Film Screening - 12th Fail

  

Film Screening - 12th Fail

This blog assignment has been given by Dr. Dilip Barad sir, the Head of the English Department at MKBU. In this blog, I will delve into the analysis of the recently released film "12th Fail" and share my insights and review of this movie.

Introduction

Ye hum sab ki ladai hai, ek ka jeet hoga na toh karodon bhed-bakriyon ka jeet hoga.

👉Here is the trailer of this movie- 

👉Here is Key Information of the movie ‘12th fail’-

Director: Vidhu Vinod Chopra

Cast: Vikrant Massey, Medha Shankar, Priyanshu Chatterjee, Harish Khanna, Sarita Joshi

Run-time: 147 minutes

Storyline: Manoj, a driven young boy from Chambal, overcomes societal hardships in his inspiring pursuit to join the Indian civil services

The movie came out in theaters on October 27, 2023. You can also watch it on Disney+ Hotstar.

"12th Fail" is a movie in Hindi about a real-life story. It was made by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and is based on a book by Anurag Pathak. This book tells the true story of IPS Manoj Kumar Sharma. The movie is all about the difficulties that many people face when they try to pass the UPSC exam. In "12th Fail," you not only see the challenges of studying for the exam but also the personal problems that students go through. The movie shows the struggles at home and in their relationships while they are studying for the exam. Handling all of these things while preparing for the exam can make students feel like giving up or falling into a big sadness.

This is an emotional movie which has a talked-about ending.  This was inspired by the real-life struggles of Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Manoj Kumar Sharma to achieve success in civil services. The movie's impactful moment occurs near the end when Manoj learns that he has successfully passed the final interview. This moment is crucial, and the actor, Vikrant Massey, knows it has to be powerful. However, he surprises the audience by conveying the character's intensity and depth through his body language alone, making it an unexpected and impressive portrayal of the character's internal journey.

Now, let's go back a bit and focus on an earlier moment in the movie — a significant actor's moment. It's the day of Manoj's final interview, a day that could change his life. However, his nervousness and anxiety are so overwhelming that he doesn't even hear his own name being called.

On this crucial day, Manoj feels out of place. He's wearing formal shoes that don't fit, and he's forced to wear a tie he didn't want to wear. It highlights the unfairness of a system where he must win by not being himself, by concealing parts of who he is. He's pressured to convince the elite interviewer that he belongs to a different world, even though his strength lies in being true to himself. This moment captures the struggle of navigating a system that often demands conformity over authenticity.

Theoretical Framework:

The theoretical framework of the movie "12th Fail" is grounded in themes of resilience, social justice, and the pursuit of dreams despite adversities. It explores the protagonist's journey, drawing on the real-life struggles of individuals facing poverty and corruption. The narrative aligns with principles of moral probity and highlights the impact of societal challenges on personal aspirations.

Cinematography

Cinematographer Rangarajan Ramabadran paints vivid moments in the arid Chambal and the prosaic Mukherjee Nagar in New Delhi. The minimalist but poignant background score goes with the unostentatious performances that dot the feel-good narrative. Proficient in conveying multiple emotions through his eyes in a single frame, Vikrant finally gets an opportunity to fly and he soars. Slipping into the author-backed character, he seamlessly conveys the steely resolve and positive attitude of a boy constantly weighed down by his circumstances. His understated performance balances some of the broad strokes in the storytelling. He is ably supported by a competent cast, particularly Medha who impresses with her poise and warmth.

Contextualization

A Critical Analysis from Dalit Perspective The movie's main characters include Manoj Sharma, portrayed as hailing from a financially struggling background. Facing the challenge of cracking the IAS exam, Manoj encounters numerous helping hands, such as Pritam Pandey and Gauri Bhaiya, facilitating his journey to Delhi and aiding his admission to a coaching institution. This narrative raises questions about caste privilege, emphasizing how Manoj, belonging to a certain caste, receives immediate support and assistance. The movie, however, falls short in depicting the hidden privileges associated with Manoj's caste, failing to address the systemic discrimination and challenges that Dalit aspirants often endure. The story portrays Manoj facing interviews twice, but it neglects the harsh reality that Dalit individuals might not be afforded such opportunities, as illustrated by real-life examples like Tina Dabi, who faces ongoing scrutiny and casteist comments despite her academic achievements. The film doesn't delve into the deeper complexities of caste privilege, leaving important aspects unexplored.

 Thematic Study

the singular focus on clearing UPSC and state PSC exams shown in web-series like TVF’s ‘Aspirants’ and films like ‘12th Fail #Restart’ (Chopra) reveals how students privilege lucrative and prestigious government positions over pursuits aligned with their aptitude. Subjects of study are chosen not out of genuine interest or ability, but purely based on how they will improve one's chances in these competitive exams.

