Student of the Year After Dark Review: ★★★½☆ (3.5/5)
Student of the Year After Dark is a fresh, twisty murder mystery with a strong double role from Shanaya Kapoor. The start is slow, and the pacing is uneven, but the final reveal keeps you hooked.
Rating: ★★★½☆ (3.5/5)
Genre: Murder Mystery Thriller
Language: Hindi
Director: Reema Maya
Cast: Shanaya Kapoor, Divik Sharma, Manya Grover, Abhinav Singh, Sheeba Chaddha, Harsh Chhaya
Episodes: 6
Student of the Year has always meant glamour, fashion, romance, and college rivalries. Student of the Year After Dark throws most of that out and asks a different question. What if the queen bee of the campus ended up dead? The six-episode series is now streaming on JioHotstar, and it gives the franchise a bold makeover.
The story begins with Ayesha, played by Shanaya Kapoor, recording a video message before her death. Her body is later found in a frozen lake at St. Teresa’s College. The case is called a suicide and closed, and her death becomes a viral sensation. But her twin sister Aditi, also played by Shanaya Kapoor, is not convinced. She joins the same college to find out what really happened.
She meets Ayesha’s friends, but everyone stays silent. So Aditi enters a game called Student of the Year, hoping it will lead her to the truth. The big question is whether she will find the killer, or get lost in a dangerous game of her own.
The story works in three layers. There is the murder investigation, then the Student of the Year competition, and finally the secrets hidden in the minds of the characters. Everyone seems to be hiding something, and as Aditi gets closer, old rivalries, insecurities, and tangled relationships come to light. The show also looks at the pressure and jealousy that sit under the shiny surface of college life.
The best part is Shanaya Kapoor. Playing two sisters with very different natures is not easy. Ayesha stands for popularity and glamour, while Aditi is driven by emotion and a need for the truth. Shanaya makes both feel real, and she handles some of the harder, more emotional scenes with care.
The show rests on her shoulders, and she carries it well. Divik Sharma, Manya Grover, Abhinav Singh, Sheeba Chaddha and Harsh Chhaya are fine in their parts, though none of them gets much room to stand out.
Director Reema Maya deserves credit for taking a risk. Swapping romance for mystery is a welcome change, and the college setting keeps its style while gaining a darker mood. The cinematography is a highlight, especially in the night scenes and the game rounds lit in red.
Some viewers may feel a Korean show vibe in the colours. The background score is chilling, and a few rap tracks fit the fast moments nicely. The makers also managed to keep the youthful feel with social media trends, pranks, fights, love, and betrayal.
The series does take time to get going. The first three episodes have many characters to introduce and a lot to set up before the real game starts, so they can feel slow. From the fourth episode, the show shifts gears and throws one surprise after another at you.
The final reveal about the killer is shocking and hard to guess. At times, the story becomes a little unreal, and the pacing is not always steady. Still, the dark theme, the clever writing, and the strong score hold your attention.
The director has also said the show follows the usual rules of a young adult murder mystery while bringing its own take, after viewers compared it to the Netflix series Class. That is fair. The genre has its habits, and this show plays with them well enough.
If you want more to watch, our 12 12 12 review covers an Apple TV heist series that starts smart but loses its way. For a warm true story, try our Being Heumann review, and for a Netflix pick with a sci-fi twist, read our Allen review.
Student of the Year After Dark is not flawless, but it is an interesting leap for an old brand. If you enjoy a good whodunit, it is worth your time.
Student of the Year After Dark is now streaming on JioHotstar.