Cadets is a series of thriller odysseys of four new recruits, namely Tanay Chheda, Chayan Chopra, Tushar Shahi, and Gautam Singh, enrolled into the prestigious Armed Forces Academy in the year 1998, at the threshold of the historic Kargil War. This series reflects upon the tough transformation of young men into fine soldiers by its rigorous training regime as war breathed down the neck of these cadets. All of them are put through a series of grueling physical drills personally and collectively in preparation for war. Besides the rigors and disciplines of military life, the series also looks at the strong bonds that are being made: friendship, loyalty, and cameraderie as they drive themselves to the edge.
Cadets is set in the year 1998, just before the Kargil War. It follows the stories of four 16-year-old boys, Manoj Mitra, Albert Marak, Neeraj Tomar, and Randhir Dhanua, as they join National Defence Academy. The coming-of-age story depicted the transformation from carefree teenagers into disciplined soldiers with a host of challenges to train with military discipline. It depicts friendship and evolving comradeship, personal battles, and grueling lives at the academy. Each character brings a different perspective: Manoj, the idealistic Bengali, is sincere and purposeful; Albert, the jolly lad from Meghalaya, adds humor and lightness; Randhir, bound by military tradition, is serious and disciplined; and Neeraj, the level-headed Haryanvi, brings in a practical, no-nonsense element. Personal and collective individual struggles knit camaraderie into an attack of all complexities in teenage life, culminating in a dangling awkward romantic subplot and moments of youthful love. Their movement is against the looming backdrop of the Kargil War, as they get ready to turn into honorable men prepared to serve their country. Cadets moves through humor and drama to moments of personal growth in telling about how young men learn to navigate the physical and emotional demands of military life.