Student of the Year 2 is an upcoming Indian teen film directed by Punit Malhotra. Produced by Karan Johar, Hiroo Yash Johar, and Apoorva Mehta under the banner of Dharma Productions, the film will be distributed by Fox Star Studios.

The trailer of Student of the Year 2 promises a story filled with high school drama, intense fights, complicated love triangles, synchronized dancing, and a touch of cliché.

The trailer begins with the principal of St. Teresa High School announcing the opening of their annual competition, The Dignity Cup.

We are introduced to the three main characters: Rohan, played by Tiger Shroff, who is the love interest of two popular girls and St. Teresa’s primary contender for The Dignity Cup.

We also meet Mia, portrayed by Tara Sutaria, who is Rohan’s biggest fan, and Shreya, played by Ananya Pandey, who starts as Rohan’s adversary but later becomes an admirer.

This film marks the Bollywood debut of the two leading ladies.

While the cast and their performances seem promising, the storyline falls a bit short.

The trailer showcases several fight scenes where Tiger Shroff displays his impressive stunt moves and ripped physique. However, the question arises: why do 18 to 21-year-old characters resort to superhero-like kicks and action sequences to overcome their challenges?

It appears that Tiger Shroff’s casting was meant to add an exciting action element to this otherwise chick flick. Unfortunately, the integration of these elements into the story feels forced and out of place.

The trailer includes scenes where Tiger Shroff is taunted and brutally beaten by his opponents in The Dignity Cup competition. This ignites a fierce determination within him, leading him to train rigorously for the competition, seeking revenge on his rivals.

The concept of violence has become so normalized in films nowadays that the subtle promotion of bullying can easily go unnoticed.

Considering that the target audience of the film is primarily teenagers and young adults, who are often impressionable, it raises concerns about the message they receive on how to handle their own problems.

The storyline, revolving around power dynamics and the hierarchy of student life, feels trite and overused. It is doubtful that Student of the Year 2 will bring anything new to breathe life into this tired genre.

The costumes in the film caught my attention as well. While the attention to detail is commendable, it’s safe to say that the modern dress code portrayed in the film would be far from acceptable in most Indian schools.

Tiger Shroff is seen wearing a uniform at certain points, while the girls prefer dresses, skirts, and crop tops. Oh, how I wish my school had allowed such fashion choices!

The film score is catchy, but the abundance of dance sequences feels excessive. Synchronized dancing may be a tradition in Bollywood, but with the focus on both dancing and fighting in the trailer, it becomes difficult to grasp the essence of the plot.

On a positive note, the production quality appears outstanding. Similar to the prequel, the film was shot in the breathtaking St. Teresa School in Dehradun, which lends an authentic touch to compensate for the lack of realism in other aspects.

Compared to the first installment of the series, I find myself more excited to see what this film has in store and how the new cast will measure up to their predecessors.

Student of the Year (2012) was one of the highest-grossing films of its year, and its actors have had ample time to grow and develop in the industry.

Whether they like it or not, Ananya Pandey and Tara Sutaria will likely be compared to the present-day Alia Bhatt rather than her 19-year-old self,

 despite Alia’s debut in the first Student of the Year film.

The girls have big shoes to fill, and I am eager to see how they will fare in this endeavor.