The last 2 weeks of 2023 were a roller-coaster on steroids going off-rail! With a swathe of sleepless nights – I caught up with some movies that moved me beyond anything I imagined.
12th Fail – easily one of the very best things I’ve seen in a very, very long time. Each beat of this film was relatable – it was a story of so many of my peers, friends and fellow students who came from all over India – to Delhi with the one singular dream of making it big.
These were not dreams of building a business empire, becoming a movie star, a singer or a sports icon – but dreaming of cracking the UPSC exams and making it into that elite cadre of government servants – going into service in the administrative, police, foreign, revenue or customs services.
12th Fail is an adaptation of Manoj Kumar Sharma’s story of grit and determination. That its a true story just makes it more profound.
The pluses:
– Real locations – the movie is mainly shot in real locations – you can almost feel the blood, sweat and tears in the frames. The small village where Manoj goes to school, is not a sanitised version we see in many Hindi (and other language) movies. But the visuals become experiential when the narrative shifts to Delhi.
For those of us who’ve grown up in Delhi, the scenes in Malka Ganj, Mukherjee Nagar, Rajinder Nagar – the small lanes, crowded coaching classes and the tea stalls bring back some deep memories. The lawns of UPSC – oh my lord….it was like going back in time!
– The background score: I kept wondering why this film felt so different, then realised that it was the absence of an overpowering background cacophony! Most of the sounds are traffic, work, ambient sounds, that don’t underline every important moment, but just let you absorb the moment.
– The actors: The cast is stellar all around. Vikrant is a rare talent – in the same league as Irfan Khan or Manoj Bajpayee or Nawaz…. understated, real and relatable. While he does not look 18 or 19 where the story begins, he certainly pulls of the fresh graduate arriving in Delhi and being overwhelmed by the sheer scale of challenge ahead of him. His eyes do most of the talking and the inner decency comes out very effectively. The final sequence with the interview and his visceral reaction was so apt.
Anshuman Pushkar as Gauri Bhaiya… just an amazing performance. As I watched him, I was transported back to the late 80’s in DU, when I’ve met so many Gauri Bhaiya’s. Cheerful, positive and giving – young men who come from the hinterland and small towns and districts, who often take on the mantle of being a mentor to others coming after them.
Medha Shankar playing Shraddha was well cast too – she looked believable as the supportive girlfriend, who was a friend and champion first and foremost!
The screenplay – One would think a linear screenplay might be tiring and boring, but surprisingly it wasn’t. A couple of jarring notes, one was the super quick move Manoj makes to undertake UPSC, without knowing anything about the exams or what it does and the other was the implying that UPSC exams only get you to IAS and IPS cadres.
Highlights: The film did a great job of balancing Manoj’s journey, while still giving background and context to others. Some of the things that stood out for me was the camaraderie that shone thru. When one of the successful students mistakes Manoj for a “chottu” and is corrected by one of his friends, he is genuinely apologetic and contrite. Pritam Pandey’s support of Manoj and genuine affection for him, while clearly coming from a more wealthy background, does not come across as patronising.
The realistic portrayal of the struggle of millions who come to Delhi to crack UPSC – the relentless studying, cramming and practice required to get thru the gruelling process – MULTIPLE times – took me back 30, 35 years. So many folks I knew have gone thru this – particularly from the states of Bihar, MP and West Bengal. The despair as you don’t clear one year and realise that you have re-start yet again can be soul crushing.
What was also impressive is the quiet confidence that Shraddha shows – particularly impressed with the sequence where she challenges her father for believing a stranger over trusting her. Her measured response to her parents was a breath of fresh air, against the many shrill over the top reactions one normally sees.
Finally one of the major pluses was how the basic decency of people was portrayed – the sheer joy of another person’s success, the support and sha
But above all – it was moving to see the story of millions of young Indian men and women being showcased on the big screen – not whitewashed, glammed up or made up as poverty porn…. so much respect for those that try and try again and much respect for a film maker who brought this story to us!
Rating: ***** Absolutely must see!
My Prism 