📌 Overview:

Kota Factory, created by The Viral Fever (TVF), is India’s first black-and-white web series that realistically captures the life of IIT aspirants in Kota, Rajasthan. The show follows Vaibhav Pandey, a teenager who moves to Kota to prepare for the IIT-JEE entrance exam, and his journey of friendship, failure, self-doubt, and growth.

⚙️ Season-wise Breakdown

📘 Season 1 (2019) – The Beginning

Plot Summary:

• Vaibhav arrives in Kota and joins Prodigy Institute.
• Struggles to adjust to the pressure cooker environment.
• Meets friends like Meena, Uday, and Jeetu Bhaiya – the mentor everyone wishes they had.
• Ends with Vaibhav moving to Maheshwari Classes, one of the top institutes.

Review:

• Raw, realistic, and emotional.
• It perfectly shows the loneliness, pressure, and competition students face in Kota.
• Jeetu Bhaiya becomes an iconic mentor figure — not just for Vaibhav, but for viewers too.

✅ Best Moments: Jeetu Bhaiya’s lectures, Vaibhav’s friendship moments, hostel life struggles.

⭐ Rating: 5/5

🎯 Comment: An authentic portrayal of student life in India. Relatable and inspiring.

📘 Season 2 (2021) – The Pressure Increases

Plot Summary:

• Vaibhav adjusts to Maheshwari and starts falling behind.
• Jeetu Bhaiya leaves Prodigy to start his own institute, Aimers.
• Meena and Uday continue to deal with their own academic and personal challenges.
• The emotional and mental strain of exams starts affecting everyone.

Review:

• Focus shifts more towards emotional maturity and mental health.
• The black-and-white tone continues to highlight the seriousness and realism.
• Some pacing issues, but still engaging and heartfelt.

✅ Best Moments: Jeetu Bhaiya’s session on failure, Vaibhav’s self-doubt, Uday’s personal life.

⭐ Rating: 4.5/5

🎯 Comment: Not as fresh as Season 1, but more intense and meaningful.

📘 Season 3 (2024) – The Final Lap

Plot Summary:

• The pressure of IIT-JEE reaches its peak.
• Vaibhav and friends face internal competition, burnout, and uncertainty about the future.
• Jeetu Bhaiya’s institute struggles with results and expectations.
• Ends with emotional closure — not everyone succeeds, but everyone grows.

Review:

• Emotionally heavy and mature.
• Focus on reality: not everyone cracks IIT, and that’s okay.
• Strong performances, especially from Jeetu Bhaiya and Vaibhav.
• Gives a powerful message about redefining success.

✅ Best Moments: Jeetu Bhaiya’s motivational talk, Vaibhav’s breakdown, result day scenes.

⭐ Rating: 4.7/5

🎯 Comment: A powerful and satisfying ending to a brilliant show.

🎭 Overall Strengths:

• ✅ Realism – No over-dramatization; everything feels natural.
• ✅ Character depth – Every student has their own battle.
• ✅ Jeetu Bhaiya – A symbol of mentorship and hope.
• ✅ Black & White Visuals – Uniquely artistic and symbolic.
• ✅ Soundtrack & Dialogues – Deep, relatable, and often motivational.

❌ Weaknesses:

• A few slow-paced episodes in Season 2.
• Some arcs (like Uday’s romantic subplot) felt underdeveloped.
• Could’ve explored the pressure on parents too.

📊 Season Ratings Summary

Season 1

Introduction & friendships

⭐ 5/5

Season 2

Academic pressure & mental health

⭐ 4.5/5

Season 3

Final exam phase & emotional growth

⭐ 4.7/5

🏁 Final Verdict:

Kota Factory is not just a show about exams — it’s a reflection of the Indian education system, the mental toll on students, and the importance of true mentorship. It’s emotional, raw, and incredibly relatable for every student.

🎓 “IIT nikalna important hai, lekin insaan ban’na zyada zaroori hai.” – Jeetu Bhaiya

Overall Rating: ⭐ 4.8/5

Highly recommended for students, parents, teachers, and anyone who wants to understand the pressure of chasing “success” in India.