#ashimahluwalia

[filmmakersvision]

Class Review

April 18, 2023

by Inakshi Chandra-Mohanty

The word ‘class’ is multifaceted. It stands for the hierarchal structure that separates the rich and the poor. But it is also indicative of the weakening of the cultural divide between those of different statuses as the disparate worlds merge in the same ‘class’. In the Netflix web series, Class, three students from lower-income families receive a chance to attend an exclusive school in Delhi and intermingle with those from higher status families leading to inevitable clashes, mystery, and death. These three misfits in a school of elitists navigate relationships and politics as they attempt to forge a place for themselves.

Directed by award winning documentary and indie filmmaker, Ashim Ahluwalia, this remake of popular Spanish show, Elite, sticks to the original storyline and character development. It has the same weak points as Elite. The mystery is not captivating enough, the dramatic development is superficial, and the twists do not lead to a satisfying conclusion. But, as someone who found the original average, I was pleasantly surprised by the detailed, intense world created in Class. For a show that promotes itself on the basis of glitz and glamour, it is surprisingly mild. The aesthetics are raw and real. It fully delves into the underbelly of Delhi and builds up the city as a character of its own. The production design and focus on differentiating the lives of those living in gorgeous bungalows from the ones living in slums is immaculate. This drastic change from the overdone glamorous aesthetics of Elite works in its favor. These characters and situations feel far more relatable.

There is also clear thought put into ‘Indianizing’ this foreign show. The themes are reoriented for the Indian audience. From mentions of caste and its influence on income disparity, to the emphasis on Muslim discrimination, the series highlights prominent issues in present-day Indian society.

While Class is definitely more interesting than Elite, the show isn’t without its flaws. The series consists of a relatively new cast and attempts to create an impact through these young, fresh faces. However, the immaturity of this younger cast is apparent. Many of the actors have a limited range, doing well in lighter scenes but unable to achieve the emotional impact necessary in dramatic moments. I wish they had cast a more effective person in the lead role. While a talented actor, Piyush Khati as Dheeraj does not have the charisma to carry the show. He gets overshadowed and lost in the crowd despite a majority of the show relying on his narration.

Zeyn Shaw as Veer is also disappointing. His limitations as an actor are apparent in comparison to Madhyama Segal’s sharp acting as his romantic interest Saba. From an intellectual perspective, Veer and Saba are the most intriguing couple and I will continue to be excited to see them in future seasons. But the butterfly inducing chemistry isn’t there. The Veer and Saba on paper does not translate to the screen.

Class is anything but perfect. Due to the uninteresting story elements and the limited acting ability of many of the cast members, the empathetic touch is missing. However, the well written characters and important themes kept my interest alive. It is a powerful take on the massive class differences that exist in modern day Indian society.

[suchhikumarsblog]

Must watch ‪Great film Great story Great direction Great actor #ArjunRampal #NishikantKamat #AnandIngale #AshimAhluwalia #RutvijPatel #FarhanAkhtar #RajeshShringarpure #AnupriyaGoenka #ShrutiBapna #ShrikantMohan #daddy #Bollywood #hindi #movie ..

[snorkelrecords]

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Hear ye hear ye! Hare hare! Our in house producer Olefonken goes to Bollywood -and boy did he struck gold! #zindagimeridancedance #bappida #bappilahiri #daddy #ashimahluwalia #arjunrampal #arungawli #daddythemovie #natasastankovic #fromoslotonewdehli! @rampal72 (ved Mumbai, India)

[moviefiednyc]

Making Movies That Matter: Interview with Ashim Ahluwalia.

 "...I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Ahluwalia is not what I expected, as I anticipated meeting the next big Bollywood director. He’s a director’s director, a down-to-earth guy, well-informed on cinema, totally aware of his field, and passionate about making movies that matter..." 

Read the whole interview here at Moviefied NYC!

[champagnenyla]

Because it's #sundance2014 and I get nostalgic for #bard #filmschool days I had to repost this shot of #AshimAhluwalia from @dalecannedyazim ❤️🎥 #whenwewerebabies

[moviefiednyc]

Miss Lovely Opening this weekend at #CinemaVillage @misslovelyfilm #MissLovely #AshimAhluwalia #FutureEast (at Cinema Village)

[moviefiednyc]

Miss Lovely directed by Ashim Ahluwalia opens June 20 in NYC. #newfilms #NawazuddinSiddiqui #AnilGeorge #Niharik Singh #IndianCinema #bollywood #arthousefilm #CGradefilms #mumbai #retroThriller #film #movies #Ashim Ahluwalia opens June 20 in NYC. #AshimAhluwalia #MissLovely #requiredViewing #cannesfilmfestival