Series Name: Kota Factory Season 3

Cast: Mayur More, Jitendra Kumar, Ranjan Raj, Alam Khan, Ahsaas Channa, Revathi Pillai, Tillotama Shome, Rajesh Kumar

Director: Pratish Mehta

Rating: 2.5 moons

Kota Factory, a show that once pioneered a realistic portrayal of student life in Kota, returns with its third season continuing the journey of Vaibhav and his friends amidst the pressures of preparing for the JEE. However, this season shifts its focus to the emotional turmoil of Jeetu Bhaiya, played by Jitendra Kumar.

While the previous seasons depicted the difficulties Kota students experienced, Season 3 goes into further detail about Jeetu Bhaiya's troubles in the wake of a sad incident at the coaching institute. The story tries to strike a balance between the emotional turmoil of its cherished mentor and student life.

Through Jeetu Bhaiya's character, Kota Factory masterfully depicts trauma and anguish, highlighting his existential doubt and internal strife. However, the show sometimes ignores the students' viewpoints, especially when it comes to important moments like Vernali's passing, which seems underreported. Jitendra Kumar delivers a nuanced performance as Jeetu Bhaiya, evolving from a mentor figure to someone grappling with guilt and uncertainty. Ahsaas Channa impresses with her comedic timing, though her character still feels more like a concept than a fully fleshed-out individual.

Under Pratish Mehta’s direction, the series' distinctive black-and-white look and careful cinematography are preserved, giving the story more depth. But occasionally, the dialogue seems mechanical and lacks the originality of previous seasons.

Kota Factory Season 3 retains its charm with strong performances and poignant moments, particularly from Jitendra Kumar and the ensemble cast. While it continues to explore relevant themes, the series could benefit from a more balanced approach to storytelling, giving equal weight to both its central characters and the environment of Kota itself.

Because of its genuineness and character-driven story, Kota Factory is still worth seeing, even though it has trouble staying unique in a crowded field of dramas that focus on students.