In the fictional town of Dalton, something is amiss. A child named Shakti Salgaonkar has gone missing from the prestigious institute called RISE, and as the layers of multiple characters are peeled away, unsettling truths begin to emerge. Among them is Sam Singh, the troubled housemaster, who is destined to be despised by the audience but is portrayed through an empathetic lens. Shakti, Murali, and Chanchal, seemingly innocent kids, are revealed to be expert liars and even thieves. Senior students Vikram and TK hover between being victims and conspirators. The immersive world of School of Lies draws viewers in, reminding them that the people around them may also have hidden stories.
The show raises thought-provoking questions about the complex nature of lies. How can we differentiate between harmless lies and those that can irreversibly alter someone's life? Are all lies inherently dark, while truths are pure and white? What if lies exist in shades of gray?
Every character in School of Lies is deceitful in some way, yet the show refrains from categorizing lies as good or bad, leaving the audience to discern their own interpretations. Aamir Bashir delivers a powerful performance as Sam, a character reminiscent of Deepika Padukone's role in Gehraiyaan. He portrays a morally ambiguous individual shaped by a traumatic past, trapped in a cycle of repeating mistakes. While a confession and backstory scene may seem contrived, Bashir's talent convincingly sells it.
Nimrat Kaur is commendable as Nandita, the one character in this universe without gray shades, serving as a genuine caretaker for the children. However, School of Lies primarily revolves around the younger cast. Vir Pachisia and Divyansh Dwivedi deliver exceptional performances as Shakti and Chanchal, capturing a bond that even seasoned actors struggle to portray. Pachisia's effortless portrayal of Shakti immerses you to the point where you forget he is acting. Aryan Singh Ahlawat as TK and Varin Roopani as Vikram Singh emerge as the true MVPs of the show, delivering performances on par with, if not surpassing, the other. Vikram's heartbreaking struggle to always be the man-of-the-house, deprived of his childhood, and his genuine bond with TK, which develops into an unexpected love story, are portrayed with sincerity, devoid of clichés or contrived camaraderie.
Cinematographer-turned-director Avinash Arun masterfully captures the visuals, crafting a world of beauty tainted by the knowledge that darkness and deceit lie beneath the surface. Co-creator Ishani Banerjee revealed in a recent interview that the show's spiritual ending does not guarantee everything will be resolved. This departure from the conventional "happy ending" seen in Western shows adds to the appeal, offering a glimpse into the profound truth of what transpires. While the future of the characters may be uncertain, School of Lies concludes in a manner that feels appropriate and enhances the overall captivating narrative.
Writers Ishani Banerjee, Nishant Agarwala, and Shoaib Nazeer display exceptional storytelling skills, creating multi-dimensional characters and a plot that seamlessly weaves their stories together. No character monopolizes the narrative, yet each one contributes to the overarching tale of twisted teenagers and their encounters with the adults who mold them.
In a year that has seen the release of great Indian streaming shows like Saas, Bahu aur Flamingo and Dahaad, School of Lies stands out, leaving a lasting impact on viewers long after they have finished watching.