Alakh Pandey, a living example of rags to riches, transformed the lives of infinite underprivileged students in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities of India with his low-fee education channel, Physics Wallah, on YouTube. Students from humble backgrounds found a companion to fulfil their dreams. Battling odds, Alakh and his partner Prateek Maheshwari set an example for the world to follow. His story has inspired TVF’s new show,Hello Bachhon, which is now streaming on Netflix.
Hello Bachhonhas a simple premise. The story is spread across five episodes. The show begins with Alakh (Viineet Kumar Siingh) rushing a young boy to a hospital in a critical condition. Gradually, various chapters from his life at Physics Wallah reveal the challenging years and efforts that go into making a profitable business. Alakh, who considers teaching as his only duty, begins to realise the importance of funding and growing Physics Wallah to build a credible reputation among all. His partner, an IITian, Prateek Maheshwari (Vikram Kochhar), stands by him like a rock even when their business ideologies differ.Hello Bachhonis about how students of different economic strata connect with Alakh and Physics Wallah due to their low-fee structure.
Hello Bachhonis another chapter in the TVF edutainment textbook afterKota Factory,Aspirants, andHalf CA. The language and grammar of storytelling are familiar. A teacher, who once belonged to the other side of society, sets his aim on educating students with financial and family problems. WhileKota Factorywas set in the education hub of India,Hello Bacchhonhas a wider approach. Director Pratish Mehta understands TVF’s standard storytelling module. It has emotional capabilities to stick strongly to the core ethos of the brand. This is a boon and a curse, too.
ThoughHello Bachhonaspires to celebrate Alakh and his achievements with Physics Wallah, the fabric that holds the narrative together is spread too thin and gets weaker with the overload of motivation. The student-teacher dynamics are not explored to their full potential. Instead, it becomes a one-toned, dramatic watch that feels emotionally and writing-wise distant. The show focuses on five students, each facing different challenges and they are somehow routed to Alakh’s online classes. More than how he transforms lives,Hello Bachhonis an insight into stereotypical problems and their unbelievably quick solutions. Alakh’s efforts, unique approach to teaching and ability to guide students without physical classes are not explored entirely. Despite each episode being around 45 minutes long, the show feels rushed and incomplete.
Being emotionally distant is one factor.Hello Bachhonlacks the spark, depth and conflict that ambitious series once brought on celluloid. The show picks up pace towards the conclusion when Physics Wallah decides to go offline, launching the first centre in Kota.Alakh’s competitor Trivedi sir (Manoj Joshi) brings in the spice and drama that could have uplifted it in many ways. However, the director chooses otherwise, leaving the conflict incomplete.
Hello Bachhonis a slow watch. Despite the flawed and familiar concept, there are some episodes that stand out brilliantly. The final two episodes are wonderfully done. The impact of the last story of a boy, who is academically brilliant and wants to be an IITian in AIR 100, is deep and long-lasting. The pressure, stress, overconfidence, and ambition of the young student hit home. But as soon as the track ends, the show returns to its original sluggish pace. The last monologue by Alakh doesn’t convince or motivate.
Viineet Kumar Siinghgives his 100 per cent toHello Bachhon. He gets the dialect right and shapes himself to understand Alakh’s body language, emotional turmoils and naivety. But the story allows him to show only a small part of his acting prowess. When the narrative moves to expanding Physics Wallah, Viineet is restricted to opposing it with full strength. Instead of celebrating Alakh, the character sketch shows him weaker and uninterested. Vikram Kochhar brings warmth to the show. He is brilliant as always. Girija Oak Godbole plays Alakh’s elder sister. Even in a limited role, the actress shows her best performance.
Hello Bachhonoffers too much in limited episodes. It wants to be an eye-opener, influencer, motivator and all of this while paying tribute to Alakh’s transformational business. Belonging to the same universe asKota FactoryandAspirantsisn’t the real problem; it is the format that needs to undergo a massive change. Once emotionally rich, the genre of edutainment is following similar tropes, making the story predictable.
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