Once again, education becomes less about knowledge and more about entrance tests and material rewards. Learning is tailored not to satisfy intellectual curiosity but just to crack standardized exams that promise a financially secure future. Well-rounded learning across disciplines takes a backseat to narrowly focused exam preparation. Marketability displaces love of knowledge as the guiding force in subject selection. Even at elite institutions, the emphasis has shifted from imbibing scientific principles to strategizing rapid financial success after graduation.(Barad)

 Comparative Analysis

Super 30

Super 30 is the movie which shows the power of education and it is based on the life of Patna mathematician Anand Kumar who transformed the lives of impoverished children with free coaching, which enabled them to get into IIT. The film is about the transformative power of education. There is drama, emotion, tragedy, struggle. 

In this movie Super 30 and the movie 12th fail the theme of Education located in the center of the movie. It shows the present youth, and shows that nowadays poor Students who don't have Financial support, but have hunger for education and want to become something in their lives. In the movie super 30 the central character Anand Kumar transformed the lives of impoverished children with free coaching, which enabled them to get into IIT, and they successfully passed in  Exam, and all thirty students got admission in IIT. While we look at 12th fail movie, the central character Manoj Kumar comes out from Chambal and becomes an IPS officer. He comes from a poor family and wants to support his family, but without clearing the government exam he can’t do anything for his family or society. So education played a significant role in this movie 12 th fail, that educated person can do better things for society and people.

Aspirants

TVF web series often revolve around the theme of aspiration, seen in shows like FLAMES, Kota Factory, Pitchers, and more. The focus is on the positive aspects of the Indian pursuit of success, emphasizing nostalgia, friendships, and young love. Despite skimming over the harsh realities of academic pressure, these shows resonate well with a large fanbase, providing a therapeutic message of hope.

In "Aspirants," the series takes a different approach by delving into the lives of three IAS aspirants in Delhi's Rajinder Nagar. However, it doesn't fully explore the motivations of these young minds wanting to change the nation. Instead, like other TVF stories, ambition is portrayed as a desire for a generic status rather than a specific goal. The characters aspire to success in terms of wealth, power, and high-paying jobs, rather than pursuing a passion. The series, centered around Abhilash Sharma, follows his determined attempt to crack the Civil Services exam without delving into the deeper reasons behind his ambition.

Conclusion

Government civil service jobs are covered by lakhs of people in India as a means to a better way of life in a deeply unequal society. Not everyone has a happy ending like the real and reel life Manoj. In fact, most don’t. Reportedly, in 2022, 11.52 lakh applicants applied for the preliminary examination and 13,090 candidates qualified. In the previous year, after the final round, the UPSC selected 4,119 candidates. The candidates who do make it, often do so at great toil and expense, mental as well as financial. The burden becomes more pronounced since many do not come from privilege. In a just society, this would be seen as cruel. We celebrate it.

12th Fail’s final act — the moment when Manoj does find his name on the list — is a culmination of everything he wanted and worked hard for. It is a beautifully sentimental moment, demanding our emotional involvement. But it is the earlier scene that stayed with me as a reminder of a different kind of world. One where you do not need to win in order to be respected.

Resources

Barad, Dilip. "The Changing Priorities of Education in India: A Worrisome Shift Mirrored in Popular Films and Fictions." 2023. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.26703.87201.34

Chopra, Anupama. “Super 30 Movie Review: Too Few Flashes of Fun and Originality.” Filmcompanion, 12 July 2019, www.filmcompanion.in/reviews/super-30-movie-review-too-few-flashes-of-fun-and-originality. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.

Chopra, Vidhu Vinod, director. 12th Fail. Vinod Chopra Films, 2023

Desai, Rahul. “Aspirants, on YouTube, Is an Overstated TVF Hybrid of Dil Chahta Hai and Kota Factory.” Filmcompanion, 8 May 2021, www.filmcompanion.in/reviews/streaming-reviews/aspirants-tvf-review-web-series-youtube-an-overstated-hybrid-of-dil-chahta-hai-and-kota-factory-naveen-kasturia-sunny-hinduja-rahul-desai.

Kumar, Anuj. “'12th Fail' movie review: Vidhu Vinod Chopra delivers yet another hug of hope that is more earnest than magical.” The Hindu, 26 October 2023, https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/12th-fail-movie-review-vidhu-vinod-chopra-delivers-yet-another-hug-of-hope-that-is-more-earnest-than-magical/article67460764.ece. Accessed 21 January 2024.

Magazine, Aakshi. “Lesson from '12th fail': In a just society, UPSC obsession would be cruelty. We celebrate it.” The Indian Express, 8 January 2024, https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/12th-fail-upsc-obsession-9100343/. Accessed 21 January 2024.

Rawat, Sudeep Singh. “12th Fail: Vikrant Massey-Vidhu Vinod Chopra's movie tops IMDb chart.” Business Standard, 18 January 2024, https://www.business-standard.com/entertainment/12th-fail-vikrant-massey-vidhu-vinod-chopra-s-movie-tops-imdb-chart-124011800166_1.html. Accessed 21 January 2024.

Satkar, Shubhangi. “12th fail Movie and Hidden Caste privilege: A Critical Analysis from Dalit Perspective.” दलित टाइम्स (दलित टाइम्स), 15 January 2024, https://dalittimes.in/twelfth-fail-movie-and-hidden-caste-privilege-a-critical-analysis-from-dalit-perspective/. Accessed 21 January 2024.

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