’12th Fail’ is the latest box office release in Bollywood. It has been released simultaneously in Telugu. Let’s see how this emotional yet inspiring drama strike a chord with viewers.
Story
Manoj Kumar Sharma (Vikrant Massey) along with his two siblings had a poor upbringing in Chambal valley of Madhya Pradesh. His father Harish Khanna, faces suspension from work. DSP Dushyanth Singh (Priyanshu Chatterjee) arrests Manoj’s father for his alleged involvement in malpractice during exams. Manoj draws inspiration from the DSP. Thus he aspires to follow in the DSP’s footsteps and take to write UPSC exams. The film takes audiences on a journey to discover how Manoj from Chambal went on to crack the UPSC, one of the toughest exams to crack in India. What odds he gets to face in the process is the story.
Analysis
Film veteran Vidhu Vinod Chopra narrates the tale of an underdog, who grew up with no basic amenities. The story is woven from real-life incidents. Vinod Chopra deserves credit for telling an honest story rather than making it as someone’s biopic or docudrama.
The story starts off by portraying the plight of a nondescript village in Chambal valley and how the education system takes a backseat. Manoj’s life takes a divergent route because of the hardships he gets to face due to his father’s honesty.
While showing the struggles of the students preparing for the IPS exam in Delhi, the narrative has an emotional arc, the director was able to tell a heart-wrenching story with conviction.
And in the second half, something brings tears to your eyes. The sequences and events leading to the climax make you emotional. While his infamous movie 3 Idiots’ portrayed the realistic picture of the education system in the country, 12th Fail succeeds in driving the point straight without no-nonsense talk.
Performances
When it comes to the performance — Vikrant Massey has put in a brilliant performance as protagonist Manoj Kumar Sharma. Medha Shankar is another amazing talent who comes in the second half. Vijay Kumar as Sundar is terrific. Priyanshu Chatterjee as DSP, Anshuman Pushkar as Gauri Bhayya and others have infused life into the story.
Music and technicalities
Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s decades of experience in the film industry helped in bringing finesse to the film. As a director, writer, editor, and as a producer, he seems to have led a one-man army. Based on the book 12th Fail written by Anurag Pathak, the movie is an inspirational flick for all aspiring students. Rangarajan Ramabadran’s work as a cinematographer is top-notch. Shantanu Moitra’s music is outstanding.
Verdict
’12th Fail’ is certainly a standalone flick that would inspire the generation of students. The nature and the loopholes in the education system, the cut-throat competitive world and herd mentality — were perfectly portrayed through top-notch performances. Vidhu Vinod Chopra has done magic with writing, screenplay and editing. A must-watch film for all those students who aspire to crack one of the toughest exams in the country.
Rating
3 / 5
