2024-06-21 04:30:05
I don’t know if it was because I watched the show at three in the morning, but the last episode did manage to leave me in tears. I have never been to Kota, never dreamt of IIT, but there’s something about Kota Factory that resonates with everyone. Be it the constant pressure amongst the youth to prove themselves, their friendships, or their equation with their favorite teacher, ‘Jeetu Bhaiya’ in this case.
There’s a scene towards the end when Meena says, “Jeetu bhaiya jeevan ka path dete hai (he gives life lessons)”, and you do agree with him. The third season beautifully captures this special mentor-mentee bond and also sheds light on grappling with mental health, an issue that needs to be discussed more often.
First things first, the song ‘Jo Bhi Hoga Ladd Lunga’ captivates the entire show in itself. Students who move to Kota to prep for IIT or even NEET require grit and a tough heart. The exams are not easy, there are failures along the way, but one has to keep going.
‘Kota Factory 3’, through its narration, tries to celebrate this preparation rather than the victorious outcome. “Jeet ki tayari nahi, tayari hi jeet hai“- says Jeetu Bhaiya. This season, the emphasis is once again on aiming rather than dreaming, a thought that has found a home in most competitive exam students.
This season, Jitendra Kumar is also battling with the responsibility of being the ‘bhaiya’ versus being the ‘sir’. The last season had ended on a tragic note with a student taking her own life, and Jeetu Bhaiya is seen being consumed by grief. As he meets a therapist, we also get to understand how important yet easy it is to sometimes seek help.
Given the high rates of suicide in Kota over the last few months, this show could be an eye-opener for parents, teachers, and every stakeholder who shapes a student’s life.
Watch the trailer here:
Full points to the makers for highlighting that even though struggle is subjective, it affects everyone in its own way. While mediocre students burn the midnight oil to match up with their friends, the smart ones need to maintain their grades.
Some students also need to pick between studies and supporting their family, weighing them down further. And then there are also matters of the heart as they encounter the bloom of first love. Even though the climax seemed a bit forced to invoke drama, I think most of the audience had already anticipated it.
Another weak element for me was when one of the student’s parents was introduced. While the characters may be important, the melodrama seemed a little unfit for a show like this. The same goes for Vaibhav’s monologue about the exam dates. Too loud, too forced, yet very ineffective.
Coming to performances, after ‘Panchayat 3’, Jitendra Kumar once again proves why he is one of the most viable actors on OTT. It may be his engineering background, but he is inimitable as Jeetu Bhaiya, almost as if it’s his alter ego. The actor has come a long way, and it’s a personal desire to see him break out from these realistic roles and do something whimsical on screen.
The latest entrant, Tilottama Shome, as Pooja Didi, is flawless as she becomes the voice of reason for Jeetu during his low. While there wasn’t much for her in this season, we hope her contract demands a meatier piece for season 4.
Coming to the kids, they excel in their parts and the arcs given to them. Having followed their journey over the last five years, they seem like your distant cousins living in Kota. You feel for them, you want to shield them, and at times take their hands and help them get loose.
Unfortunately, in a bid to map the ups and downs in the boys’ (Mayur More, Ranjan Raj, and Alam Khan) lives, the girls – Ahsaas Channa, Revathi Pillai, and Urvi Singh – get the weakest parts.
This season, director Pratish Mehta took over the reins from Raghav Subbu. He definitely had an easier job given the characters and plots were already well-registered amongst the fans of the show. However, full points to Mehta for handling the therapy sessions sensitively without making it a hush-hush affair.
‘Kota Factory 3’ may be a black-and-white offering, but it adds just the right, and much-needed hues to the lives of students.
