I don't know if it was because I watched the show at three in the morning, but the last episode made me cry. I have never been to Kota, never dreamt of IIT, but there is something about Kota Factory that appeals to everyone. Whether it is the constant pressure on the youth to prove themselves, their friendships or their relationship with their favourite teacher, 'Jeetu Bhaiya'.
There's a scene at the end when Meena says, “Jeetu Bhaiya shows us the path of life (He gives life lessons)”, and you agree with him. The third season beautifully depicts this special guru-shishya bond and also sheds light on battling mental health, an issue that should be discussed more often.
First of all, the song 'Jo Bhi Hoga Lad Loonga' ties the entire show together. Students who come to Kota to prepare for IIT or NEET need determination and a strong heart. Exams are not easy, there are failures along the way, but one has to keep moving forward.
'Kota Factory 3' through its narrative tries to celebrate this preparation rather than the triumphant outcome.”Preparation is not the only way to win, preparation is the only way to win“- says Jeetu Bhaiya. This season, the emphasis is once again on setting goals rather than dreaming, a thought that resonates with most competitive aspirants.
This season, Jeetendra Kumar is also grappling with the responsibility of being a 'bhaiya' versus a 'sir'. The last season ended on a tragic note, with a student taking her own life, and Jeetu Bhaiya was seen drowning in grief. When he meets a therapist, we also understand how important and easier it is to ask for help sometimes.
Given the high rate of suicides in Kota in the last few months, this show can be an eye-opener for parents, teachers and every stakeholder who shapes the life of a student.
Watch the trailer here:
Full marks to the makers for highlighting that even though struggle is subjective, it affects everyone in its own way. While mediocre students pull midnight oil to catch up with their friends, bright students need to maintain their grades.
Some students have to choose between studies and supporting their families, which puts more burden on them. And then there are matters of the heart as they encounter the first love blossom. Even though the climax seems forced to bring a little drama, I think most viewers already guessed it.
The other weak element for me was when the parents of a student were introduced. While the characters may be important, the melodrama felt a bit inappropriate for a show like this. The same goes for Vaibhav's monologue about exam dates. Too loud, too forced, yet too ineffective.
On the acting front, after 'Panchayat 3', Jitendra Kumar has once again proved why he is one of the most viable actors on OTT. It might be his engineering background, but he is unmatched as Jeetu Bhaiya, almost as if it is his second personality. The actor has come a long way, and it is his personal desire to break away from these realistic roles and do something different on screen.
The latest entry, Tillotama Shome as Pooja Didi, has emerged as the voice of reason for Jeetu in his bad times. Though there wasn't much for her this season, we hope her contract demands a great role for Season 4.
Coming to the kids, they do a great job in their roles and the roles given to them. After watching their journey in the last five years, they seem like your distant cousins living in Kota. You feel sorry for them, you want to save them and at times, hold their hands and help them break free.
Unfortunately, in an attempt to depict the ups and downs in the lives of the boys (Mayur More, Ranjan Raj and Alam Khan), the girls – Ahsaas Channa, Revathi Pillai and Urvi Singh – have been given the weakest roles.
This season, director Pratish Mehta took over the reins from Raghav Subbu. The job was certainly easy for him as the characters and plot were already well-known among the fans of the show. However, full marks to Mehta for handling the therapy sessions sensitively without any suspense.
'Kota Factory 3' might be a black and white film, but it adds the right and necessary colours to the lives of the students.