13th Web Series Review: Corporate Chaos Meets IIT Dreams in a Half-Baked SonyLIV Drama

Introduction

⭐ Rating: 2/5
🎬 Directed by: Nishil Sheth
✍️ Creator/Writer: Sameer Mishra
📺 Streaming on: SonyLIV
🎭 Starring: Paresh Pahuja, Gagan Dev Riar, Girija Oak Godbole, Pradnya Motghare

In an era where Indian web series often blur the line between realism and repetition, SonyLIV’s “13th: Some Lessons Aren’t Taught in Classrooms” attempts to blend corporate cynicism with the nostalgic IIT dream. Unfortunately, while the premise feels timely, the storytelling remains disappointingly formulaic. Despite flashes of promise, director Nishil Sheth’s series struggles to rise above familiar tropes and predictable arcs.

Plot Overview: When Corporate Fatigue Meets the Coaching Factory

The story revolves around Ritesh (Paresh Pahuja), a jaded corporate employee working at a startup investment firm. After years of backing soulless ideas, he finally snaps during a pitch meeting, calling out the monotony of India’s startup culture. Disillusioned and craving purpose, Ritesh reconnects with his old mathematics professor, Mohit Tyagi (Gagan Dev Riar), who runs a coaching institute named Competishun.

Mohit’s mission is noble — making education accessible to all — and his idealism reignites Ritesh’s long-buried sense of purpose. But as he dives deeper into the world of education startups, Ritesh soon realizes that changing the system from within isn’t as simple as it seems.

Flashbacks: Revisiting the IIT Obsession

Set across two timelines, 13th takes viewers back twenty years to Ritesh’s student life, where he fails to crack the JEE (Mains) exam and decides to take a drop year — the “13th year” that gives the show its name. He joins the same coaching center under Mohit’s guidance, hoping to achieve the dream that defines so many Indian middle-class families: IIT admission.

However, the flashbacks don’t offer anything we haven’t seen before. The Kota backdrop, once fresh in shows like Kota Factory or Aspirants, now feels worn out. The narrative rehashes the same emotions of pressure, failure, and ambition — but without the same heart or innovation.

Performances: Gagan Dev Riar Shines, Paresh Pahuja Holds Steady

If the writing falters, the performances hold it together. Gagan Dev Riar, fresh off his success in Scam 2003: The Telgi Story, lends warmth and authenticity to his role as Mohit. His character embodies the old-school educator who believes teaching is a calling, not a business.

Paresh Pahuja, meanwhile, fits well as the burnt-out corporate professional. His frustration feels real, his arrogance believable — but in flashbacks, he seems too mature to convincingly play a young student. Still, both leads maintain a steady presence, keeping viewers marginally invested.

Direction and Writing: Thoughtful Intent, Tepid Execution

The series opens with a sharp monologue about creativity and conformity in modern India’s startup ecosystem — one of the most engaging moments in the show. Sadly, it’s all downhill from there.

Nishil Sheth’s direction and Sameer Mishra’s writing fail to explore the very themes they introduce — capitalism, education, and idealism. What could have been a scathing critique of India’s EdTech industry becomes a safe, predictable drama. The corporate critique lacks bite, and the emotional core never quite lands.

Even the visual tone, reminiscent of other SonyLIV dramas, feels overly familiar — neat lighting, muted palettes, and a restrained atmosphere. While technically sound, the show lacks soul.

Themes and Takeaways: Lessons That Never Land

13th tries to question India’s obsession with IITs, startup culture, and corporate validation. But instead of offering fresh insight, it ends up feeling like an uninspired echo of better shows.

The central idea — “some lessons aren’t taught in classrooms” — remains powerful in theory. Yet, in execution, it feels underdeveloped, leaving the audience neither enlightened nor entertained.

Verdict: Familiar Ideas, Forgettable Impact

In its attempt to bridge the gap between corporate burnout and educational idealism, 13th ends up trapped in its own clichés. Despite strong performances from Paresh Pahuja and Gagan Dev Riar, the show lacks emotional depth, originality, and a sense of urgency.

👉 Final Rating: ⭐⭐ (2/5)
A well-intentioned but middling effort that reminds us — some lessons may not be worth repeating.