Accidentally, I watched yet another movie on ambition and how it is achieved story which has been narrated in an absolutely opposite way, no glamor, no richness, no skin show, no pomp, no luxury no impossible professions or glamour. It is said to be the story based on the book ‘12th Fail’ by Anurag Pathak, a real-life story of Manoj Kumar Sharma, IPS.

The movie is written and directed by Vidu Vinod Chopra of many super success movies like ‘Munnabai’ Series. ‘3 Idiots’, ‘PK’ and ‘Sanju’.

Obviously, the expectations are high for me as all the above movies had the credit of famous and well-known stars. But ‘12th Fail’ has only one actor (we cannot term him as star though he is popular in several OTT platform movies and series) Vikrant Massey. He fits the role like a glove since he has no glamor or image to come between the character he played and his screen persona. He played his role with perfection, no doubt.
A humble but ambitious boy from the notorious Chambal Valley aspires to become an IPS officer by crossing several barriers from funds, support, motivation, and luck. Manoj Kumar Sharma had to traverse tough and testing terrains to achieve his goal. Even his final interview doesn’t go in one attempt. So were his earlier attempts from his school exams to the degree and UPSC exams. Everywhere he had to ‘Restart’. The chorus blares every time he fails in his attempt.

The film looks realistic in many instances and equally tiring in some junctures. One cannot but wonder at the gangs of aspirants and the crowd in all places and for everything in this holy land will make one feel suffocated and gasp for breath.

Except Vikrant Massey other actors are just strangers to me. But their performances cannot be faulted.

One can watch it for a lot of sincere efforts that had gone into its production sans glamor, fights, politics, sex, violence, and other usual box office ingredients. The spices added are just negligible. Personally, I liked the final interview scene which also carried a lot of reality as well as Vikrant Massey’s acting.

Well, do watch it if you have time (146 minutes), patience, and interest in watching a film that is bland without the usual spices but staged with sincerity.