https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/class-web-series-113353 . live .
  8. Web site: Class on Netflix cast: Who stars in the Élite Indian remake? . 2023-02-28 . Radio Times . en . 2023-02-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230228041736/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/class-cast-netflix/ . live .
  9. Web site: 2023-02-04 . Netflix Official Site . 2023-02-05 . www.netflix.com . en . 2023-02-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230203201904/https://www.netflix.com/title/81229406 . live .
  10. Web site: 2023-02-05 . Class • FlixPatrol . 2023-02-05 . FlixPatrol . en . 2023-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230205121219/https://flixpatrol.com/title/class-2023/ . live .
  11. Web site: What We Watched: A Netflix Engagement Report . About Netflix . Netflix . 13 December 2023 . A724 .
  12. Web site: Netflix Engagement Report Search (January - June 2023) . What's on Netflix . 14 December 2023 . en.
  13. News: Keller . Joel . 'Class' Netflix Review: Stream It Or Skip It? . 5 November 2023 . . 3 February 2023 . 5 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230205123523/https://decider.com/2023/02/03/class-netflix-review/ . live .
  14. News: Naahar . Rohan . Class review: Netflix India's scandalously entertaining remake of Élite is top-tier guilty pleasure . 3 February 2023 . . 3 February 2023 . en . 3 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230203090513/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/class-review-netflix-india-remake-of-elite-8420051/ . live .
  15. News: Moksha . Tamma . 'Class' season 1 review: Indian adaptation of 'Elite' is bogged down by its own ambitions . 3 February 2023 . . 3 February 2023 . en-IN . 3 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230203101120/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/class-season-1-review-indian-adaptation-of-elite-is-bogged-down-by-its-own-ambitions/article66466314.ece . live .
  16. News: Joshi . Tushar . Class review: This Elite remake is top class . 6 February 2023 . . 6 February 2023 . en . 2023-02-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230206062234/https://www.indiatoday.in/binge-watch/reviews/story/class-review-this-elite-remake-is-top-class-2330947-2023-02-06 . live .
  17. News: Singh . Anand . 'Class' review: A thriller that exposes elitism in posh schools . 5 November 2023 . . 11 February 2023 . en . 5 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231105110403/https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/class-review-a-thriller-that-exposes-elitism-in-posh-schools-1190099.html . live .
  18. News: Khurana . Archika . Class Season 1 Review: This Indian adaptation of 'Elite' is a bold and intriguing murder mystery . 3 February 2023 . . 3 February 2023 . 3 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230203093625/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/hindi/class/class-season-1/seasonreview/97478098.cms . live .
  19. News: Jhunjhunwala . Udita . 'Class' review: An immersive and revealing show about privilege . 3 February 2023 . . 3 February 2023 . 3 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230203110705/https://scroll.in/reel/1043149/class-review-an-immersive-and-revealing-show-about-privilege . live .
  20. News: Jhunjhunwala . Sanchita . Class web series review: Netflix intelligently desi-fies Spanish-thriller Elite . 3 February 2023 . . 3 February 2023 . en . 3 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230203094055/https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/reviews/class-web-series-review-netflix-intelligently-desi-fies-spanish-thriller-elite-gurfateh-pirzada-madhyama-segal-zeyn-shaw-review-97574921 . live .
  21. News: Vasudevan . Aishwarya . Class review: New ensemble cast gets to have their cake and eat it too . 5 November 2023 . . 3 February 2023 . en . 5 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231105111210/https://www.ottplay.com/review/class-review-netflixs-ya-drama-where-the-new-ensemble-cast-gets-to-have-their-cake-and-eat-it-too/f7cca50696270 . live .
  22. Web site: 2023-02-18 . How Netflix's Class Ushers In A New Coming-of-Age Narrative In India's TV Scape . 2023-06-03 . . en . 2023-06-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230603200919/https://movieweb.com/netflix-class-ushers-in-new-coming-of-age-in-india-tv-scape/ . live .
  23. News: Shinde . Rahul . Class review: A compelling adaptation of a beloved series . 3 February 2023 . The Envoy Web . 3 February 2023 . 11 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231111152255/https://theenvoyweb.com/reviews/class-review-a-compelling-adaptation-of/ . live .
  24. News: Dandona . Upasana . 5 Things That Netflix Series Class Gets Terribly Wrong . 9 February 2023 . Women's Web . 9 February 2023 . 10 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230210072146/https://www.womensweb.in/2023/02/things-netflix-series-class-gets-terribly-wrong-feb23wk2sr/ . live .
  25. Web site: Nominations for the Filmfare OTT Awards 2023: Full List Out Femina.in . 2024-02-09 . www.femina.in . en.

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