New Delhi: It is rare for artists to get a chance to speak through their work, says actor Tillotama Shome, who participated in "Kota Factory", as it is one of the few shows that addresses the aspirations and concerns of the generation young.
The Viral Fever (TVF) Netflix series is set in Kota, Rajasthan, considered the training center for students who aspire to get admission into an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) by clearing the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).
The actor, 45, said he liked the theme they tackled season after season and how they built a solid foundation.
"Do we worry a lot about the future as human beings but we don't invest in the future? The youth of our country, they are the future. And this was a program that really leads by example and it was a program that ultimately puts the youth, their stories, aspirations, dreams and concerns at the center.
"We have so many expectations and criticisms on them. But as adults, what do we do to empower young people or give them some space in our storytelling and cinema? This was strange for many reasons and when I came out of that call (with TVF), my news had the unfortunate and tragic news that students from Kota had ended their lives," Shome said in an interview.
The city of Rajasthan often makes headlines for hopefuls taking their own lives and it is a topic that even the show addresses in its final season.
"Often, as artists, we feel very constrained because we have chosen to speak through our work. So it's rare when you have the opportunity to speak about something that matters," said the actor.
"We live in a time where everything succeeds... But that has to move me. It has to move the needle in some way. And it's very difficult to interpret it right away because, like good teachers and most things in the life, one "I see the impact of a good teacher or program, many years later."
Shome, the versatile actress known for her roles in films such as "Monsoon Wedding", "Shanghai", "Qissa: The Tale of a Lonely Ghost", "A Death in the Gunj" and "Sir", plays the role of The Professor of chemistry Pooja Agarwal in the third season of the show, which recently launched on the streaming platform.
The cast of the show is led by Jitendra Kumar, who plays the fan-favorite character Jeetu Bhaiya.
"I was very touched when I learned that there are teachers in Kota who, after watching Jeetendra's performance as Jeetu bhaiya, felt they needed to pull up their socks. So that's a shock to you, right? It's not like that." "It doesn't always happen," the actress said, praising her co-star's performance.
The new season of "Kota Factory," filmed in black and white, will see the students approach adulthood as their final exams approach.
In the trailer for the third season, Jitendra's Jeetu Bhaiya delivers a key dialogue that puts emphasis on celebrating the hard work put in by the students, rather than reveling in the victorious outcome.
The reality, however, is completely different: top exams are celebrated with front-page advertisements by their coaching institutes, while others continue to wait and work hard to make the next opportunity count.
Shome said that she does not believe in the mentality of celebrating only the winners and it is all thanks to her parents who never pressured her.
"They just said that you have to be independent. And to taste that independence or to be able to enjoy freedom, you decide what you need. And that was it. If you want to study or play, they gave me freedom. I don't remember, not a single one. Maybe there was any kind of expectation that I had to excel.
"As an adult and also as a professional, I don't feel like I have to be on top of anything. I just want to play. I want to be in this world that I have chosen and that I love."
It's reductionist to measure success by highlighting only the achievements of those who finish in the top three at something, she added.
"It feels like you're reducing something so incredibly amazing, whether it's education, acting or any career. I don't believe in that kind of corruption, this top-three mentality and front-page visibility. I don't think you really love the "Just you love power. What will you do with it? Even if you come in fourth place, you can still work," Shome said.
Directed by Pratish Mehta and directed by Raghav Subbu, “Kota Factory” also features Mayur More, Ranjan Raj, Alam Khan, Revathi Pillai, Ahsaas Channa and Rajesh Kumar.
The Viral Fever (TVF) Netflix series is set in Kota, Rajasthan, considered the training center for students who aspire to get admission into an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) by clearing the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).
The actor, 45, said he liked the theme they tackled season after season and how they built a solid foundation.
"Do we worry a lot about the future as human beings but we don't invest in the future? The youth of our country, they are the future. And this was a program that really leads by example and it was a program that ultimately puts the youth, their stories, aspirations, dreams and concerns at the center.
"We have so many expectations and criticisms on them. But as adults, what do we do to empower young people or give them some space in our storytelling and cinema? This was strange for many reasons and when I came out of that call (with TVF), my news had the unfortunate and tragic news that students from Kota had ended their lives," Shome said in an interview.
The city of Rajasthan often makes headlines for hopefuls taking their own lives and it is a topic that even the show addresses in its final season.
"Often, as artists, we feel very constrained because we have chosen to speak through our work. So it's rare when you have the opportunity to speak about something that matters," said the actor.
"We live in a time where everything succeeds... But that has to move me. It has to move the needle in some way. And it's very difficult to interpret it right away because, like good teachers and most things in the life, one "I see the impact of a good teacher or program, many years later."
Shome, the versatile actress known for her roles in films such as "Monsoon Wedding", "Shanghai", "Qissa: The Tale of a Lonely Ghost", "A Death in the Gunj" and "Sir", plays the role of The Professor of chemistry Pooja Agarwal in the third season of the show, which recently launched on the streaming platform.
The cast of the show is led by Jitendra Kumar, who plays the fan-favorite character Jeetu Bhaiya.
"I was very touched when I learned that there are teachers in Kota who, after watching Jeetendra's performance as Jeetu bhaiya, felt they needed to pull up their socks. So that's a shock to you, right? It's not like that." "It doesn't always happen," the actress said, praising her co-star's performance.
The new season of "Kota Factory," filmed in black and white, will see the students approach adulthood as their final exams approach.
In the trailer for the third season, Jitendra's Jeetu Bhaiya delivers a key dialogue that puts emphasis on celebrating the hard work put in by the students, rather than reveling in the victorious outcome.
The reality, however, is completely different: top exams are celebrated with front-page advertisements by their coaching institutes, while others continue to wait and work hard to make the next opportunity count.
Shome said that she does not believe in the mentality of celebrating only the winners and it is all thanks to her parents who never pressured her.
"They just said that you have to be independent. And to taste that independence or to be able to enjoy freedom, you decide what you need. And that was it. If you want to study or play, they gave me freedom. I don't remember, not a single one. Maybe there was any kind of expectation that I had to excel.
"As an adult and also as a professional, I don't feel like I have to be on top of anything. I just want to play. I want to be in this world that I have chosen and that I love."
It's reductionist to measure success by highlighting only the achievements of those who finish in the top three at something, she added.
"It feels like you're reducing something so incredibly amazing, whether it's education, acting or any career. I don't believe in that kind of corruption, this top-three mentality and front-page visibility. I don't think you really love the "Just you love power. What will you do with it? Even if you come in fourth place, you can still work," Shome said.
Directed by Pratish Mehta and directed by Raghav Subbu, “Kota Factory” also features Mayur More, Ranjan Raj, Alam Khan, Revathi Pillai, Ahsaas Channa and Rajesh Kumar.
