AIR(All India Rankers) Review: Harsh Roshan's series is youthful with laughs and life lessons

AIR (All India Rankers) Story

The series is based on the stories of Raju, Arjun, and Imran, who join the famous AIR Academy in Vijayawada, known for its ITT coaching. Though they start their journey on a fun note, things escalate into college politics, with the young guns getting tried and tested in difficult situations. How they handle these moments and come out successfully forms the basic story of the series, which can be streamed on ETV Win and OTTplay Premium.

AIR (All India Rankers) Review

Joseph Clinton has directed AIR, which is presented by noted director Sandeep Raj. The show is set in the educational hub of Andhra Pradesh, Vijayawada, and showcases how ITT coaching institutes mint money and exploit students. This aspect has been narrated in a very entertaining way.

AIR starts on a fun note and showcases hilarious comedy featuring the three young lads. How they end up in AIR, their backstories, and the issues they face in college are narrated in a gripping manner. Though the story is simple, Clinton’s direction is what makes all the difference.

The best part of the series is the way each character is designed. Be it the three leads or the college director, Sunil, each of them has a well-written character and receives a proper conclusion by the end of the series. AIR feels a bit slow at times, but it delivers when it matters most.

The comedy is clean and aimed at the youth. Notably, there is no sleaze, and the college-based scenes are quite relatable. The vulnerabilities of the students have been showcased impressively by director Clinton. However, he takes a bit too long to reach the conflict point. To add more depth, a few characters are introduced, which feel unnecessary and boring in a few episodes. But when it comes to emotions, the series is on point.

One of the major highlights is a scene featuring Sameer and his son, executed superbly and highly relatable for every father and son. Many such moments in AIR strike an emotional chord. Story-wise, there isn’t much novelty, but the organic way in which events unfold is the series’ biggest strength.

Coming to the performances, Harsh Roshan of Court-State vs A Nobody is the heart of the series, and the young lad has a bright future. His dialogue delivery and screen presence make him an actor to watch out for. The other leads, Bhanu Prakash and Jayateertha, also do well in their respective roles. Chaitanya Rao as the teacher is also very good and brings depth to the proceedings.

Jeevan Kumar, known for his comedy, delivers an impressive performance. His character arc starts fun but turns emotional by the end, which works well. Sandeep Raj, the producer, plays a negative role as the college head and excels in it. Such dark roles come naturally to him, and he does justice to his part in AIR. Sunil shines in a brief role and adds depth to the proceedings.

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Sinjith Yerramilli’s background score is apt and enhances the mood of the show. The production design and artwork depicting the hostel setup have been executed superbly. Manoj's camerawork also enhances the overall feel of the series. The dialogues, depiction of hostel life, and student issues are handled well without becoming overly preachy. One instantly feels that AIR could have been a theatrical release, as it offers comedy, emotions, and a strong message in an entertaining package.

AIR (All India Rankers) Verdict

On the whole, AIR is a very enjoyable web series that blends comedy, emotion, and relatable moments for students. The best part is that the content is clean and suitable for family viewing without any hesitation. Recommended.