Review of 'Crash Course' - A new take on Kota's coaching system

Plot

When shows like 'Kota Factory', 'Laakhon Mein Ek', and others have already delved into the underbelly of Kota's coaching system and the struggles of students vying for an IIT seat, it's fair to compare Vijay Maurya's 'Crash Course' to them because the basic premise isn't novel. But, this 10-part series offers an interesting insight into the cutthroat competition between two major coaching institutes and the impact it has on students' lives.

Acting

Annu Kapoor is outstanding as Jindal, and he truly meant it when he said, "Jindal all the Way," over and over again. He is an openly cunning, money-minded individual, and Kapoor has nailed it. Bhanu Uday is convincing as Jindal’s rival.

Cinematography

Vijay Maurya has expertly captured the flavor of the city by focusing on local streets before moving on to eateries and the mess where students spend most of their time. With the help of close-up shots, he also manages to capture the characters' tense mood.

Direction

Vijay Maurya has done an impressive job in capturing the essence of Kota's coaching system and its impact on the lives of students. However, shorter episodes may have made it easier to binge-watch, and cutting down on some of the scenes showcasing the marketing and competitive skills of both institutes would have helped maintain the show's momentum.

Verdict

All in all, this crash course isn't mandatory, but it is well worth taking once! Its no secret that Kota, a city in Rajasthan, is synonymous with its hundreds of coaching centres buzzing with students prepping for IIT JEE and medical entrance exams. And with TVF series Kota Factory touching upon the subject with much sensitiveness and realism, the expectations of a viewer with the new series Crash Course are somewhat similar. But this one goes way beyond the tough lives of these IIT aspirants and their struggle at the coaching centres as they literally get into a bloodbath to outdo the other.