School of Lies follows the events that transpire in a well-known boarding school after the disappearance of the 12-year-old Shakti as an intricate web of secrets is exposed in the pursuit.
Directed by Avinash Arun, School of Lies is a Hindi-language mystery thriller featuring Nimrat Kaur, Aamir Bashir, Varin Roopani, Divyansh Dwivedi, Sonali Kulkarni, and Hemant Kher, among others. Produced by BBC Studios, the 8-episode thriller series follows the disappearance of Shakti Pilgaonkar, delving deep into the complex web of secrets that resulted in the student’s disappearance.
School Of Lies Story Summary
Shakti Salgaokar (Vir Pachisia) is a talented student at the River Isaac School of Education who is known for his exceptional editing skills and is highly regarded by his peers. While there have been a few minor disciplinary issues raised by some seniors and staff members, Shakti is generally considered well-behaved and academically gifted. One day when Shakti suddenly goes missing, the behavior of the school employees raises alarming concerns about what turns out to be the school of lies.
The housemaster, Samuel (Aamir Bashir), decides not to immediately inform Shakti’s parents and instead chooses to keep the details of his disappearance a secret, sharing the information only with a select group of individuals. Samuel believes that he can handle the situation internally by seeking help from more experienced students in the search for Shakti.
After a significant delay of six hours, Trisha (Geetika Vidya Ohlya), Shakti’s mother, is finally informed about her son’s disappearance. The decision to delay informing her was made out of concerns that involving the police immediately might cause panic among the other children. Trisha takes matters into her own hands and contacts the local police to help find her missing child. Her actions lie in contrast with the school’s objectives.
The staff’s concern for maintaining order among the students may be understandable, but it is evident that the school prioritizes its reputation over the welfare and even the life of a student. Trisha finds it incredibly painful to repeatedly hear that her child has disappeared, especially considering the possibility that Shakti may have been abducted against his will. Trisha senses that someone is attempting to persuade her to believe a story that goes against her intuition and her longing for her son’s well-being.
In the past, Shakti and Chanchal (Divyansh Dwivedi), the gardener’s son at the school, had unexpectedly formed a deep friendship based on shared experiences of dealing with the absence of their parents. They shared a strong bond and provided each other with emotional support and understanding. Shakti had witnessed the pain and sorrow Trisha experienced due to his father’s absence, which had created a rift in their relationship. He longed for a stronger bond with his mother. Similarly, Chanchal’s mother had also abandoned him and his father, Bhola (Nitin Goel), who works as a gardener at River Isaac and pays little attention to him.
Shakti and Chanchal found solace in each other’s company because they could relate to their shared experiences. They both yearned to break free from the limitations imposed on them and pursue their dreams. Chanchal, longing for escape, was inspired by Shakti’s thirst for exploration and adventure. Before Shakti went missing, Shakti and Chanchal met daily in the woods nearby and devised a plan driven by their mutual desire for independence and their longing to visit Babaji, a saint Chanchal had encountered in his childhood. While Chanchal sought knowledge and a life free from the burdens of a broken family, Shakti strived to evade enrollment in another boarding school, which became his main motivation.
With Shakti’s abduction becoming news, the public interest started developing in Shakti’s disappearance and several witnesses claimed to have seen him with Chanchal. This revelation thrusts Chanchal into the spotlight, as he becomes a crucial component of the mystery behind Shakti’s disappearance. However, Chanchal himself was nowhere to be found, raising more concerns and deepening the mystery surrounding the investigation.
It is revealed that Vikram (Varin Roopani) and Tapan (Aryan Singh Ahlawat), two students at the school who were initially admired for their talents and academic achievements, hold hidden secrets beneath their seemingly harmless exteriors. The gardener Bhola, pretending to be a school gardener, exerts significant influence over Vikram and Tapan by demanding a substantial payment of 2 lakh rupees from each of them. Fortunately, Tapan is able to hand over half of the demanded sum to Bhola, but he subsequently goes into seclusion as the authorities suspect his complicity in the disappearance of Chanchal and Shakti.
At first, there was a presumption that the blackmailing was connected to Vikram and Tapan’s participation in acquiring illicit substances from Bhola, who operates in the covert drug trade. Nandita (Nimrat Kaur), the school’s guidance counselor, becomes involved in Shakti’s case and develops a close connection with Vikram. Perceiving a sense of unease, Nandita endeavors to unravel the underlying causes of Vikram’s distressing conduct. Faced with escalating pressure, Vikram assumes control and opts to settle the outstanding balance with Bhola independently.
