Kota Factory - Is the Truth Really Black and White?

The Indian education system had always been a subject of discourse and debate. Strictly grade-oriented educational approach and glorifying studying till 'you make or break' is no stranger to an Indian student. So being a host to some of the most competitive exams on an annual basis is not out of blue for India.

Kota factory is a web series that narrates the story of a bunch of IIT aspirants studying in Kota in Rajasthan which is a preparation hub for students.

The web series on Netflix portrays the harsh reality of stress and pressure that students go through in their ‘prep’ time and captures the raw emotions of characters keeping them relatable and authentic. This educational satire is a commentary on pan-India coaching culture and its dark reality.

Kota Factory: Season 1

The first season was originally released on Youtube and was a hit with millions of views. The entire series is shot in a black and white aesthetic which is synonymous with the monotonous lifestyle of aspirants deprived of any fun and excitement.

The five-episode (ten including season 2) web series unravels the story of a teenager, Vaibhav who joins a coaching institute in Kota for IIT entrance preparation. What follows is a perfect blend of nostalgic tales, friendships, doubts, self-realization, sorrows, and joys, all amidst cutthroat competition and a dark environment.

The series successfully do justice to the genre of prototypical observational comedy with its deadpan humor and genuine characters. It isn't supposed to make you feel like sitting on a high horse and hope for everything to fall in place but rather to take you through a bittersweet journey with an aftertaste of realism.

Cast and Characters

One reason that this series stands out among others is that its characters are beautifully written accompanied by a good cast. They are perfectly flawed and picturized as human beings who are trying to make it in the world like all of us.

Every character is bound to stay with you even after the show and speaks for itself. Vaibhav (Mayur More) is the protagonist teenager who is trying to accommodate himself with fast life and intense academic pressure in Kota.

Uday (Alam Khan) and Balmukund Meena (Ranjan Raj) in supporting roles as protagonist's friends are the epitome of friendship and will surely win your heart.

Worth mentioning is the character of Jeetu Bhaiya (Jitendra Kumar), a cool but inspiring physics teacher who is someone that we all wished we had in our lives. He is the soul of the series and keeps it thriving until the end. His dialogues, laced in scientific metaphors are worth watching.

Kota factory also had a lot of cameos including Vartika (Revathi Pillai) and Shivangi (Ahsaas Channa), which we all perfectly timed and have their own voice.

Kota Factory Season 2: A hit or A miss?

Now, here’s the thing when you put out a show which is a commentary on India’s academic culture, you are expected to address the dark side of it and are responsible to answer the prime questions that the audience had entrusted you with.

The second season is a recent release on Netflix in the continuity of the original plotline and was highly anticipated. So far, the five-episode sequel has been proven to be underwhelming for the audience. The show, that was supposed to put light on the toxic side of JEE preparation ends up glorifying it way more.

In a country where students still struggle with mental health issues due to harsh academic pressure and finding their purpose in life, season 2 fails to convey this raw reality and rather promotes hustle culture and getting into IIT at all costs.

The character of Jeetu Bhaiya, who was loved undeniably in season 1 was turned into a role which is problematic in season 2. He, from an inspiring teacher, turned into a toxic person who acknowledges the hustle culture but promotes it at the same time.

He wants his students to always follow him blindly and glorifies sacrificing every ounce of your happiness if you get to go into an IIT. I

ndia is struggling with suicide rates among students and shows like these not only promote that 'it's okay to lose yourself to an exam preparation' but also justify the toxic academic reality of India.

Cinema is a reflection of the real world but the only difference is that its creators have the creative liberty to put out their thoughts, opinions, and most importantly what the world needs to see in their art pieces.

Though, in past also, we have seen many such pieces which showcased the brutal reality of IIT academic pressure.

Kota factory stood out because of its attempt at highlighting the intense preparation phase that students have to go through to get into the prestigious institution.

While season 1 won our hearts, season 2 missed the mark of addressing key issues like mental health, toxic culture, etc which in long run can be problematic.

Written by - Gunjan Nagpal

Edited by - Akanksha Sharma