Campus Diaries review: the 2022 MX Player series starring Harsh Beniwal and Ritvik Sahore has an interesting cast and touches on real campus issues, but a weak script, flat comedy and a stretched 12-episode run hold it back. Our verdict is 2 out of 5: watch only if you are a big fan of the cast.
College stories in Indian films and shows tend to follow the same formula: the rich brat, the small-town topper, the love triangle and the big final event. When a show arrives with a popular YouTube comedian in the lead, you hope it will at least be fun. Campus Diaries tries to be more serious than that, which is fair, but it does not land.
Campus Diaries: quick facts
| Release date | 7 January 2022 |
| Platform | MX Player (now also on Amazon MX Player) |
| Directors | Prem Mistry and Abhishek Yadav |
| Cast | Harsh Beniwal, Ritvik Sahore, Saloni Gaur, Salonie Patel, Abhinav Sharma, Srishti Ganguli Rindani |
| Episodes | 12 (about 39 minutes each) |
| Genre | Coming-of-age college drama |
| Season 2 | Not announced |
| Our rating | 2/5 |
Campus Diaries story
The show follows a group of students at the fictional Excel University through their college years. It is a coming-of-age drama, and it tries to go beyond the usual campus plots.
Across 12 episodes, it deals with ragging, discrimination, one-sided love, drug abuse and toxic relationships.
Campus Diaries review: what works
- The cast: it brings together popular digital names like Harsh Beniwal and Saloni Gaur with actors such as Ritvik Sahore. Fans of these creators will enjoy seeing them in a long-form drama.
- Serious themes: ragging, discrimination and drug abuse are real issues on Indian campuses, and the show deserves credit for raising them.
- Free to watch: it is available with ads, so there is no subscription cost to try an episode or two.
Campus Diaries review: what does not work
A weak script
The biggest problem is the writing. Many scenes feel familiar from older college films, and the dialogue rarely surprises. The show raises big issues, but it often treats them on the surface and moves on before they can hit hard.
Comedy that falls flat
With a comedian of Harsh Beniwal’s following in the cast, you expect a few laughs. There isn’t a single really funny moment in the series. The jokes feel forced, and the humour never matches the cast’s reputation.
Too long for its story
Twelve episodes is a lot for this story. Several subplots could have been cut, and a tighter six or eight-episode season would have made the drama sharper. By the second half, the pace drags.
What other critics said
Not every critic was as harsh as us. Shaheen Irani of OTTPlay gave the series 3.5 out of 5, and Pankaj Shukla of Amar Ujala gave it 3 out of 5. Both ratings suggest the show works better for viewers who come in for the cast and the campus mood than for those who want tight writing.
Our view remains that the show had the right ingredients, a young cast with a ready fan base and real issues to explore, but did not use them well.
The themes: where the show tries
Credit where it is due: very few Indian college shows give screen time to ragging and discrimination, and fewer still talk about drug abuse among students. These are issues many viewers will recognise from their own hostels and classrooms.
The problem is the treatment. A serious issue needs time, consequences and a point of view. Here, many of these threads are raised, discussed briefly and then dropped for the next conflict. With 12 episodes to work with, the show had the space to go deeper and chose not to.
How long does it take to binge?
With 12 episodes of roughly 39 minutes each, the full season runs close to eight hours. That is a big ask for a show of this quality. If you want to sample it, watch the first two episodes; if they do not hook you, the rest is unlikely to change your mind.
Because it deals with ragging, drug abuse and toxic relationships, it is better suited to older teens and adults than to younger viewers.
Should you watch Campus Diaries?
If you follow Harsh Beniwal, Saloni Gaur or the rest of the cast, you may enjoy it as a light background watch, and it costs nothing to try. If you want a sharp, well-written college show, you will likely be disappointed.
The show did find an audience on MX Player, where it was reported to have crossed 100 million views. Even so, no second season has been announced more than four years after its release.
For more honest takes on new shows and films, read our reviews, browse the latest web series coverage and see more watch lists.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I watch Campus Diaries?
Campus Diaries streams free with ads on MX Player and Amazon MX Player in India.
How many episodes does Campus Diaries have?
Season 1 has 12 episodes, each about 39 minutes long.
Is there a Campus Diaries season 2?
No second season has been announced as of October 2026. Any release dates you see online are unconfirmed.
Who is in the cast of Campus Diaries?
The main cast includes Harsh Beniwal, Ritvik Sahore, Saloni Gaur, Salonie Patel, Abhinav Sharma and Srishti Ganguli Rindani.
Sources: Wikipedia: Campus Diaries, Filmibeat, JustWatch India.
