Released theatrically on 19 October 2012, Student of the Year received mixed reviews from critics. While it was praised for its performances, visuals, direction, and music, some criticism was directed at its writing and narrative depth. The film emerged as a commercial success and became one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of the year.[6]
At the elite St. Teresa's College, Rohan Nanda is a wealthy, popular student and the younger son of business magnate Ashok Nanda. While Rohan aspires to be a musician, his father wants him to follow in the footsteps of his elder brother, Ajay, and join the family business. Ro is in a relationship with Shanaya Singhania, a fashionable and affluent student who becomes increasingly discontented with his flirtatious behavior, particularly toward her rival Tanya Israni.
Abhimanyu "Abhi" Singh, a new student from a modest background, transfers to St. Teresa’s on a track scholarship. Ambitious and driven, Abhi idolizes Ashok and sees success at St. Teresa’s as a path to upward mobility. Initially at odds with Ro, he earns his respect after a football match, and the two develop a close friendship. Abhi is introduced to Shanaya, with Ro warning him not to pursue her. Though Abhi assures him otherwise, he gradually finds himself drawn to her. The three become close friends.
During Ajay’s wedding, Shanaya catches Ro flirting with Tanya and, feeling betrayed, attempts to make him jealous by drawing closer to Abhi. Although hesitant at first, Abhi begins to reciprocate her feelings. At school, the annual "Student of the Year" competition is announced by Dean Yogendra "Yogi" Vashisht, featuring multiple rounds including a quiz, treasure hunt, and dance contest.
The trio advances through the initial rounds. However, Abhi's grandmother, his only living family, passes away before the dance competition; in a moment of grief, Abhi and Shanaya share a kiss, which Ro witnesses, leading to a confrontation that fractures their friendship. Simultaneously, Shanaya falls out with her best friend Shruti, while Ro parts ways with his longtime friend Jeet Khurana. Shanaya quits midway through the dance battle, leaving Ro and Abhi to qualify for the final round.
The concluding triathlon event tests swimming, cycling, and running. Abhi, leading the race, deliberately slows down in the final stretch, allowing Rohan to win. However, Ro declines the trophy, stating that he does not wish to accept it. Their friend Kaizad "Sudo" Sodabottleopenerwala criticizes the competition, blaming it for breaking friendships and perpetuating favoritism, which prompts Yogi to retire. The batch graduates and eventually drifts apart.
A decade later, a terminally ill Yogi requests a reunion with his former students. Ro, now a rock musician, and Abhi, an investment banker now married to Shanaya, return to meet him. The reunion triggers unresolved tensions between Ro and Abhi, particularly over the events of the competition. During a heated exchange, Abhi reveals he lost the triathlon intentionally after noticing Ashok's satisfaction with Ro's defeat. Their argument gives way to reconciliation, rekindling their friendship. Yogi dies shortly after, content at having reunited his students. The film concludes with Rohan and Abhi playfully racing across the college grounds, echoing their past.
Cast
Sidharth Malhotra as Abhimanyu "Abhi" Singh, Ro’s best friend and Shanaya's husband
Varun Dhawan as Rohan "Ro" Nanda, Abhi’s best friend and Shanaya’s ex-boyfriend
Alia Bhatt as Shanaya Singhania Singh, Ro’s ex-girlfriend and Abhi’s wife
Malhotra and Dhawan had earlier worked as assistant directors on Johar's My Name Is Khan (2010).[9] Notably, Student of the Year became Johar's first directorial venture without Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role.
Filming
Principal photography took place primarily in Dehradun, with scenes filmed at the Forest Research Institute and Kasiga School, which served as the exterior for the fictional St. Teresa's College. Additional sequences were shot in Srinagar, including hospital scenes filmed outside The Lalit Grand Palace. Parts of the film were also shot in Thailand.[citation needed] Rob Miller, known for his work on Chak De! India (2007), was brought on to choreograph and direct the sports sequences in the film.
Marketing and release
The first official trailer for Student of the Year was released on 2 August 2012, with the film scheduled for a theatrical release on 19 October 2012.[10]
As part of its promotional strategy, the film employed contest-based marketing targeting the youth demographic. Tata Motors served as the on-ground promotion partner and launched the "Nano Student of the Year" contest, which evaluated students across four categories: academics, culture, sports, and social life. The top eight finalists competed for the titular prize.[11]
The filmmakers also collaborated with FedEx Express to introduce the "FedEx Student Offer" and the "FedEx International Student of the Year" campaign, aimed at Indian students applying for higher education abroad.[12]
The satellite rights for Student of the Year were bundled with Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and sold to Sony Entertainment Television for ₹50 crore (US$5.9 million).[13] The music rights were acquired by Sony Music for ₹7 crore (US$830,000). [citation needed] In late October 2021, the satellite rights for Student of the Year, Agneepath (2012), and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani were renewed by Colors Cineplex.[14]
Despite skepticism surrounding its high budget and the absence of established stars, Student of the Year performed well at the box office. It became the highest opening film featuring debutants in lead roles at the time.[16][17] The film exceeded trade expectations, turning profitable within its first week.[18]
India
The film opened with collections of ₹7.48 crore (US$880,000) on its first day and saw growth on its second day, earning ₹8.50 crore (US$1.0 million).[19][20][21] It grossed ₹43.1 crore (US$5.1 million) in its opening week.[22] The film collected an additional ₹14 crore (US$1.7 million) and ₹3.25 crore (US$380,000) in its second and third weeks, respectively, bringing its three-week domestic total to approximately ₹63.3 crore (US$7.5 million).[23][24]
Overseas
Student of the Year collected around US$1.25 million overseas during its opening, which was considered underwhelming given its release on 300 screens.[25] It saw a decline in subsequent weeks and concluded its international run with a total gross of approximately US$3 million.[26]
Critical reception
Student of the Year received mixed reviews from critics. While its performances and music were praised, the film drew criticism for its escapist and implausible narrative.[27][1]
Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, calling it "escapist cinema at its best" and commending director Karan Johar for modernizing a familiar love story without underestimating the audience's intelligence.[1]Komal Nahta gave a similar rating, describing the film as "supremely entertaining."[28]
Raita Tandon of Filmfare also awarded the film 4 out of 5 stars, noting that while the film's setting was "surreal and spectacular," it retained emotionally resonant moments.[27]Rajeev Masand of CNN-IBN gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, calling it "breezy" and "enjoyable," and appreciated Johar’s craftsmanship despite minor issues in the script.[29]
Anupama Chopra of Hindustan Times rated the film 3 out of 5 stars, praising its cast and highlighting Johar's signature ability to blend emotional drama with opulence.[30]Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV, however, was less enthusiastic, rating the film 2.5 out of 5 and describing it as "glitzy but pulpy," appealing primarily to viewers seeking light entertainment.[31] Ananya Bhattacharya of Zee News was more critical, awarding the film 2 out of 5 stars and suggesting it was worth watching primarily for the debut performances.[32]
↑ Nahta, Komal (19 October 2012). "STUDENT OF THE YEAR Review". Komal Nahta's Blog. Komal Nahta. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
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