irected by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, this cinematic gem makes you laugh, cry and experience a range of emotions all in the space of a couple of hours.

Vikrant Massey nails the role of Manoj Kumar Sharma who arrives in Delhi to ace the UPSC examination to join the police force and become a public servant. He hails from a small village, Chambal, and is a third divisioner. His father is portrayed as a very honest gentleman who despite his difficult financial circumstances, refuses to bow down to corruption and bribery.

Manoj has been raised with the same ideals and values. An encounter with Priyanshu Chatterjee, an honest DSP posted to their village, makes him realise that civil servants can also be honest and upright and he starts dreaming of travelling to Delhi and acing the UPSC exam. His grandmother and mother dream of seeing him in uniform and his paternal grandmother gifts him all her life’s savings and wishes him the best of luck.

However, life has other plans. He lands in Delhi, only to discover that all his belongings have been stolen. He meets Pandey, played by Anant V Joshi - another UPSC aspirant and decides to attempt the exam to become an IPS (Indian Police Service) officer, for which 1.5 million people appear on average for only 1,000 seats every year. This film, based on the book 12th Fail by Anurag Pathak traces the journey of a UPSC aspirant, Manoj Kumar Joshi, hailing from a small village in India.

During his journey, he meets Shraddha, played by Medha Shankar, who is from Missourie and wishes to join the civil service. The two attend UPSC classes together and develop a strong bond which stands the test of time, unlike some of his other friends’ relationships. The movie is a must-watch. It traces the highs and lows of Manoj’s life as he struggles to ace the Mains after clearing the Prelims. He also runs a flour mill in order to support his family and prepare for his UPSCs.

However, despite repeated attempts, he cannot clear the mains. One of his close associates takes over, gives him a small room with a bed and study table, sends money to his family and literally orders him to give it his all as this is his last attempt. As he burns the midnight oil, as a viewer, one can’t help but root for him as one realises that if he is selected, he will be an asset to the country. Rather than viewing the UPSC route as a way to crawl out of poverty, he has bigger goals in mind and wishes to reduce, if not eliminate, nepotism, bribery and corruption from the country.

This film is made from the heart and that is reflected in the making, direction and production. Vidhu Vinod Chapra has a knack for making films that strike a chord with the audience and this film is no exception. All the main and supporting actors do a commendable job and elevate this film to new levels of glory.

This story is narrated by Pandey who despite repeated efforts, fails to make it. When he lands in jail, Manoj supports him and gets him released. He proves to be a loyal friend. Pandey too sticks with him through thick and thin. Shraddha is the other pillar which supports him on this roller coaster of a journey.

This film is made from the heart and that is reflected in the making, direction and production. Vidhu Vinod Chapra has a knack for making films that strike a chord with the audience and this film is no exception. All the main and supporting actors do a commendable job and elevate this film to new levels of glory.

As the narrator, Pandey does an excellent job and although his friendship with Manoj has its ups and downs, Pandey is one of the first to arrive on the scene when the result of the interview is announced. Gaurav bhaiya (as he is fondly called – Anshumaan Pushkar) is also a revelation. He is determined to do whatever it takes to support Manoj on his academic journey. Manoj represents all the villagers who come to Delhi to ace the UPSC exam. Very few see the dream materialise. It’s a constant struggle and a rollercoaster ride for them, as they are at an inherent disadvantage due to their circumstances and are competing with the best of the best.

It’s a must-watch and an amazing film that entertains and teaches in equal measure, but never gets preachy. All the actors do a commendable job and you can’t help but let out a whoop of victory when Manoj receives the result at the end. All the blood, sweat and tears have been worth it.

This is a film that teaches that determination, hard work, perseverance and grit can take people places. “Restart!” is the key message of the film which is available on both Netflix and Youtube.

The writer is an educationist and can be reached at gaiteeara @hotmail.com. She blogs at http://sanukeycom.wordpress.com.