EXCLUSIVE! Director Nishil Sheth on 13th: Some Lessons Aren't Taught in Classrooms comparison with Kota Factory: 'I don't think I have personally seen a...'

Sony LIV’s latest web show, 13th: Some Lessons Aren’t Taught in Classrooms, featuring Paresh Pahuja and Gagan Dev Riar, has been garnering rave reviews for its refreshing yet relevant content, direction, and impeccable performances by its ensemble.

Before the release of the 13th, Nishil Sheth, the director of the web series, shared his perspective, including social media pressure and its comparison with popular shows, in an exclusive interview with Firstpost.

Edited excerpts from the interview

On netizens’ appreciation of the trailer on social media

Well, I’m like firstly too very grateful that people are connecting with the trailer and I’m hoping the same goes once the series drops on the 1st and the credit to this definitely needs to go to the writer and, you know, the showrunner Sameer and Abhishek respectively. I’m overall quite happy with the reception so far

On the conceptualisation of 13th

So, it actually started with the script, like I mentioned, was written by Sameer Mishra, and the showrunner producer is Abhishek Dhandaria. And both of them had the script and everything ready, and I came in as a director for the project. So they had written it all out and it was flowing very well and it seemed very relevant for today’s time, you know especially with the whole, you know, frenzy there is with the whole JEE entrance or entrance tests in general and also the whole startup ecosystem, which has been catching on since the last 10-12 years in India.

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On choosing 13th, which is very different from your previous projects

Oh yeah, it was very different from the sort of stuff I’ve done. I started my journey with independent cinema with a film called Bhasmasur and then when I got a chance to work on this, it was quite exciting because generally before this I used to work on things that are more indie in nature, that have lesser dialogues and more cinematic. So this was a departure from the sort of work I used to do and it was a lot of fun and there were some amazing actors on set so that made it all the more fun, actually.

On the casting process

The casting was done by Starshade Casting and basically, yeah, it was a long and tough process because you’re always looking to cast the best possible people and when it came to convincing people, once we liked their performance or their readings. It wasn’t very hard because on paper the script was working quite well so that was also a very important factor that made people join us on the show

On the audience’s expectations

I’m quite excited that this sort of buzz is happening around the show, but to be honest, like, personally there is no baggage or anything as such, I think my primary job was to make sure that the execution of the show was done to the best of our abilities and I think we’ve done that and now it is on the viewers and, you know how they take the show and their opinions about it. So, I’m actually, more than anything, I’m quite excited to see how people react. But, yeah, I don’t really have any nerves, to be honest.

On the show, conveying the bond between a mentor and his protege

The whole concept of student and teacher is very strong. And, there are, like, some mentors in your life and vice versa  for mentors there are some students that always leave a mark while growing up. So, this is more of an ode to that relationship. And, I’m sure everyone, while watching the show, will relate to it on that front.

On comparison with cult show Kota Factory as it also explores the dynamics of the teacher-student relationship, and does it give you pressure?

No, in fact, it’s always good if, you know, people see it as something. But, one good thing about the show, which, once it drops, people will see, is that it’s a show about the sort of teacher-student relationship in the JEE space. But, it also talks about the whole startup ecosystem that is present today, and it sort of moves between these two timelines seamlessly. So, on that front, I don’t think I have personally seen a show or a film that works in this fashion. So, there is something new and unique to it compared to, let’s say, other shows that have spoken about, you know, teacher-student relationship.