12th Fail

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2:59

12th Fail

Released Oct 27, 2023

2h 27m

Biography

Drama

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Popcornmeter

91%

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11 Reviews

97%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Based on Anurag Pathak's bestselling novel of the same name, 12th Fail is a celebration of millions of students and their tireless spirit of never giving up. The film is the true story of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma hailing from a small town in Chambal -- who fearlessly embraced the idea of restarting his academic journey and reclaiming his destiny at a place where millions of students attempt for the world's toughest competitive exam: UPSC.

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Shubhra Gupta

The Indian Express

Vikrant Massey-starrer cleaves close to ground reality, with characters that makes you feel that they’ve wandered off the street, dishing out life-lessons laced with dollops of inspiration.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 27, 2023

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Leslie Felperin

Guardian

A warm, if sentimental, paean to the idea that success in India, despite endemic corruption and the caste system, can still be achieved through meritocratic means.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 24, 2023

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Jimmy Cage

Jimmy Cage Movie Reviews (YouTube)

12TH FAIL is a nicely told, touching underdog success story. Well played and technically at a high level. But it also focusses a bit too much on its inspirational note and I struggle to fully accept its message and worldview.

Rated: 7/10

Jan 24, 2024

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Akhil Arora

The Long Take Podcast

[The movie loves romanticising struggle and is] willing to glorify everything and be like keep struggling — his motto is 'repeat, repeat.' What do you mean [by] repeat? For what objective? To what end?

Jan 4, 2024

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Tatsam Mukherjee

The Wire (INDIA)

Above all, 12th Fail is a paean to Vikrant Massey’s astronomical amounts of sincerity.

Nov 10, 2023

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Pramit Chatterjee

Digital Mafia Talkies

It’s unimaginably refreshing to see Vidhu Vinod Chopra and his team go back to the basics, employ long takes, use sound design to translate the emotions on-screen, and cut between scenes in, let’s say, a poetic fashion.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 29, 2023

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jitender

It is based on real story and very motivational movie. Its great to watch with kids and family.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/30/23

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DJ W

Very overrated. The story seemed predictable and uninteresting to me. It's not at all a bad movie, just incredibly overrated

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/19/25

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Gurpreet M

peak cinema right here

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/18/25

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Arquam K

Vikrant Messi is Great Kya Lajawab Acting ki hai inhone Highly Recommend movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/29/25

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Asad F

"12th Fail" is an inspiring and heartfelt tale that resonates deeply with anyone who has faced setbacks in their journey toward success. The film is based on real-life events and encapsulates the struggles and triumphs of a student who refuses to let failure define his destiny. The story is a powerful reminder of the importance of resilience and hard work. It shines a light on the systemic challenges in education while celebrating the indomitable human spirit. The lead performance is raw and compelling, bringing authenticity and emotion to the character's journey. What stands out most is the film’s ability to connect with audiences on an emotional level. The script is relatable, the dialogues are impactful, and the storytelling is gripping, with a perfect balance of struggle and hope. The pacing keeps you engaged, and the moments of victory feel genuinely earned. 5/5 rating without a doubt.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/23/24

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Sepp L

It‘d be Oscar if not Hindi

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/16/24

Full Review

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Vidhu Vinod Chopra

Director

Sam Mohan

Actor

Perry Chhabra

Actor

Vikrant Massey

Manoj Kumar Sharma

Medha Shankr

Actor

Anshuman Pushkar

Actor

Swatantrya Veer Savarkar

14%

91%

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Maidaan

64%

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Srikanth

78%

79%

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Thalaivii

20%

64%

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42%

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12th Fail: Trailer 1

2:59

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Synopsis

Based on Anurag Pathak's bestselling novel of the same name, 12th Fail is a celebration of millions of students and their tireless spirit of never giving up. The film is the true story of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma hailing from a small town in Chambal -- who fearlessly embraced the idea of restarting his academic journey and reclaiming his destiny at a place where millions of students attempt for the world's toughest competitive exam: UPSC.

Director: Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Producer: Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Screenwriter: Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Distributor: ZEE Studios International
Production Co: Zee Studios, Vinod Chopra Films
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: Hindi
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 27, 2023, Limited
Runtime: 2h 27m

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