13th (Season 1)
Introduction
In a parallel universe, the new Hindi show 13th would have unfolded like a horror show, on the lines of A Nightmare On Elm Street. So you have two characters that are dealing with fear in different capacities – one being that of uncertainty with respect to his future, and the other reluctant to step out of his comfort zone. It is a cumulative feeling of horror that a cerebral psychological film like A Nightmare On Elm Street would thrive on, except that the ‘Elm Street’ in question here is a startup idea. A startup is nothing short of a good horror film, wherein you often experience jumpscares in life at the most unexpected occasions. For Ritesh (a terrific Paresh Pahuja), you see that occasion in the form of a meltdown at the start. The rant felt similar to the Kartik Aaryan monologue in Pyaar Ka Punchnama (2010), except that the victims here were not females but young budding entrepreneurs who are at the receiving end of the wrath. But in that moment, you get a glimpse of Ritesh’s thought process – of wanting to make a difference in the society through the investments that his company would make, as opposed to just expecting a hefty return from the venture.
Story & Screenplay
Based on the life of the Co-Founder of Competishun Mohit Tyagi and written by Sameer Mishra and produced by Abhishek Dhandaria, the best way to describe 13th is a hybrid show stemming from Kota Factory and Pitchers, the two iconic shows of TVF. And it is interesting bit lies in how glamorous the two fields look in isolation – getting admission to an IIT, and having a start-up of your own. But the reality remains far from it, even as Ritesh finds himself in the middle of a similar uncertain situation in life. A couple of decades ago, you see Ritesh missing his JEE rank by a single mark, thereby prompting his father to send him to Kota, in order to slog for another year. In the current timeline, Ritesh’s future with his existing venture capitalist company treads on his ability to crack a deal in the Ed-Tech sector. At the center point in both the conflicts lies his (ex)-teacher Mohit Tyagi (a beautifully understated Gagan Dev Riar) who had essayed a pivotal role in his life, while being a potential catalyst in his life once again.
The two principal protagonists here reminded me of Anbarasu (R Madhavan) and Nalla Sivam (Kamal Haasan) in Anbe Sivam (2003), ofcourse in a different capacity. But the beauty of this dynamic here is how interchangeable and vulnerable both Ritesh and Mohit actually are. In the past timeline, Ritesh comes across as an arrogant student with a ‘know-it-all’ attitude who clearly has his ego challenged, firstly due to him missing out with his JEE score, and secondly with his competitive streak involving his peer Abhishek (Keshav Mehta) who is definitely quicker in problem solving than him. Ritesh wants to be the best, but the problem remains that he already believes himself to be the best – a specific issue that sees him skip classes initially, or alternately treat only Abhishek as his ‘inferior’ competition. Interestingly, the guiding force for Ritesh remains Mohit who fuels his competitive nature by asking him to solve a question paper, or tapping into his competitive streak by pitting him against Abhishek in a full classroom.
What is even more interesting is how the scenario is reversed in the current timeline. You are witness to a more vulnerable Mohit trying to adapt to the startup culture by crunching up numbers that clearing aren’t his forte. His goal is simple – to have quality education to students across the country, thereby resorting to a focused teaching pattern without any over the top antics that are emblems of online teaching today. You see him jittery during a conclave presentation, to the point that he decides to step away. In all of this, it is Ritesh who holds the venture proceedings together, subtly encouraging Mohit to face the challenge, just like Mohit had back in the day. It is a symbiotic relationship that the duo share, which is similar to Anba and Sivam, wherein both account for a parallel character arc.
It is interesting to note on how the women of the show act as emblems of support, creating moments of calm amidst the ‘startup’ chaos that the two protagonists undergo. Even in a certain disagreement, you spot Mansi (Girija Oak Godbole), Mohit’s better half not interfering in their matter. In a scene wherein Ritesh requests her help in putting some sense into Mohit, she calmly exclaims on how the nature of her husband is such that he doesn’t often change his mind (signalling how Mohit can be trusted to make his own decisions). Elsewhere, Sheena (Pradnya Motghare) acts as a silent support for Ritesh in his early days too – providing him (and his friends) good food in the mess, and requesting a ‘special Math class’ just in order to break the monotony in his life. In hindsight, there are many such characters that we reflect on, while only gauging their importance when they aren’t around – something that acts as an underlying thread for Ritesh given how Sheena now resides in another country.
