12th Fail

12th Fail is a biographical drama film that has struck a chord with audiences and critics alike since its recent theatrical release. Directed by veteran filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, this sleeper hit charts the incredible against-all-odds journey of Manoj Kumar Sharma and his rise from abject poverty to cracking the prestigious civil services exam. This movie of Vikrant Massey is a hit, unlike his other movies like Gaslight and many more.

Powered by a restrained yet impactful performance from Vikrant Massey in the lead role, 12th Fail makes for an inspiring watch. Read on for a closer look at the characters that breathe life into this extraordinary tale of courage, as well as a scene-by-scene walkthrough of Sharma’s unbelievable story.

The Roleplayers in 12th Fail

12th Fail boasts of a talented ensemble cast with Vikrant Massey turning in an award-worthy performance as the film’s unlikely hero. His portrayal forms the emotional core that ties the narrative together.

Main roles

As Manoj Kumar Sharma, Vikrant Massey depicts the highs and lows of his character’s journey with nuance. We see him traverse the spectrum from a desperate cheat to a principled civil servant while retaining his inherent humanity throughout. Complementing Massey is Medha Shankar as Shraddha Joshi, Manoj’s steadfast love interest, along with Anshumaan Pushkar as the supportive senior aspirant Gauri Bhaiya. Rounding off the principal cast is Priyanshu Chatterjee as the well-meaning DSP whose advice acts as an inflection point for Manoj.

Supporting Cast

Bolstering the main cast is an ensemble of character actors like Anant Joshi as Manoj’s friend Pritam and Geeta Aggarwal Sharma as his strong-willed mother, reminiscent of the supportive familial figures often found in Pareeksha movies. Their performances add layers of depth and motivation to the central characters, grounding the narrative in the emotional bonds of family, as seen in many Pareeksha movies. Meanwhile, Sanjay Bishnoi, Rahul Dev Shetty, and other character actors make their presence felt in smaller yet pivotal roles over the course of Manoj’s journey.

Inspiration for 12th Fail

The extraordinary tale of struggle depicted in 12th Fail is made even more special by the fact that it is based on the life of a living, breathing inspirational hero. IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma’s journey from Punch, a nondescript village in Chambal, to the corridors of power has captured the imagination of millions.

Director Vidhu Vinod Chopra brings his familiar dose of gritty yet uplifting storytelling to translate Sharma’s real-life experiences to celluloid. Leading man Vikrant Massey took to social media to thank the actual Manoj Sharma, recognizing how newcomers like him found the courage to dream big after watching the film.

Indeed, Sharma’s story plays out like a classic underdog tale that continues to motivate civil service aspirants around the country. From cheating in board exams due to societal pressure to facing acute poverty and emotional turmoil, Sharma overcame tremendous odds stacked against him. Be it clear-headed advice from an upright police officer or selfless support from fellow UPSC aspirants, the kindness of strangers and collectivism of the human spirit shine through.

Sharma’s journey captures both the complex bureaucracies and uplifting peak of achievement inherent in one of the toughest examinations in the world. And the fact that the story rings true right down to minor character names like Gauri Bhaiya makes it all the more impactful. Just like Manoj, countless ordinary Indians find inspiration in Sharma’s extraordinary journey.

Walkthrough of 12th Fail story

12th Fail chronicles the true story of Manoj Sharma overcoming tremendous adversity to achieve his dream of becoming an IPS officer. His journey of perseverance in the face of difficult odds spans across two key phases.

First half

We’re introduced to Manoj as a teenager living in poverty but seemingly comfortable with the status quo of cheating his way through exams. His world comes crashing down when a strict new DSP cracks down on exam malpractices, leading to Manoj failing his 12th boards.

Forced to become a manual laborer to support his family after his father loses his job, a chance encounter with the same DSP sows the first seeds of ambition in Manoj’s mind. Despite the existing power structures actively hindering his progress, Manoj slowly inches towards his goal of becoming a DSP, graduating college through hard work and grit.

After losing all his savings on his way to taking the state civil service exams, an unlikely friendship in Delhi sets Manoj’s sights even higher – cracking the prestigious UPSC exam to become an IPS officer. Leaning heavily on the support of aspirants senior to him, Manoj manages to clear the preliminary exams while also finding love with Shraddha, a spirited UPSC aspirant herself.

Second Half

The second half, reminiscent of the emotional rollercoaster often seen in drama movies, focuses on Manoj’s dogged attempts to clear the UPSC mains, even as he struggles to balance his UPSC preparations, part-time work, and personal relationships. We see his friend Gauri, in a display of selfless friendship often depicted in drama movies , sacrifice his own UPSC dream to support Manoj’s attempts. Shraddha and Manoj’s relationship, much like the trials faced by couples in drama movies, goes through its share of ups and downs driven by the pressure of their looming exams, eventually culminating in a reconciliation where Shraddha urges Manoj to give the exams his all.

After falling short multiple times, Manoj finally manages the rare feat of cracking the UPSC exam on his fourth attempt, buoyed by the unwavering support of friends and family. The film concludes with Manoj achieving his dream of becoming an IPS officer, even returning to thank the DSP whose advice set him down this arduous but rewarding path. A heartwarming end credit sequence shows Manoj leading a fulfilled life – marrying his love Shraddha while his friend finds success as a journalist.

Backed by assured direction and powerful performances, 12th Fail makes for a must-watch saga of determination and redemption playing out against the incredibly high stakes world of the UPSC exams. Vikrant Massey turns in possibly his finest performance yet as the film’s unlikely protagonist, with able support from Medha Shankar and Anshumaan Pushkar as the emotional backbone of this underdog story.

While the odds seem insurmountable and there’s no dearth of obstacles along the way, Manoj’s journey serves as a timely reminder of how self-belief and courage can help us overcome everyday struggles. And by the end as Manoj achieves the notoriously difficult feat of becoming an IPS officer, 12th Fail proves to be the rare mainstream Hindi film where a hero’s aspirational achievements feel grounded and earn their payoff.