Set on the backdrop of a plush, premier High School’s prestigious Student of the year competition, the film tells the tale of making and breaking of friendships and relationships. The focus is on two final year boys – Rohan (Varun Dhawan), a top tycoon’s multitalented son, who has been the school’s reigning star and Abhimanyu (Siddharth Malhotra), a middle-class newcomer, who has quickly emerged as the new challenger. The two guys begin on a wrong note but soon turn fast friends. But their fast friendship turns into fierce enmity when Abhi falls in love with Rohan’s girl-friend Shanaya (Aliya Bhat). When the ‘Student of the year’ competition, a brain-child of the school’s popular dean (Rishi Kapoor) gets underway, the friends-turned-foes fight tooth and nail for the top prize. Who will win the coveted trophy?

 

What’s hot?

 

·         Typical Karan Johar-patented gloss, glitz and glamor.

 

·         Well-captured campus atmosphere.

 

·         All youngsters play their roles well. The two young heroes look good and make the most of their opportunity. Boman Irani’s son Kayoz comes across as the chip of the old block when he confidently essays the role of Sudo, a fat geeky student.

 

·         Ram Kapoor brings meanness into his portrayal of the ambitious, insensitive business baron.

 

·         Rishi Kapoor sails through his dean’s role with just the right amount of ‘gaiety’!

 

·         Vishal and Shekhar’s music captures the beat of the youth.

 

What’s not?

 

·         St. Theresa School students don’t look like high-school/ junior college students but like senior college students.

 

·         A surplus of song-and-dance sequences stretches the length.

 

·         Comic-book caricature-like characters.

 

Verdict

 

Karan succeeds in making a sleek, well-paced teen-flick. Although it may be lapped up by the popcorn munching youngsters; the older section of the audience used to Karan’s famed melodramas will be disappointed.