Movie Review | 12th Fail directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra

In a country where pressure and the race for the billion dreams exist, one often wonders if there is still any room for honesty amidst jealousy, deceit and competition. Manoj Kumar hails from a place that was known for the presence of dacoits at that time, and it is no surprise to him that cheating through board exams was uncommon. Somewhere during the entire process of the fraud and ultimately being caught, Manoj finds himself greatly impressed and impressed by the presence of DSP Dushyant Singh and vows to become like him one day. What happens next is a journey that can be felt far better than it can be described. While Chopra’s film follows a typical linear structure, this is a story whose outcome is inevitable, and yet, within the bounds of the guaranteed, there is an admirable execution.

Based on Anurag Pathak’s book about Manoj Kumar Sharma, Vidhu Vinod Chopra has expertly crafted one of the most complete and nuanced pieces of cinema you will see emerging from India in recent times. Manoj’s journey feels personal and perhaps there are many reasons for this. Narrated by a friend-turned-enemy, it’s a hopeful voice that keeps you on the edge of your seat, rooting for a man with consistently big dreams and honesty at heart. He sees people losing, he struggles to raise money, but he never gives up. In Manoj, a feeling is awakened which we too can identify with, because he remains distinctive. His honesty is mortal; It’s rare these days, and you’re often left wanting to see that kindness in the people around you. This does not mean that he is not without flaws, because he is also human and in all his endeavors, small mistakes and things not said or corrected have cost him opportunities, as he loses the people closest to him.

There are some choices in the language of the film itself, such as camera movement or the use of voiceover during the final act, that can often overpower the bare nature of the story a bit, but this does not take away from what the film ultimately achieves overall – the creation of a communal emotional experience. Even now, when one watches the final sequence of the film, you cannot stop yourself from having tears in your eyes. Perhaps the biggest reason why we find ourselves connecting with a film lies in the subtlest of reasons – the title of the film itself. The hero is associated with the word ‘failure’ and during his serious endeavour, he faces rejection. The word ‘failure’ seems to add an untold pressure. However, it also brings with it the hope of finding the determination to prove “them” wrong. You say, who are they? Those who doubt. Those who cheat. People who find the value of honesty to be nothing more than an expired product on supermarket shelves are known as humanity. When you start showing signs of being able to beat the odds, people take notice. When you finally beat the odds, people celebrate.

Manoj is not just a student aiming to succeed, but aiming for change. He understands the meaning of power when it is explained to him how cheating is wrong. When we as individuals find a reason to bring about change, we realize the value of acting on our moral conscience, there comes a moment when DSP Dushyant Singh gives up sleep to help Manoj in his village. Sometimes a small moment like this is enough, because we know that a big stone can cause a splash, but a small moment can create a wave worth remembering.