“If I cannot be the Sun that shines upon the Earth, I can still be a lamp and light up my street”
With such motivationally charged dialogues and simple cinematography, Vidhu Vinod Chopra presents the heartwarming journey of struggle, failure, restart and ultimate success, in his biographical-drama ‘12th Fail’. The film is based on the novel by the same name written by Anurag Pathak and presents the real-life story of IPS Manoj Kumar Sharma.
The film presents Manoj Kumar Sharma’s struggle from his formative years, his life in the village of Chambal, his aspirations to be an IPS officer and how against all odds he manages to make his dream a reality. The failure he faces and the ability to restart is a major aspect of the film. The idea of not being defeated by circumstances reminds one of Earnest Hemingway’s famous lines:
“A man can be destroyed but not defeated”.
At a time when the moral compass of our films resembles a roulette wheel, here comes an inspirational tale that truthfully celebrates probity in public and private life. (Kumar)
Theoretical Framework:-
Introductory shot:-
The first frame of the film is a drone shot of the protagonist Manoj. He is seen on his terrace, making notes to help him cheat in his 12th exams. This one scene, through minimal efforts, already makes him relatable to the audience. He like any ordinary student values marks over knowledge. However, because of this scene, the audience can anticipate the dramatic journey Manoj will go through in this film.
Introduction of the Family:-
This very ordinary frame, when examined properly, gives the audience a perfect introduction of the family. The father is teaching his daughter “Main haar nahin manunga” which means “I will not give up”. This means the message of determination is taught in the family from childhood. Minutes later, when the father is unjustly suspended, he implements his ideals into actions and instead of accepting defeat, goes to court to fight corruption. This action results in much sorrow for the family, yet the father shows his determination.
On the right side, the mother and elder brother of Manoj are seen working, signifying the family’s respect for hard work. This ideal of hard work is also followed by all the family members when they work for their survival instead of being dependent on someone else.
On the left side of the frame, we can observe the grandmother staring approvingly at the message. She too believes in never giving up. She even inspires both Manoj and his father for their respective journeys. She believes in doing the right thing, even if it is difficult.
It’s noteworthy, however, that Manoj is not in this frame. He is sitting away from his family and preparing to cheat on his exams. This suggests the flawed nature of his actions that alienates him from his family, at least for the time being.
Cheating in exams:-
The teacher not only allowing cheating in exams but also supporting and encouraging it shows the state of education in many villages and small towns. This frame also sets the stage for the next time Manoj appears in the 12th exam.
This frame of everybody cheating but the protagonist sets him apart from the others. It is useful in showing his dedication for his dream and his willingness to follow the promise he made to remain honest.
Reality of Government Exams:-
The film does not shy away from showing the reality of government exams. At its core, these exams follow eliminating strategy. Every year approximately 900000 to 1000000 students appear in UPSC exam alone. Out of these only 0.1% are selected. So most of the candidates, no matter their merit, talent and intelligence, will face failure. This is seen with the example of Gauri Bhaiya, portrayed by Anshuman Pushkar. Although a deserving candidate, he fails to achieve his dream. This shows the bitter reality that will be the fate of many aspirants.
However Gauri Bhaiya’s restart in form of tea stall where he gives guidance to others is also admirable to witness. With scenes like these, the film keeps on motivating the audience.
Normalisation of Struggle:-
One very unique aspect I noticed in this film was the normalisation of the protagonist’s struggle. To survive in the city and afford his education, Manoj does a series of odd jobs. From working in the library, cleaning toilets to working in the “Atta- Chakki”, Manoj does all this with a smile on his face. The characters around Manoj might sympathise for him but Manoj never feels sympathy for himself. This normal treatment of struggle is quite rare in the films, as most of the other movies would use these scenes, with dramatic sad background music, to make the protagonist feel sad for himself. Manoj is certain in his end goal and knows these jobs are just a way to make ends meet. This self-assured attitude of Manoj is a breath of fresh air.
It also reminds of a very famous dialogue from Rahul Dholakia directed film ‘Raees’, which goes like this:
“Ammi Jaan kehti thi koi dhandha chota nahi hota… aur dhandhe se bada koi dharam nahi hota.”
