Of number 13 & second chances...

Yet another series set in the world of JEE aspirants and comparisons with Kota Factory and Super 30 are but obvious. However, award-winning writer-director Nishil Sheth says his upcoming web series 13th, though at the surface level about the same ecosystem of competitive exams, is markedly different. Interestingly, 13th is an informal name given to students who take a drop year after Class XII and take the JEE exams.

Hence, his series is more about second chances as well as about startup systems. In fact 13th, inspired by real-life character Mohit Tyagi, popular Indian educator known for his free online coaching for competitive exams on YouTube, moves between two timelines. Quintessentially about mentor-mentee relationship, it is not a faithful true event story but embodies the spirit of factual truths.

As acclaimed actor Gagan Dev Riar steps into the shoes of Tyagi, we wonder what kind of magic can we expect from the Scam 2003 actor. Nishil shares, “His inspirational yet down-to-earth character in 13th is a huge departure from Scam 2003, where he played a scamster. It’s a sheer joy to work with Gagan for what you see on the screen is what happens on the sets too. An exceptionally focused actor, he possesses child-like enthusiasm. Despite being such an accomplished theatre actor he is not complacent at all, rather breaks down every moment.”

Nishil is equally effusive about his other lead Paresh Pahuja. “It was only after his selection through rigorous acting audition process that I realised he is a singer too, which is like a cherry on the top of this very talented artiste,” he says.

As OTT too is being sucked into star system, Nishil doesn’t blame anyone for opting for such projects, “It’s the nature of the beast. There is more retention when stars are involved. Actually pre-Covid OTT platforms were a greater levelling field. But as theatres closed during Covid times, star-vehicles moved to streaming platforms. But ultimately good stories rise to the top.”

An independent filmmaker, he is immensely grateful to OTT platforms. His award-winning indie film Bhasmasur too found a place on Netflix. Today, as his Kannada movie Don’t Tell Mother, which he co-produced, opened at Busan Film Festival, he says, “Awards/ laurels don’t hurt anyone, but don’t change anything. You feel on the top of the world in that moment. But next day, you are back to the drawing board and start from scratch.”

As several new ideas are brewing in his mind minefield, he divulges, “In the world of arc light, it’s not about what you are thinking or writing, but what gets greenlit.” Indeed, getting a green signal for a web-series isn’t easy. He avers, “It is a highly competitive field and there is already enough qualitative content vying for attention.”

Between longer format of storytelling and indie films, he doesn’t have any favourites. The defining difference according to him is, “Cinema is plot-oriented where you want to offer an immersive experience. Web series, more like a relay race, is character-driven where the emphasis is on how to get your viewers back for the next episode. Either way, your engagement level as a maker is no less in either medium.”

Trained at Whistling Woods International, he doesn’t think, “One is a born actor or director. At the same time, one need not always be trained at an institute. One could acquire hands-on training on the sets while assisting other makers.”

Yet, since an assisting role eluded him, he along with his batchmates decided to make Bhasmasur on their own. Thus his advice to all aspirants is, “Be at it, practice will make you better and better.”

To viewers, his entreaty for watching 13th is, “You will find it relatable. We all have had a mentor in life.” Check out how life changes with that beacon in our lives as 13th streams on SonyLiv on October 1.