The representation of a startup finds middle ground here in terms of its tonality- not being overtly technical and filled with jargons like the second season of TVF’s Pitchers, while also not be a frivolous ride like the Amazon Prime show Do You Wanna Partner. In the heart of hearts, the proceedings are heartwarming while doubling up as a coming of age story for both the protagonists. And that is the gaze that the writer wishes to exploit, using startup only as a catalyst for many life lessons. In the midst, the recurring theme is that of resilence and second chances – just like Ritesh who has to deal with a year of training at Kota amidst a format change in the exam, and having to deal with the idea of speed and competition, or even Mohit, who has to come to terms with the idea of presentations even at the cost of putting his reputation at stake and competiting with folks much younger to him.
In a way, both Ritesh and Mohit are the same person at different timelines in life that makes things endearing and reflective here. The only bummer for me was the finale here that felt abrupt, even when there was a scope in sight to wrap up the tale here. The season two fetish is a plague that is here to stay, and so the idea remains on enjoying the journey more than the destination, something that holds true here.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are understated and filled with philosophies of life that erupt at regular junctures in the drama. The music and BGM are uplifting, almost having a calming presence with a soothing after-effect that cuts through the chaos of the entrance exam or the startup culture like an invisible weapon of peace. The cinematography comprises of frames that effectively keep you emotionally invested in the two protagonists and their journeys, even as the editing pattern draws parallels frequently between the past and the present. For instance in a scene, you see the camera intercutting two empty shares across two timelines – each accounting for the vulnerability of the two protagonists in different but similar moments. Director Nishil Sheth stays focused on the dual journeys of his two protagonists, while infusing it with warmth and emotions that deftly touch your heart. His narrative style remains simplistic – often oscillating between the two timelines and extracting the vulnerabilities of his two leads rather efficiently while maintaining an understated tone with the proceedings. The direction remained solid while steering the drama to his destination rather well.
Performances
The performances are excellent by the members of the cast and a huge shoutout to casting directors Sahaj Bhadoria and Nitin Mahesh Joshi of Starshade Casting for handpicking some exciting talent. Rama Krishna Dixit as Sandeep manages to score as a cocky venture capitalist who wishes to impose his vision onto the Ed-Tech startup of Mohit and Ritesh. Ajoy Chakraborty as Ritesh’s father is understated and has his moments to shine. As does Rajendra Bhatia as the house owner of Ritesh, who does a fine job here. Sahil Sharma as Ranjeet is first rate in a character that reflects the mental state of Ritesh at one point, someone who is callous and carefree without a worry about his future. Jai Kishan as Mudit, Abhishek Ranjan as Ishan and Ashish Raghav as Sahil are endearing and heartwarming additions to the drama, and all of them leave a mark.
Girija Oak Godbole as Mansi is wonderfully understated and subtly delivers an impactful performance. Pradnya Motghare as Sheena has an effervescent presence onscreen, always infusing life into the proceedings with her antics, and she remains wonderfully competent through and through. Keshav Mehta as Abhishek has a certain smugness around him, that perfectly represents his character. In another world, he too is Ritesh, someone who might fear failure or even is overwhelmed by competition. Keshav uses his body language and expressions to great effect here, while managing to leave a lasting impression.
The show though belongs to the two protagonists – Paresh Pahuja as Ritesh and Gagan Dev Riar as Mohit. There is an interchangeable trait of endurance and vulnetability, that perfectly compliments the two characters in unison. Ritesh is the assertive one, known to voice his mind and opinion even if it is against the grain. Mohit is the understated one, internalizing his problems and vulnerabilities and putting up a strong face always. Both Paresh and Gagan feed off energies and extract these traits wonderfully well. They are brilliant to the core in heartwarming performances that will gently tingle the strings of your heart.
Conclusion
Being understated with its tone, the first season of 13th is a heartwarming and endearing drama with solid performances that makes for a wonderful watch. Available on SonyLiv.