Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
The Bollywood film ’12th Fail’ is set in Chambal, once infamous in India for dacoits, and bandits. The iconic 1975 hit film ‘Sholay’ was heavily inspired by the goons of the region.
And at a time when cheating in board exams was state sanctioned, one lone student tries to pass on his own merit, failing the first time. Next he sets his eyes on the prestigious UPSC exams, slogging it out day and night, to fulfill his dreams. But with millions competing for a few spots, can a 12th Fail really crack India’s toughest exam?
Directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, the film stars Vikrant Massey as Manoj Verma, the son of an honest government clerk suspended for striking a corrupt superior. Inspired by his father’s integrity and a principled DSP newly posted in town, Manoj resolves to reject cheating and instead depend on hard work to shape his future. Though he initially dreams of becoming a DSP, the cancellation of the state’s MPPSC exams pushes him to pursue the even tougher civil services.
Anant Joshi plays Pritam Pandey, the friend who introduces Manoj to the world of the UPSC and becomes his first ally in Delhi, helping him secure accommodation and coaching. From there, ’12th Fail’ traces Manoj’s arduous journey from Chambal to Delhi, where he studies relentlessly, often burning the candle at both ends. His days are defined by a punishing routine, juggling exam preparation with odd jobs to cover coaching fees, food, and basic survival in an unforgiving city. More than character chemistry, it is this unwavering focus on struggle and perseverance that allows the story to truly shine in ’12th Fail’.
Medha Shankr plays Shraddha, a fellow aspirant drawn to Manoj’s simplicity, sincerity, and quiet determination. Their relationship adds a gentle romantic undercurrent to ’12th Fail’, but it never overwhelms the central narrative of ambition and resilience. At times, Shraddha’s character feels like a familiar motivational device, the dream that Manoj must prove himself worthy of. With limited attempts at the exam and mounting pressure, love becomes less a distraction and more a reminder of what is at stake.
Admittedly, a clean-shaven Vikrant Massey doesn’t quite pass for a teenager when we first meet him as a schoolboy in ’12th Fail’. Yet his performance is so sincere that disbelief quickly fades. While much of Manoj’s hardship as a financially struggling aspirant feels deeply moving, a few moments appear engineered for dramatic emphasis. For instance, it seems implausible that a smart-ish boy from a region notorious for petty crime would fall asleep on a public bus with his only bag left unguarded.
Similarly, his decision in the second half to live and work in a grimy flour mill, despite seemingly better job options in a city like Delhi, raises questions. Is it youthful naivety, or a deliberate visual cue to amplify the ‘rags-to-success’ arc? But well, it’s a big Bollywood film, so perhaps you need this level of drama to win over the masses. The film engagingly highlights the struggles of UPSC aspirants, the financial hardships of exam preparation, and the unwavering belief that hard work can rewrite destiny.
And Massey delivers a stirring performance as the soft-spoken, relentless Manoj. He inhabits the character’s grit and vulnerability with conviction, embodying the blood, sweat, and tears behind the dream. Ultimately, ’12th Fail’ leaves a lasting impact, not because of romantic subplots or cinematic flourishes, but because of the sheer emotional power of one young man’s climb from obscurity to one of India’s most prestigious careers.
The climax is stirring, emotional, and leaves the viewer with a memorable ‘feel good’ ending.
Watch 12th Fail on Netflix.
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