Co-Ed makes far more reassuring viewing than some of the over-hyped, under-cooked mainstreamers being seen. Although it could have been shorter in length and a little longer in strides toward the end, it works well most of the way.
Director Saqib Pandor keeps the proceedings on an even keel. Even when the pace slackens midway, there is always that hope of a spark being rekindled around the corner.
The main cast is impeccable in its working-class vibes. Varun Bandola and Rajeshwari Sachdeva (a couple in real life) strike the right balance of parental concern and self-persuasion. Bandola’s Raghav is struggling to get his innovative pressure cooker in the market, while his wife Anuya is doing relatively well with her lingerie shop, seen as a “hobby” by her husband. The subtle undercurrents of spousal discrimination are discreetly delineated.
There is a kindered moment early on when Anuya buys her husband’s product from a negligent retailer to prove its marketability. It is a moment that defines their relationship. One wanted to see these two fine actors thresh out their ego-defined marriage with more clarity of purpose.
Regrettably, Co-Ed is more about Raghav and Anuya’s teenaged children, Nikhil and Shikha, played effectively by Adrija Sinha and Vedant Sinha (who struggles with his stammer far more credibly than Vijay Deverakonda in Liger), their struggles and hiccups at their newly converted co-educational school. Some of this is interesting. The kids are all very talented and eager to score without making too much effort.
The series is filled with a kind of sunshiny joy; the Udaipur setting is subdued and never over-played. This is the other Udaipur, far away from the touristic weddings of billionaires, a city where middle-class families fight to keep their heads above the water with dignity.
The series doesn’t romanticize the working-class struggles. The teenagers are allowed to have their quota of crushes without having to look anxiously over their shoulders at the party poopers. I would recommend Co-Ed not for its stylish storytelling (for that, check out the latest season of serials that have long outstayed their welcome), not even for its dependable actors.
Co-Ed shines for other reasons. It has its nose to the ground. It knows the price of onions and the feeling of heartbreak when the first crush turns out to be a false alarm.
Also Read: Dining With The Kapoors Review: Beautifully reliving legacy of Bollywood’s first family