An approximate translation of this would be:
“My beloved mother used to say that no work is a small work and no religion is bigger than the work you do.”
The Realistic Cinematography:-
The entire film is shot in quite a realistic manner which gives it an elegant simplicity. There are no extraordinary camera movements or melodramatic background music. Infact in many crowded scenes we can hear the noise of the people, honking of vehicles and overall realistic sounds. This absence of a particular background music to set emotion of any scene also roots the film in reality.
The Interview:-
Notice the frames of the interview sequences. As soon as Manoj enters the hall, the camera’s focus is not on him. We see the shot of other candidates and how all of them are equally nervous about the interview. This shows how he is not the hero at this point. He is sitting with other candidates who are equally deserving of the position. It is a big day for Manoj but similarly, it’s an important day for others aswell. We, as an audience, are told to interpret the emotions of all these candidates not only Manoj. All these are achieved without the use of a single dialogue and only camera movements. Through scenes like these, Chopra shows off his immaculate skills as a director.
Thematic Study:-
Morality:-
The theme of Morality is seen throughout the film. The narrative begins with Manoj’s father unjustly suspended and him deciding to struggle rather than forsaking his morals. Manoj’s late grandfather makes his presence felt through the tales of his honesty that his Grandmother narrates. The officer that Manoj comes to regard as a role model is also an honest man who advices Manoj to stop cheating. In such subtle ways, morality is used throughout the film. The struggle between the right and the wrong is seen, not only in Manoj’s outer circumstances but also within him.
Corruption:-
Corruption is a deep rooted problem in India. The side effects of this are seen in this movie. In Manoj’s small village the ‘Vidhayak’ is a corrupt leader. The school owned by him openly allows cheating, only his vehicles are used for transportation, the police officers are loyal to him and when someone does not agree with his way, they have to suffer. This is a very realistic portrayal of situation of many villages in India, where a powerful man acts as a ruler. However, the problem of corruption is not only limited to there. Even in the city, one finds corrupt police officers who have the audacity to demand bribes under the watch of their supervisor. Through scenes like these, the serious problem of corruption is explored.
Honest officers:-
Through the examples of Manoj’s father and officer Dushyant Singh, a portrayal of honest officers is shown. In an interview with ‘The Indian Express’, Director Vidhu Vinod Chopra said:
“If an honest person is in a position of power, the world can truly change. I have seen that with countless IAS and IPS officers, I have come across in the process of writing this film. 12th Fail is a tribute to all of them. If this film can inspire even 10 more officers to strive for honesty… I will believe I have succeeded.”
This aim of director is seen in the film through the personality of Manoj as well. We, as an audience, know that Manoj will become an honest officer and bring about real change in the society.
Feminist Point of View:-
One of the best ways to measure the representation of women in any film is to apply the Bechdel test. The Bechdel test asks whether the work features at least two female characters who have a conversation about something other than a man. In many versions of the test, it becomes a requirement that these female character be named as well. This movie fails at this test, as one cannot find a single conversation between two female characters that’s not regarding a man. Now let us take a brief look at the prominent female characters of the film.
Pushpa Sharma:-
Pushpa Sharma (Manoj’s mother) portrayed by Geeta Agrawal Sharma is a resilient woman. She takes care of her family in the absence of Manoj’s father. She also motivates Manoj to follow his path and not give up.
Manoj’s Grandmother:-
The character of the grandmother is a memorable one. The sweet looking old woman who has a fierce and sturdy personality was inspiring on-screen. She becomes a source of inspiration and a moral compass for the family. However, we are never even told her name in the film and she’s simply referred as Manoj’s grandmother.
Shraddha Joshi:-
Shraddha Joshi led by Medha Shankar, is also an aspirant like Manoj and manages to become a deputy collector before him. This character is inspired from the real life Shraddha Joshi who married IPS Manoj Kumar Sharma. Here also, instead of focusing on her achievements and presenting her as a source of inspiration, the film sidelines the character into that of a love interest. In a later scene, when she is already a deputy collector, she still has to ask permission from her parents to be there for Manoj. This hinders the audience into accepting her as an empowering role model.
