12th Fail Movie Screening

Hello everyone,In this blog , I will provide a movie review for "12th Fail," a task assigned by Professor Dilip Barad as part of our Sunday reading.

Introduction

This film is directed and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, 12th Fail is the story of aspiring students who fight mental and financial struggles to crack India's one of toughest exams UPSC. Talking about the 12th Fail starcast, the upcoming movie features a Bollywood actor Vikrant Massey playing the characters of Manoj Kumar Sharma, Palak Lalwani, Sanjay Bishnoi, Sukumar Tudu, and more in the leading roles. 12th Fail will hit the theaters worldwide on October 27, 2023. The 12th Fail trailer shows Vikrant portraying the character of an aspiring UPSC student who does not have much financial assistance and is also not good at his studies.

Background of Film

IPS Manoj Kumar Sharma hails from Morena district of Madhya Pradesh. Manoj belonged to a poor family and he passed Class 9th & 10th with 3rd division. Manoj failed in Class 12 in all the subjects except Hindi. However, an incident in Manoj's life turned changed everything and yes it was a love story. As per reports, Manoj Kumar Sharma fell in love in Class 12th class. But since he failed Class 12th, Manoj was not able to propose to that girl.

However, after thinking many times, Manoj proposed to the girl and surprisingly the girl accepted his proposal. While proposing to the girl he said "If you say yes, then I will turn the world around," which meant that he would do anything to make his girlfriend happy. Interestingly, Manoj married his girlfriend Shraddha Joshi later in his life. During the preparation for UPSC, Shraddha supported Manoj a lot. Shraddha is also an IRS officer at the moment. Notably, Manoj Kumar Sharma passed the UPSC exam on his fourth attempt. After cracking the UPSC in his fourth attempt, Manoj joined the Maharashtra cadre as an IPS in 2005 and is currently serving as the Additional Commissioner of the West Region in Mumbai.

Story of This Film

Manoj Kumar Sharma's journey was a rollercoaster of ups and downs, filled with determination and love. It all began when Deepak Mohan, assessing Manoj's struggle to write a sufficient number of words in the UPSC exam time frame, bluntly told him that the civil services might not be his forte. Disheartened, Manoj sought solace at Gauri Bhaiya's tea stall, accompanied by Shraddha.

Their gathering was disrupted by Pritam Pandey, a fellow unsuccessful UPSC candidate, who, drowning in his own despair, warned Manoj about the potential pitfalls of being with Shraddha. Filled with shame, Shraddha left the place, prompting Manoj to follow her. In a heartfelt moment, Shraddha confessed her feelings for Manoj and encouraged him to defy societal norms.

Motivated by Shraddha's support, Manoj delved into his studies, aided by Gauri Bhaiya, who provided accommodation and financial assistance. Meanwhile, Shraddha successfully cleared her prelims and headed to Mussoorie for her mains exams. She later shared the joyous news with Manoj that she had aced the interview and secured the position of deputy collector.

Shraddha's success became a source of inspiration for Manoj, intensifying his determination to succeed. In a turn of fate, Manoj not only cleared his prelims but also conquered the mains. However, Pritam Pandey, failing in his final attempt, harbored resentment towards Manoj's success.

Shraddha's desire to come to Delhi was thwarted by her father upon receiving false information about her relationship with Manoj. Unraveling the deceit, Manoj discovered that Pritam Pandey was behind the misinformation. Seeking justice, he confronted Pritam at a police station, exposing the dishonest police officer who had facilitated the deception.

With the truth revealed, Shraddha's parents relented, allowing her to move to Delhi. She attended an interview with Manoj, presenting him with a letter expressing her unwavering commitment, irrespective of his success in becoming an IPS officer. As Manoj entered the interview room, his tumultuous academic history left a lasting impact on the interviewers. The ensuing questions and deliberations led to a moment of suspense as Manoj awaited the outcome.

On the day of the results, Manoj's uncertainty gave way to jubilation as his name appeared on the list. Gauri Bhaiya rejoiced, and Pritam Pandey transitioned to a career as a reporter, bringing happiness to his family. The narrative concluded with IPS Manoj Kumar Sharma visiting a police station, encountering an honest DSP who recognized him. The DSP, acknowledging Manoj's triumph, embraced him warmly.

As the jubilant baraat, including political figures and their henchmen, made its way to Mussoorie in makeshift transport, the story reflected the resilience, love, and triumphs that characterized Manoj Kumar Sharma's remarkable journey.

Review of This Movie

12th Fail received widespread critical acclaim. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 90% of 10 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.8/10.

Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV gave 3.5 stars out of 5 and said "It's an original depiction of an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer's life, 12th Fail is a thought-provoking and amusing film. A really sympathetic story is produced by the screenplay. It avoids any kind of extravagance in order to extract every last bit of drama from the bump and tumble of the man's journey."

Mayank Shekhar of Mid-Day gave 4 stars out of 5 and reviewed the film "This is the India story!".

Monika Rawal Kukreja of Hindustan Times stated in her reviews that 12th Fail is a must-watch to understand not only the hardships and emotions that UPSC students go through, but it also sheds light on the overall education in our system, something that Chopra won hearts at with 3 Idiots (2009).

Negative Point

Theatricality: The film feels a bit dramatic in some places. For example, Manoj’s conflicts with his family and friends are often exaggerated.

Lack of Character Development: The film lacks some character development. For example, the character of Manoj’s mother serves only as a supporting character.

Romantic Sub-plot: The film has a romantic sub-plot that deviates slightly from the main plot of the film. This subplot sometimes hinders the pace of the film.

Conclusion

Overall, Vikrant Massey did a fabulous job with his Character, and “12th Fail” is a good film that can inspire the audience. However, the film also has some weaknesses. First of all, the ending of the film is somewhat unexpected. Second, the film feels a bit dramatic in some places. It’s a must-watch film for everyone.