Upon learning about Vikram’s situation, his mother accompanies him to the meeting with Bhola. Vikram discreetly informs Nandita of his whereabouts and seeks her assistance, realizing the imminent danger. A physical altercation ensues between Vikram and Bhola. Bhola asks him about his missing son Chanchal’s whereabouts. This feud results in Bhola’s untimely death, leaving Vikram severely injured. Subtle cues hint at a change in Vikram and Tapan’s behavior, alerting Nandita to the presence of a dangerous secret. The extent of their involvement in something sinister becomes more apparent when Tapan attempts to harm himself.
School Of Lies Ending Explained
As it goes, tense flashbacks expose the boys’ dishonesty regarding Shakti. It is eventually revealed that Vikram and Tapan encountered Shakti and Chanchal on the day they planned to escape together to seek refuge with Babaji. They chose to follow them into the woods, unaware of the terrifying events that would unfold. Tapan joins Vikram in adopting a victim mentality to divert attention from Shakti’s abduction as suspicions grow about their hand in the disappearance of the kids. Tapan skillfully shifts the focus onto himself and Vikram by sharing a shocking story about their alleged inappropriate relationship with Samuel, a highly respected teacher at River Isaac. This revelation momentarily confuses the case.
The information raises concerns about potential physical abuse against Shakti and suggests a disturbing dynamic between Samuel and the students. However, these claims turn out to be entirely false, unraveling the complexity of the situation. As Tapan discloses the tragic events that unfolded, it is revealed that they tried to prevent Shakti from escaping the school because Shakti and Chanchal had stolen the money that Vikram and Tapan had accumulated to give to Bhola. Meanwhile, Nandita learns Vikram’s darkest secret at this crucial moment.
Tragically, Shakti met his demise after a violent collision with a tree trunk during the struggle when Vikram and Tapan try to forcibly bring him back. Unexpectedly, Bhola became involved in the cover-up and assisted Vikram and Tapan in disposing Shakti’s body. To divert suspicion, the boys created a false narrative, making it seem like Bhola was extorting money due to drug-related blackmail. However, the money was being given to Bhola to conceal Shakti’s murder.
Meanwhile, Nandita uncovers Vikram’s history of sexual abuse, and she grapples with how to approach the situation. Recognizing the potential for Vikram to repent and heal, she is compelled to reconsider her strategy. Nandita empathizes with Vikram’s pain, drawing from her own experiences as a childhood victim of sexual assault. Nandita believes she can positively influence Vikram, but she realizes her actions have raised moral concerns.
Despite her ability to empathize with Vikram’s suffering, it doesn’t excuse the wrongs he has committed toward Shakti’s mother, Trisha. Nandita finds herself facing a dilemma as she understands that she has the opportunity to show compassion and understand Trisha’s pain as a fellow woman. Nandita is also aware that Vikram heavily relies on her for emotional support and guidance, knowing he may not receive the same level of understanding from anyone else.
With the assistance of their skilled lawyer, Vikram and Tapan manage to navigate the complex web surrounding Shakti’s disappearance and avoid legal consequences by skillfully concealing their secrets. While Vikram looks ahead with a renewed sense of purpose, Tapan focuses on preparing for his engagement although he is underage. However, Vikram’s trauma puts him in a difficult situation. Vikram’s relationship with his mother deteriorates, and the situation at home worsens. Trisha, Shakti’s mother, reaches out to Vikram in a desperate attempt to uncover the truth about her son’s death. Vikram apologizes to her and presumably driven by remorse, reveals the truth to her.
In the end, it is revealed that Chanchal, who was missing, had actually secretly witnessed a horrifying incident where his own father Bhola dismembered Shakti’s body and disposed it. This left him traumatized. Seeking solace, Chanchal turned to the saintly figure, Babaji, whom he had previously mentioned as a means of escape from his harsh reality. Although Chanchal found temporary relief by accompanying the saint, the loss of his friend Shakti left a profound impact on him. Witnessing such a heinous act committed by his own father will undoubtedly forever alter Chanchal’s memory and perception.
Vikram and Tapan bear the burden of being accused of the death of a young child who simply wanted to be reunited with his mother. One interpretation of their inappropriate relationship with Samuel is that they were vulnerable individuals seeking acceptance and validation from a figure of authority like Samuel. In the emotionally challenging and isolating environment of a boarding school, people may make misguided choices in their pursuit of connection and belonging.
School of Lies is available to stream on Disney+ Hotstar.
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