The concept of the web series in India is still new. A lot of independent Indian content creators who wanted to make shows for young people were dependent on Youtube. But on Youtube, both production levels and profits were low. Most high grade content couldn’t be made without sponsorships from big brands. Nevertheless, this content resonated with the Indian youth. 

With time Youtube channels have garnered a cult following. They have figured out what type of content teens enjoy. It might come as a shock but shows on education related themes are received extremely well by the Indian teens and young adults.

The Viral Fever, a famous channel, has just released a new series on Youtube. It is called Aspirants. It is based on the hardships faced by students trying to crack the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) exam. It is one of the most difficult exams in the world and requires hard work. The first episode was brilliantly executed and the second has quickly climbed the Youtube trending chart. Despite not being on Netflix or Amazon Prime, the show has gathered a widespread audience and is being appreciated by all for the portrayal of actual problems of students.

This series comes after another academic genre hit show by The Viral Fever, Kota Factory. It was released in 2019 and deals with coaching institutes in Kota, a city famous for churning out IIT toppers and successful engineers. The show is shot in grayscale to show the lack of excitement and the colorless life of the students studying there. It is considered a masterpiece and the first episode has been watched by 33 million people!

Another highlight of these shows is that they don’t use popular faces. Instead, they rely on story and emotions to garner views. This year Kota Factory is going to have it’s second season and public expectations are high.

Another hit series in the academic genre is Dice Media’ Operation MBBS. It was released last year on Youtube and the premier episode had 31 million views. The show was applauded for its realistic portrayal of the daily lives of medicos, complete with their trials and triumphs. Testimonials by actual medical students suggest that the show is relatable and accurate. This series was also extremely successful and has been renewed for a second season.

On the other hand, are masala drama series masquerading as academic shows. ALTBalaji’s Medically Yourrs would be one of them. The show’s lead is a popular celebrity. He is a chocolate boy who hurls abuses every 5 seconds to sound cool. Medical students are presented as people who take drugs, have affairs every 2 seconds, bring Vogue levels of fashion to the ER and only care about money. 

To no one’s surprise this show has low ratings and has been slammed by medical students for being wildly inaccurate. 

Success of shows like Aspirants, Kota Factory and Operation MBBS prove that education related stories have the potential to be as successful as mainstream Netflix shows. TVF’s Panchayat was picked up by Amazon Prime and was loved by the urban population even when it did not follow the rules set for a show to be a commercial hit. These stories just need a better platform to be globally recognised.

Indian audiences now have a lot of options to choose from when it comes to good content. They are well-informed and their tastes are ever improving. The education genre is a hidden gem.