13th: Some Lessons Aren't Taught In Classrooms Review: A startup story that quits before it truly begins

13th: Some Lessons Aren't Taught In Classrooms Review - Story – Ritesh (Paresh Pahuja) is thriving at a funding company that thrives on startup culture—until he isn’t. A chance meeting with his college mentor, MT Sir (Gagandev Riar of Scam 2003: The Telgi Story fame), shifts his perspect ive. Ritesh realises he wants to pursue a greater good. He quits his lucrative job to shape an ed-tech startup aimed at bringing education to remote corners of India where access is still a privilege. But the road ahead is anything but easy. MT Sir refuses to barter morals for funding, and someone must find a middle ground. Will Ritesh’s aspirations survive the hurdles?

13th: Some Lessons Aren't Taught In Classrooms Review

Remember when TVF first introduced us to the startup world, and we instantly wanted more? TVF Pitchers became a cultural gateway to a budding ecosystem that soon blossomed into a massive phenomenon. The power of that show was so strong that even its new season—released after a long gap—set fresh conversations rolling. Streaming platforms then discovered a new genre. What followed was a wave of content dissecting the education system (Kota Factory, Aspirants), or the suffocating corporate grind (Cubicles).

Now, SonyLIV ventures into the same terrain with 13th— a story about a man who finds purpose beyond suits and luxurious boardrooms where dreams are manufactured and facades sold.

Step out of your home, travel 30 kilometres, and chances are you won’t return without hearing or reading the word “startup.” The culture has become a trend, and probably the most exploited space at this point. Thousands are launched daily; many labelled successful with little proof. In such a chaotic environment, deciding which startup is consequential and which isn’t is almost impossible. 13th positions itself right at this crossroad, attempting to explore the state of the ecosystem today. Think of it as a spiritual sequel to Pitchers, perhaps set a decade after those four friends launched their venture.

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The intent of 13th is admirable—not to sell a startup dream but to ground it in reality and compel the audience to read the room. On paper, that’s an excellent aspiration. On screen, though, little translates effectively. The show walks with good intentions: a hot-headed venture capitalist is humbled by his mentor, whom he then wants to hire. Instead, he quits and sets out to create something meaningful with the mentor by his side. Together they want to make the world better. Inspirational in theory, it fizzles in execution. The narrative never dares to step outside its comfort zone.

At its heart, the show is about a mentor guiding his student, and later the student returning the favour, completing a circle. These two are inherently strong characters. Yet showrunner Abhishek Dhandharia, creator-writer Sameer Mishra, and director Nishil Sheth fail to explore them deeply. What unfolds is a story that aspires to be the best version of itself but never quite gets there.

Ritesh and MT Sir come across as one-dimensional figures, tied to a single track. The screenplay doesn’t allow them to breathe beyond the central conflict. That limitation turns them into puppets bound by a fixed narrative. This world is painted only in blacks and whites, with no shades of grey to add depth. That binary treatment makes the final product weaker.

Worse, 13th never even attempts to build a broader world that could sustain future narratives. It keeps running in circles, blindfolded, until it reaches an ending the audience sees coming from miles away. This predictable approach makes it dull for viewers who have already seen the genre handled with much more nuance elsewhere. The story focuses so narrowly on Ritesh and MT Sir that it neglects the supporting characters, who could have added richness to the canvas.

Paresh Pahuja and Gagandev Riar, however, throw themselves into their roles with sincerity. Their earnest performances are the only saving grace, but even their efforts can’t salvage the sinking ship. The fault lies not with the actors but the writing. The script leaves no room for them to experiment, trapping them into prototypes of “good men” without layers or contradictions.

13th: Some Lessons Aren't Taught In Classrooms Review: Final Verdict

 13th fails to expand beyond its initial premise, offering a bland execution of an otherwise intriguing concept. The focus on two one-note protagonists, with no depth or space to evolve, keeps the audience from investing emotionally.

13th is now streaming on SonyLIV. Stay tuned to OTTplay for more updates from the world of streaming and films.