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‘12th Fail’ Twitter Review: The Movie provides a remarkable embrace of optimism; Chopra delivers a career-best performance

Ushana Maji

New Delhi: At first glance, Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 12th Fail seems to be a film about the arduous process of preparation for an exam like the UPSC. However, underneath this surface is a narrative about honesty and the struggle to do what is right in a society that is increasingly comfortable with turning a blind eye.

The first thing that stands out with 12th Fail is how different it is from a typical Vidhu Vinod Chopra picture. The film releasing on the theatre today, on October 27, has the straightforward narrative of a 12th fail student who, by force of sheer determination and a never-say-die mentality, manages to pass the UPSC test and become an IPS officer.

Storyline

The film is based on the book of the same name by Anurag Pathak, which was itself inspired by a real tale. It follows Manoj Kumar Sharma, a 12th-grade dropout from Chambal, as he prepares for the difficult Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) test.

He forges chits to use in class, while his father loses his job because of his honesty. Here the narrative of a guy who can’t see a way out of cheating takes place until he meets a person of integrity.

Manoj takes his grandma’s life savings and moves to the city to pursue his goal of becoming a police officer. Manoj’s eventual tutor likens the path to the UPSC to a game of “snakes and ladders” since it is difficult. No matter how far you go, one misstep is all it takes to start again from square one.

Review

12th Fail, starring Vikrant Massey as Manoj, shows that he has accepted low-paying jobs and doesn’t try to sugarcoat anything. A small percentage of applicants do pass the UPSC test each year, but most hopefuls just “restart” and try again the following year. He has conveyed the frailty of the failing, falling, and rising again pupils with ease.

Manoj’s narrative is one of tenacity in the face of hardship, and Vikrant Massey does a fantastic job of capturing the protagonist’s desperation and ferocity. Massey’s performance stands out as the best of the bunch. It’s impossible not to support him since every move looks calculated and well-executed.

The film is exciting to watch since it maintains its suspense, confusion, bustle, and speed throughout. Chopra makes sure that every subplot he includes has its own tale and that none of them seem tacked on.

The film’s mood, however, makes up for some of the dialogue’s preachiness. However, the music in the background is a major distraction. The music in this piece is too simplistic and repetitive to make an impression.

However, although most of the shots are expertly constructed, the camerawork seems hurried.

Like Chopra’s last box office smash, 3 Idiots, 12th Fail is sure to win over audiences in search of insight into the struggles and emotions experienced by UPSC candidates.

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