“Student of the Year” (2012) – Alia Bhatt’s Bollywood Coming-of-Age Classic About Romantic Students

Director: Karan Johar

Starring: Alia Bhatt, Sidharth Malhotra and Rishi Kapoor

‘A Captivating Classic’

Not many actresses in Bollywood have built a legacy as strong as Alia Bhatt. Ever since her stardom in the 2000’s, Bhatt has proven to be a great actress. Whether it’s rebellious teenagers, passionate rappers or lovers that face barriers, Bhatt has portrayed countless powerful characters. Arguably, Bhatt’s best strength as an actress has always been her bravery. She is one of those bold actresses that has seldom been afraid to take risks in her career. Through her willingness to take on risky roles, Bhatt has built a legacy that’s unforgettable. Even when she isn’t the main focus of a movie, Bhatt has always created a lasting impression. Throughout her career, Bhatt has made several unforgettable films that are worth talking about without a single doubt.

I’m a huge fan of Bhatt and adore all movies which she has made in her career. However, “Student of the Year” absolutely stands out as her most meaningful movie. Released in 2012, Karan Johar’s film offered a powerful portrayal of college students. Packed with strong production, engaging story and bold acting, it’s a remarkable Bollywood romantic drama. At the centre of it all is an incredible performance by Alia Bhatt, who embodies a competitive student seeking success in her school. Although “Student of the Year” is a captivating Bollywood drama, ultimately it isn’t a flawless film. It builds to a predictable ending without a resolution. Nevertheless, it offers strong entertainment that will satisfy fans of Alia Bhatt.

“Student of the Year” follows a pair of close college students that engage in a romantic affair. Alia Bhatt plays Shanaya, a romantic college student with charisma. Shanaya has often been a conscientious student focused on work with no time for anything else in her life. However, Shanaya’s life changes when she falls in love with peers causing disaster. Caught in a love triangle between two boys Abhi (Sidharth Malhotra) and Rohan (Varun Dhawan), Shanaya questions whether she will ever find happiness in life. As all odds are stacked against her favour, Shanaya is forced to wonder whether she will ever be able to find a lover. Facing a dilemma, she questions whether she will ever be able to graduate from a college that requires high stamina.

Karan Johar is fascinated with the lives of college students under pressure. A brilliant Bollywood filmmaker, Johar has often made engaging movies about college students in danger. His iconic movie “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” offered a powerful portrait of college students falling in love with a price to pay. With “Student of the Year”, however, Johar made his first film set entirely in a college. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to convey tension faced by college students in modern India but he succeeded immensely. Through stunning cinematography, Johar captures a student on a journey to discover her identity. Evoking Aditya Chopra’s “Mohabbatein”, the filmmaker effectively employs montages to convey tensions faced by college students in India. For instance, montages elevate the romance scene. During this heartfelt scene, Shanaya bonds with fellow students in her school through a group meeting. Using bold montages, Johar crafts a portrait of college students that’s engaging. Montages are not easy techniques to use in movies. As Zoya Akhtar’s “Gully Boy” suggested, montages enhance Bollywood movies about rappers. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this film. Using stunning visuals, Johar captures the tensions college students in India are often facing.

Another admirable aspect of “Student of the Year” that merits appreciation is production. Karan Johar has always excelled at staging musical sequences for his films in his career, and his strengths as a filmmaker are evident in “Student of the Year”. Recalling Rajkumar Hirani’s “3 Idiots”, Johar uses cross-cutting to stage musical sequences about colleges that are engaging. For instance, the cross-cutting enhances the “Radha” song. During this unforgettable song, Shanaya delivers a musical performance at her college’s party. Using cross-cutting, Johar crafts a portrait of college that’s engaging. Furthermore, the musical score is fantastic. Vishal-Shekar’s music contributes to the success of the film. It gives the movie an engaging atmosphere capturing the burden college students often bear. Through captivating production, Johar captures the lives of college students which face transition.

Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Student of the Year” is a Bollywood movie about college that’s engaging. The movie is extremely well-written, and effectively uses dramatic monologues to capture hardships students experience. For instance, dramatic monologues elevate the romantic speeches scene. During this moving scene, Shanaya delivers an emotional monologue expressing love for friends. Through monologues, Johar crafts a portrait of college students which is easy to relate to. Monologues are complex techniques to use in films. As Gauri Shinde’s “Dear Zindagi” proved, monologues elevate Bollywood movies about therapy. However, it works immensely in this film. Using a bold screenplay, Johar captures college students facing a price to pay.

One appreciates amazing performances.

Alia Bhatt delivers one of her finest career performances as Shanaya. Bhatt earned appreciation for playing romantic heroines in Bollywood movies. With “Student of the Year”, however, she took on her most tricky role. It isn’t easy to play a college student that faces adversity but she succeeds. This is the actress unlike you have ever seen her before: intense, charismatic and emotional in her most memorable role. With stunning expressions, she captures ambition, bravery and grief faced by a college student. It’s an extraordinary performance from one of the most loved actresses thats working in India today.

While the movie is mainly a bold showcase for Alia Bhatt, the supporting cast is superb and worthy of appreciation. Varun Dhawan is wonderful, bringing dedication towards a college student facing a tough competition. Sidharth Malhotra is spectacular, capturing charisma of a young student that seeks to find success in India. Lastly, Rishi Kapoor is memorable. As an elderly father, he brings hilarious comical relief to the movie.

Despite its superb performances, however, “Student of the Year” can’t quite capture a burden students in India bear. If there’s a shortcoming to the movie, it lacks a strong ending. It’s an abrupt conclusion without a satisfying resolution. Whereas this ending enhances Johar’s “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani”, it clashes with the realistic tone of this movie. Therefore, “Student of the Year” is one of those Bollywood movies which not everyone would adore.

Nevertheless, fans of Alia Bhatt would enjoy “Student of the Year” and so would movie-goers seeking exhilarating entertainment. A bold Bollywood romantic drama, it honours a beloved actress in India.

Nearly 15 years following the release of a Bollywood movie about students bonding over the course of a year, it’s a fantastic reminder of an actress that has created a prosperous career through her abilities to portray strong characters in movies about which audiences care.

4/5 stars