Vidhu Vinod Chopra, after bringing us movies like 3 Idiots and Munna Bhai MBBS, is back with another gem, 12th Fail. Based on the novel of the same name by Anurag Pathak, this movie takes you through the hopeful and tedious journey of Manoj Kumar Sharma. His life story inspires the movie and makes for a heartwarming watch. Here’s our review of 12th Fail starring Vikrant Massey, Medha Shankar, Anant V Joshi, and Anshumaan Pushkar.

An eventful journey from dakaiti to Delhi

Manoj Kumar Sharma (Vikrant Massey) hails from Chambal, a district popular for robbery, killings, bandits, and dakaiti. Everything about this place is run illegally and the only way to get things done is by jugaad. So, when an honest officer, Dushyant Singh, cancels the ongoing ritual of cheating openly for board exams, Manoj and all his batchmates fail their Class XII exams. But, soon enough, he is transferred, and with a second honest attempt, Manoj clears the exam in the third division. And that is when he decides to change the system of corruption and turn into an honest, hardworking government officer.

Manoj belongs to a poor family who are always hand to mouth. His father is an honest man who leaves his home to fight corruption which leaves them in poor conditions. So, he takes it upon himself to be the man of the house and leaves for Delhi to take the UPSC exam. But that doesn’t come without its own struggles.

Manoj’s hard work, determination, and never-give-up attitude took him four attempts to clear his exams. But it is not just Manoj’s victory alone, it is the victory of people who supported him from the start. His girlfriend Shraddha (Medha Shankar) never gives up on him and promises to stay true and loyal, no matter where he goes in life. Gauri (Anshumaan Pushkar), his coach and failed UPSC aspirant, is a constant source of motivation for him. And his friend Pritam Pandey (Anant V Joshi) is his ride-or-die from the first day.

A heartwarming tale that lies in the stories of its characters

12th Fail is not just a tale of Manoj’s hardships and struggles, but also the people around him. His difficulties and victory reflect the tales of the people he has surrounded himself with. And Vikrant Massey as Manoj has done a fabulous job of staying true to his character by being realistic in his approach. Medha Shankar as Shraddha will tug at your heart with her lively character who has nothing but unconditional love and support for Manoj. Anant V Joshi as Pritam Pandey is another UPSC aspirant who fails all his attempts because he never wanted to be an IAS officer and wanted to be on TV instead. But his constant support and motivation towards Manoj make him a true friend. Anshumaan Pushkar as Gauri, a failed UPSC aspirant, is a brilliant addition to the cast who never gives up on Manoj and always encourages him to restart after every failed attempt. So, it is safe to say that Vidhu Vinod Chopra nailed the casting for the movie.

Can you watch 12th Fail with your family?: If your parents keep comparing you with that Sharma Ji ka ladka, this one will definitely give them another person to compare you to. But it’s a clean watch if you do take them along.

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