The world of Student of the Year has always been associated with glamour, expensive fashion, college rivalries, romance and the race to win the coveted trophy. But what happens when this familiar campus setting takes a dark and mysterious turn? That's exactly what Student of the Year: After Dark attempts to explore.

Produced by Karan Johar's Dharmatic Entertainment and streaming on JioHotstar, this six-episode series transforms the familiar youth-drama universe into a murder mystery filled with secrets, suspense and unexpected twists.

Starring Shanaya Kapoor in the lead role, the series raises an interesting question: can a glamorous college setting successfully become the backdrop for a gripping crime thriller? Here's our review.

Student of the Year: After Dark – What's the story?

The story unfolds at the prestigious St. Teresa's College, where Ayesha Malik (Shanaya Kapoor), the college's popular fashion icon and Queen Bee, is found dead in a frozen lake.

Initially, her death is treated as a tragic accident. However, the situation takes a dramatic turn when her twin sister, Aditi Malik, arrives.

The sisters had been estranged for a long time, but Aditi refuses to believe that Ayesha's death was accidental. Determined to uncover the truth, she enrols at the same college and begins investigating what really happened.

As Aditi gets closer to the truth, she discovers that the glamorous world of St. Teresa's College hides several dangerous secrets. Even the prestigious Student of the Year competition appears to have a much darker side than anyone imagined.

What follows is a suspenseful game of deception, rivalry and suspicion, where almost everyone seems to have something to hide.

Direction and screenplay: Glamour meets a dark mystery

Director Reema Maya creates an interesting contrast between the colourful world of an elite college and the unsettling atmosphere of a murder investigation.

The series establishes its suspenseful tone from the beginning, using stylish visuals, atmospheric cinematography and a 's death.

The difference between the two characters gives Shanaya room to explore different shades of performance. She brings confidence to the role and makes a promising impression in her web-series debut.

The supporting cast also contributes to the overall experience. Divik Sharma and Manya Grover deliver noticeable performances, while Sheeba Chaddha and the other cast members add depth to the college drama.

What works and what doesn't?

The biggest strength of the series is its unusual combination of campus glamour and murder mystery. Instead of repeating the familiar romance-and-rivalry formula, it introduces suspense and darker themes into the Student of the Year universe.

However, the screenplay is not equally effective throughout. Some twists feel predictable, while a few developments appear designed mainly to create temporary excitement.

The emotional depth of the central character could also have been explored further.

Nevertheless, the six-episode format keeps the story relatively compact, and the mystery provides enough reasons to continue watching.

Should you watch Student of the Year: After Dark?

If you are expecting the usual Student of the Year experience filled with romance, friendship and college celebrations, this series may surprise you.

Student of the Year: After Dark takes the franchise in a completely different direction, combining campus politics, glamorous lifestyles, hidden rivalries and a murder investigation.

Shanaya Kapoor's double role, the stylish presentation and the central mystery make it worth considering for viewers who enjoy campus-based thrillers.

The occasional slowdown in the screenplay prevents it from becoming a completely gripping experience, but the suspense keeps the series interesting until the finale.

Verdict: A stylish campus murder mystery with a promising performance from Shanaya Kapoor. If you enjoy crime thrillers with glamour, secrets and college rivalries, give it a watch on JioHotstar.