Portrayal of Education System:-
Education is at the centre of this film and a realistic portrayal of what modern education looks like can be seen here. The end goal of education has become some material gain or reward rather than obtaining knowledge. A deeper analysis of this issue can be seen in Dr. Dilip Barad’s paper, “The Changing Priorities of Education in India: A Worrisome Shift Mirrored in Popular Films and Fictions”.
Through such portrayals in movies and shows, we find that Indian education is moving away from the ideal of holistic development to being viewed as a commercial transaction for financial and migratory aspirations. (Barad)
Comparative Study:-
The movie ‘12th Fail’, is comparable to 2001 American film ‘Legally Blonde’. This movie is a story of Elle Woods, who is perceived as a stereotypical blonde girl and her journey, as she defies expectations by pursuing a law degree and proving her intelligence and determination. The film explores themes of empowerment, breaking stereotypes and embracing individuality.
Similarities:-
Both the films present an archetype of the “underestimated protagonist”. The protagonist of both these films were undermined by people around them and made to feel that certain academic achievements or not for them. However, Elle and Manoj both proved others, wrong and succeeded in their respective journeys.
In both these films, we find the portrayal of the desire for academic success and the struggle for it. Manoj wants to become an IPS officer and he faces many challenges to achieve his dream. Elle wants to be a lawyer and she works hard for it. Both of them are quite similar in their determination. This portrayal of an academic journey that would be motivational for the audience is seen in both these movies.
The empowering nature of education is also seen in both the movies. They examine how education changes a person, making them more confident, resilient and useful for society. The impact and necessity of education is a focus point in both the movies.
Differences:-
Upon examination, a major class difference can be seen between the protagonist of both these films. Elle comes from a privileged home, while Manoj comes from a lower middle-class family. Hence, the struggle for survival that is seen in ‘12th Fail’, is not present in ‘Legally Blonde’.
The motivation of both these characters is also quite different. Manoj wants to become an IPS officer after being inspired by an honest officer. Elle, in the beginning, wants to be a lawyer to impress someone. However, she later learns the significance of her law degree and realises all the good she can do with it. Hence, there is a difference in both the characters initial motivations.
Both the films, portraying an importance of education, describes an inspiring journey that leaves a lasting impact on the audience. Currently, Manoj Kumar Sharma has become an ideal for many UPSC aspirants. Similarly, Elle Woods has inspired multiple women to pursue a law career. Hence, both have a significant cultural relevance.
Conclusion:-
‘12th Fail’ is a motivational film, showcasing a very inspiring journey of Manoj Kumar Sharma. The realistic cinematography of Vidhu Vinod Chopra is praiseworthy. However, the film needed better female portrayal. Overall it is a wonderful movie, with uplifting and heartwarming story. It teaches us the importance of hard work, determination and the courage to restart.
Words - 2301
Images - 23
References -
Barad, Dilip. “(PDF) The Changing Priorities of Education in India: A Worrisome Shift Mirrored in Popular Films and Fictions.” ResearchGate, 16 November 2023, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375641812_The_Changing_Priorities_of_Education_in_India_A_Worrisome_Shift_Mirrored_in_Popular_Films_and_Fictions. Accessed 17 January 2024.
Resources for further exploration:-
If you would like to explore more about related topics, here are a few resources.
‘Times Entertainment’ article “Vikrant Massey shares how he prepared for his role in '12th Fail’” can be read here.
‘Indian Express’ article “Vikrant Massey and Vidhu Vinod Chopra on 12th Fail: ‘It is an homage to bureaucrats of the country’”, can be read here.
Dr. Dilip Barad’s paper, “The Changing Priorities of Education in India: A Worrisome Shift Mirrored in Popular Films and Fictions” can be read here.
‘People’ magazine article by Diana Pearl, “'Legally Blonde' Is 'Still' Inspiring People to Go to Law School – Plus, How Reese Witherspoon is Celebrating the Film's 15th Anniversary”, can be read here.
You can watch the interview of the real Manoj Sharma and Shraddha Joshi, by The Lallantop here:-
To understand the down side of preparing for a government job, you can watch this video by Mohak Mangal:-
To know more about the Bechdel Test check out the video given below:-
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