The popular Student of the Year franchise has taken a dramatic turn with its latest instalment, Student of the Year: After Dark. Moving away from the glamorous campus romance and youthful entertainment associated with the earlier films, the new series enters the world of murder, mystery, hidden secrets and psychological suspense.
Directed by Reema Maya, the web series features Shanaya Kapoor in a challenging double role. She plays twin sisters Aayesha Malik and Aditi Malik, whose lives become connected through a mysterious death at their prestigious school.
The series has received a three-star rating from Bollywood Hungama. The review praised Shanaya's performance, the stylish direction and the background music, while also highlighting certain storytelling and logical shortcomings.
Student of the Year: After Dark Story: A Murder Mystery at St Teresa's School
The story revolves around Aayesha Malik, a popular student at St Teresa's Heritage School in Panchkut. Her life comes to a sudden end when she is found dead in the frozen Barakhalli Lake.
Initially, the police suspect accidental drowning and consider closing the case. However, Aayesha's twin sister, Aditi, refuses to accept the explanation and insists on a post-mortem examination.
Although the sisters were not particularly close, Aditi is deeply affected by her death. Determined to discover what really happened, she manages to secure admission to the same school where Aayesha studied.
Once inside the institution, Aditi begins investigating her sister's friends and acquaintances. She gets close to Aayesha's best friend Tara Barman, played by Manya Grover, her boyfriend Siddharth Saraiya, played by Divik Sharma, and other students who may know more than they are willing to reveal.
As the investigation progresses, Aditi discovers that the school's apparently perfect environment hides several secrets. She also learns about a mysterious competition called Student of the Year, in which Aayesha had participated.
The competition becomes an important part of the narrative, adding another layer of suspense to the murder investigation.
Shanaya Kapoor's Double Role Wins Appreciation
One of the biggest highlights of Student of the Year: After Dark is Shanaya Kapoor's performance.
The actress plays two distinct characters, Aayesha and Aditi, giving her an opportunity to explore different emotional shades. While Aayesha is presented as a popular and confident student, Aditi is more vulnerable and emotionally affected by the circumstances surrounding her sister's death.
Bollywood Hungama has particularly appreciated Shanaya's performance, noting that she handles the demanding double role impressively.
Manya Grover and Deeya Damini also deliver impactful performances. Divik Sharma, who previously appeared in The Ba**ds of Bollywood*, makes a strong impression as Siddharth.
Abhinav Singh, Adi Malik and the supporting cast contribute to the school's complicated relationships and mysterious atmosphere. Veteran performers Sheeba Chaddha, Vivek Gomber, Khalid Siddiqui and Neeraj Kabi provide additional support.
Reema Maya's Direction Gives the Franchise a Dark Makeover
The earlier Student of the Year films were primarily associated with campus glamour, romance, friendship and competition. With After Dark, director Reema Maya introduces a completely different atmosphere.
The series begins with Aayesha's mysterious death and quickly moves into Aditi's investigation. The suspense builds as suspicion shifts between different students, each of whom appears to have something to hide.
The secret Student of the Year competition adds further tension. The Heartbreak round is among the sequences highlighted in Bollywood Hungama's review.
However, the screenplay is not without problems. The narrative moves backwards and forwards at several points, which can make certain developments confusing. The repeated revelation of characters' dark secrets also becomes monotonous after a while.
Some plot developments raise questions about logic and believability. The review also points out that the explanation surrounding Aayesha's journey to a lake located 112 kilometres from the school is not convincing enough.
Despite these shortcomings, the mystery maintains viewers' curiosity, and the final revelation offers an interesting conclusion.
Music, Cinematography and Technical Aspects
The technical presentation is another strength of the series. Achint Thakkar's music complements the show's unusual atmosphere, while Night Song and Shalom Benjamin's background score adds tension to several important scenes.
Harshvir Oberai's cinematography gives the school and its surroundings a polished visual appearance. The costumes and production design also help establish the distinctive world of St Teresa's Heritage School.
The action sequences are handled by Vikram Dahiya. The visual effects, however, could have been more refined in certain scenes, according to the review.
The editing by Viraj Gadodia gives the series a contemporary presentation, although the transitions occasionally add to the narrative confusion.
Student of the Year: After Dark Review: Final Verdict
Student of the Year: After Dark represents a bold change for a franchise previously associated with youthful romance and glamorous campus life. Its murder mystery, secret competition and psychological elements create a different viewing experience.
Shanaya Kapoor's double performance is one of the series' biggest attractions, supported by stylish direction, strong background music and an ensemble cast.
However, an occasionally confusing screenplay, underdeveloped characters and certain unbelievable developments prevent the thriller from reaching its full potential.
Bollywood Hungama has awarded the series 3 out of 5 stars, describing it as a stylish and intriguing thriller. The publication believes it could find an audience, particularly among younger viewers.
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