Posting a film review after a long time!
With so much of OTT content, have been seeing very few feature films, especially in theatres, hence this is a rare one!
First of all, I didn’t see this film for a long time, as soon after the release, a couple of friends had shared that it wasn’t so great. After putting it off for long, and meanwhile continuing to read good stuff about the film, finally went and saw Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 12th Fail.
And I have to say that Vidhu Chopra has not lost his touch, even though he directs few films nowadays. The director of classics like Parinday, 1942 A Love Story, Mission Kashmir and others, continues to impress with 12th Fail.
While we hear and read about the obsession of kids to get into IITs, many of us may not be fully aware of the equal if not more, obsession to get into civil services via the UPSC route. So, first of all, this film reminds us of that. The film follows the journey of a young man from a village in Chambal, trying to get into the IPS, overcoming all kinds of odds.
One has heard how, in the IITs and other similar competitive exams, students from states like Bihar, UP, MP, Jharkhand and others, are at the forefront, since it is their one passport to get away from poverty and joblessness. Clearly, UPSC is a similar path for them, as we can see in this film.
There are many poignant moments captured by Chopra. Like when the protagonist gets to Gwalior from his village, after working hard and after getting a huge surprise from his grandmother who gives away her savings, for him to make it through his exams and career, only to have his belongings stolen.
Or when he first reaches Delhi and sees the sea of people, and the very large number of students competing for UPSC, and with the odds stacked against him!
Chopra has his nuances too – like the scene where a police officer drives our hero to his home and there is conversation between them. The entire conversation is picturised with the camera on the rear view mirror, shifting from showing the police officer and our hero, successively, but all in the rear view mirror of the jeep, with everything else blurred out. Classic Vinod Chopra.
The casting is excellent. With mostly new faces, all of whom appear very real to their characters. The emotion that they bring out, of small town folks, for whom a civil service career, responsibilities at home etc are so crucial, is amazing.
The story, apparently a real one, is an eye opener for us city folks, as we keep learning about the many Indias that exist within the one country that we are.
As the end slate of the film says how the film is dedicated to the few officers who are not corrupt, who are dedicated to their jobs and do justice to their positions, the film also shows characters beyond the officers, who are selfless and “good” people. Like the person who has made multiple attempts to make it through these exams, has been unsuccessful, who restarts after each failure, and even after his last failed attempt, is still dedicated to help others who are working to the same goal!
Indeed, this country – and this world- runs because of such good people! And one is so glad to have such folks around in what has become, otherwise such a selfish world!! Renews your faith in humanity!
I must add my one personal connection to Vidhu Chopra. Many many years ago, maybe around 1998, when we were building some of India’s first few websites, we had made the first website of Vidhu Vinod Chopra, called vinodchopra.com. That was also when he was releasing his film, Kareeb, and we had also made kareeb.com then! I had the chance to meet and chat with him during those days, also go to the sets of Kareeb few times. He was an amazing person, and the conversations with him then, were so rewarding as one saw his creative brilliance up close!
In conclusion, I enjoyed 12th Fail, and also learned that I should not be blinded about a film based on 1-2 reviews!!
Random Musings 