Just press Play: Mastering the masterclass
Actors share their process, CEOs offer growth hacks, there are demos, DIYs, tips and takeaways. If you’re curious today, an expert is only a virtual class away
Done well, it’s infotainment at its best. One can take notes as Margaret Atwood and Neil Gaiman talk about crafting imagined worlds; or as Helen Mirren discusses facing the camera, a different woman each time. What TED talks did for the world of ideas, the masterclass is doing to the world of mentorship. And India is getting into the game. A host of ed-tech companies, fashioned after the US-based MasterClass and launched over the past yearand-half, are offering virtual sessions featuring stars from the worlds of cricket, film, food, music, photography, writing and more.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui breaks down how he modulated his voice for his role as Shiv Sena party founder Bal Thackeray, in the 2019 film Thackeray; Ranveer Brar talks nuance and spices (do black pepper and vanilla work well together?); Sania Mirza discusses how to outthink, not just outplay, an opponent.
What these classes are also doing is bridging a gap in the education system. The most popular masterclasses are in fields where access is severely limited or formal education unavailable. “Entertainment makes up a massive chunk of the enrolments,” says Mikhil Raj, co-founder of FrontRow. “Comedy and gaming come in second, followed by cricket.”
In fields such as acting, writing, music and the culinary arts, the masterclasses fill gaps in what is available in a traditional classroom. For one thing, in most academies it’s rare to hear from the best in the field. When students do get such a lecture, it tends to be dry and academic rather than free-flowing, personal and focused on practical advice.
The masterclass, meanwhile, offers notes on how the master managed disappointment, struggled in the early years, honed their skill, built up their success. It helps that these classes are carefully crafted, slickly produced, and available at prices ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand rupees per course.
Often, the master will perform demos too. Manoj Bajpayee sits with a group of students, in his video, and runs through scenes with them. Comedian Biswa Kalyan Rath suggests exercises to help the viewer hone their comedic writing skills. Singer Shaan discusses how to perfect the high notes.
It’s important to manage one’s expectations, though. Masterclasses aren’t designed to impart technical knowledge. Those attending a Manoj Bajpayee class may never have what it takes to be a Manoj Bajpayee, and if they do, they will likely not find that out at a masterclass. What they can expect are tips on how to hustle as a Bollywood struggler, as well as a few finer points on the craft itself, such as how to reflect advancing age in one’s facial expressions.
Many masterclasses offer e-workbooks and exercises, which help structure what one is taking away. In the absence of interaction and Q&A options, some platforms offer add-ons. FrontRow has community interaction spaces where buyers can test their exercises and new tricks and skills on others who took the same course. Whiz League lets clients pay extra for a shot at an offline menteeship. On many platforms you can return to the course, over and over, too.
Dev Bezbaruah, 29, a software developer and professional photographer from Guwahati, signed up for a Celebrity School masterclass in fashion photography with Daboo Ratnani that he found very helpful. Pulkit Agrawal, 21, an aspiring chef currently in culinary school in Hyderabad, signed up for classes by Ranveer Brar and Vikas Khanna and got tips on fusion recipes and plating. Both said the biggest advantage was being able to return to the course to revisit what they’d learnt.
Take a look at what India’s masterclass companies are up to, and what they’re planning next.