The Student Of The Year franchise has always been associated with glamorous college campuses, friendships, romance, rivalries and larger-than-life characters. However, Student Of The Year – After Dark takes a completely different route. Starring Shanaya Kapoor in a double role alongside Divik Sharma, Manya Grover, Mannat Duggal, Deeya Damimi, Sheeba Chaddha and Harsh Chhaya, this six-episode series turns the familiar St. Teresa’s campus into the setting for a murder mystery. Directed and written by Reema Maya, the show attempts to give the franchise a darker identity.
Student Of The Year – After Dark Story
The story begins with the mysterious death of Ayesha Malik (Shanaya Kapoor), one of the most popular students at St. Teresa’s. Her twin sister, Aditi (also Shanaya Kapoor), refuses to accept the circumstances surrounding her death and decides to investigate the truth herself.
Aditi joins the same college and starts interacting with Ayesha’s friends. However, nobody seems willing to talk openly about what happened. Everyone has a different version of events, and their silence only makes Aditi more suspicious. Determined to uncover the truth, she enters the college’s prestigious Student Of The Year competition.
But what begins as an attempt to find her sister’s killer soon pulls her into a complicated world of rivalries, hidden relationships, personal ambitions and dangerous secrets. As Aditi gets closer to the truth, she realises that the people around her may not be what they appear to be. Will she discover who killed Ayesha, or will her investigation put her own life at risk? The rest of the series revolves around this mystery.
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Student Of The Year – After Dark Review
The biggest positive about Student Of The Year – After Dark is its willingness to move away from the familiar formula. Instead of another predictable college romance, the makers introduce a murder mystery filled with suspicion, psychological tension and unexpected developments. It is an interesting change that gives the franchise a fresh identity.
The six-episode format works reasonably well for the story. The makers take their time establishing the characters, their relationships and the circumstances surrounding Ayesha’s death. The first three episodes are relatively slow, as there are several characters and subplots to introduce. However, the narrative picks up considerably from the fourth episode onwards. The revelations become more interesting, and the mystery keeps getting complicated.
Another positive is the way the show makes almost every character look suspicious. Aditi’s investigation gradually exposes the insecurities and hidden ambitions behind the college’s seemingly perfect atmosphere. Her personal loss also gives the mystery an emotional angle, rather than making it just another exercise in identifying the killer. The final reveal is genuinely surprising and is among the show’s strongest moments.
Director Reema Maya deserves credit for giving the franchise a different treatment. She manages to create an atmosphere where glamour and danger exist side by side. The series also has a distinct visual identity, which separates it from the earlier instalments.
However, the writing isn’t equally strong throughout. With so many characters and their individual secrets, certain developments feel rushed or insufficiently explained. A few character motivations appear suddenly, making some twists less impactful than they could have been. The screenplay also takes time to build momentum, while a tighter edit would have improved the overall viewing experience.
Music And Technical Aspects
The cinematography deserves appreciation, particularly during the darker sequences and the Student Of The Year competition. The use of red lighting and the overall colour palette create an atmosphere that occasionally reminds you of popular Korean thrillers.
The background score is effective and adds to the tension, while the rap numbers fit well into some of the energetic sequences. The editing could have been sharper, especially in the initial episodes, but the overall presentation supports the show’s darker storytelling approach.
Student Of The Year – After Dark Performances
Shanaya Kapoor gets a challenging opportunity with her double role as Ayesha and Aditi. While there is room for improvement in her performance, she makes a sincere effort to establish a distinction between the two characters. Her emotional scenes as Aditi work particularly well. She brings out the character’s grief, loneliness and determination as she tries to uncover the truth about her sister’s death. The role also allows Shanaya to explore a different side of her screen presence.
Divik Sharma, Manya Grover, Mannat Duggal and Deeya Damimi play important parts in the college’s complicated social dynamics. Their characters add to the mystery, although a few of them could have been developed better.
Sheeba Chaddha and Harsh Chhaya bring their experience to the proceedings and provide able support. The supporting cast does its job, with the changing equations between the characters keeping the audience guessing.
Final Verdict
Student Of The Year – After Dark is an interesting departure from the franchise’s familiar territory. The shift from college romance to a murder mystery works in its favour, while the second half delivers enough surprises to keep viewers invested. Shanaya Kapoor gets a challenging double role, and Reema Maya brings a distinct visual and storytelling approach to the series.
The slow initial episodes, uneven writing and underdeveloped characters prevent it from becoming a thoroughly gripping thriller. Still, the unpredictable mystery and final reveal make the journey worthwhile. It may not be a flawless series, but it is a refreshing attempt to do something different with an established franchise. Student Of The Year – After Dark is streaming on JioHotstar.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/5)
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