12th Fail, directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and starring Vikrant Massey, is a biographical drama based on the same-titled novel by Anurag Pathak. The story chronicles Manoj Kumar Sharma (IPS officer), a 12th-grade fail who decides to appear for the UPSC examination, one of the toughest examinations in India.

The story starts in a dacoit-infested village, Billgaon, in Chambal. Manoj Kumar Sharma's father, an honest man who works as a clerk, faces suspension for hitting a corrupt officer in his office. Meanwhile, we see the protagonist making chits for his 12th examination as many other peers did in his school; it was the norm for all of them to pass the examination, with teachers helping them cheat. When a new DSP is appointed to his village that year, Manoj fails his exam, and the cheating stops. His brother gets arrested due to bogus charges, and the new DSP assists him in releasing his brother. Manoj was motivated by this experience to improve himself and his village. Thus, he asked how he could become an officer like him. He just told him to "stop cheating". Manoj didn't cheat again after that day. The following year, he decided to pursue his dream of becoming a civil service official after honestly passing all of his tests. He sets out on a journey where he meets many people who help and inspire him to achieve his dreams.

The movie garnered a lot of attention from people of all different age groups. The story left the youth incredibly inspired and motivated with its engaging storywriting and cinematography. The movie encouraged people to strive for excellence and not give up.

It is a charming love story devoid of toxic masculinity that pushes for social reform in Indian society. With an overabundance of jingoism and macho tough dudes, Bollywood films needed this film as a breath of fresh air. A diverse range of age demographics came together in the movie theatres to enjoy this film, including young parents with their children, elderly couples, college students, and office workers.

The movie grossed over 69 crore worldwide with a budget of just 20 crores, making it a successful hit. The film has won 5 awards at the 69th Filmfare Awards, including;

Best Film

Best Director (Vidhu Vinod Chopra)

Best Actor (Critics) (Vikrant Massey)

Best Story

Best Screenplay

The movie has a 90% positive rating of 6.8/10 on Rotten Tomatoes and was submitted to the Oscars as an independent entry.

The film beautifully demonstrates how perseverance and diligence can allow an individual to accomplish nearly anything in life. Manoj, the main character, overcame several obstacles to fulfil his desire. Neither his aspirations nor his route to accomplishment were straight lines. He continued to strive for a better life despite having to adapt to survive.

Sambhavi Sinha (Media Communication specialization)

Batch- 2022-2025

Symbiosis Center for Media and Communication (SCMC)