Have you ever felt like giving up on your dreams after facing failure? If so, you might find inspiration in the story of Manoj Kumar Sharma, the protagonist of “12th Fail” by Vidhu Vinod Chopra.
At the center of the film is Manoj, a poor boy from Chambal who fails his 12th board exams due to a strict police officer cracking down on cheating in his school. Despite challenges, Manoj never gave up and became an IPS officer. He even gets to marry the woman of her dreams.
If you enjoyed this film or are looking for similar stories, here are the ten best suggestions.
I Am Kalam (2010)
At the center of this film is a boy named Chhotu working at a roadside cafe in Rajasthan. He dreams big, inspired by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, India’s former president. Chhotu’s world changes when he befriends Ranvijay, a prince longing for adventure.
It is through their eyes we see poverty, caste issues, and corruption and learn that friendship and education are powerful tools that can bring positive changes to the world. Their story, a film that’s won many awards, inspires kids everywhere to chase their dreams.
Pareeksha (2020)Â
This is the story of a rickshaw driver in Bihar, striving to give his son the best education. He works tirelessly, saves every penny, and even manages to get him into an upscale English medium school. But how long can he keep up this facade?
This is the dilemma Buchi, the main character in Pareeksha, faces. This realistic film goes deep into the challenges and dreams of the poor in India. Alongside his son Gaurav, Buchi fends the harsh realities of the system, society, and the law.
Pareeksha not only earned Adil Hussain the Best Actor award at the Ottawa Indian Film Festival but also told us to believe in our dreams.
Chhichhore (2019)
Life can be full of unexpected surprises, some pleasant and some not so much. Anirudh discovers this when his son throws himself from his bedroom balcony when he fails the JEE Mains entrance exam (one of the toughest entrance exams in the world).
To make him see the beauty of life that we’ve been given, Anirudh tells his son about his college days, where he and his friends, self-proclaimed losers called the Chhichhore, tried everything from academics to romance and from rivalry to friendship.
Nil Battey Sannata (2015)
How far would you go to fulfill your child’s dreams? This is what Chanda, a hardworking maid and single mother, faces when she realizes her daughter Apu has no interest in studying.
Apu is under the impression that she is destined to follow in her mother’s footsteps as a maid and hates studying. Chanda, on the other hand, doesn’t want to see her daughter working odd jobs but to become an IAS officer.
The only problem is that Apu needs to ace maths to do it. Then, Chanda takes a bold step and gets admission into Apu’s school so they can study together.
Like Stars on Earth (2007)
Some kids see the world in their own way, but not everyone gets them. Take Ishaan, for example. He loves painting and exploring the stories of his city but hates school. Reading, writing, and math are tough for him, and people think he’s just lazy and naughty.
Ishan’s parents send him to boarding school, hoping for a change, but things don’t improve. Then, a new art teacher sees something special in Ishan and helps him conquer his struggles. This is one film where you’ll need both tissues and popcorn!
Why Cheat India (2019)
Some people cheat to pass exams, whereas others cheat to make money. This is Rakesh Singh’s modus operandi. For context, Rakesh is a scam artist running a billion-dollar business of education fraud in India. He hires smart students to take tests for others and gives them fake degrees and certificates.
Rakesh sees this as him helping society by giving chances to those who can pay. His plans go awry when he falls in love with the sister of a client who kills himself after he is fired from his job because of the fake degree scam.
Super 30 (2019)
You don’t need to be born with a silver spoon to be at the top. Anand Kumar, a brilliant mathematician from Bihar, proves this with his Super 30 teaching program. Each year, he mentors 30 underprivileged students to crack India’s toughest entrance exam, the IIT-JEE.
But it’s no easy feat as resistance comes from many wealthy and influential coaching moguls who want to rule the education system with an Iron Fist. Despite mounting challenges and also a bullet in the gut, Anaand doesn’t give up and makes history.Â
Hidden Figures (2016)
They were the heavyweights of the space race, yet they became the unsung heroes. Katherine, Dorothy, and Mary, three incredibly talented African-American women, joined NASA as mathematicians to make heavy calculations.
They face racism and sexism but still continue to go on, never once thinking about giving up. Both their calculations and bravery launch the first American into orbit. This film got three Oscar nominations and will have you admiring these brave and overlooked science pioneers.
3 Idiots (2009)
Can you change the days ahead of you by listening to your heart and murmuring ALL IS WELL? Farhan, Raju, and Rancho did by doing the exact same thing. They are the students of a big-shot engineering college where getting admission is tougher than going to Mars.
They defy the rules made for them by society and the education system to run after what they are passionate about, even if it means being called “idiots” by others. In their journey, they find love, inspiration, and, most importantly, courage to follow their heart.
The Great Debaters (2007)
Can you fight injustice with words? Melvin B. Tolson and his African-American students in The Great Debaters are trying to find out. In spite of facing discrimination and prejudices, they use their eloquence and intelligence in debates against the top teams in the country, including Harvard University.
Along the way, they learn about themselves and each other, along with history, and understand that with talks, one can solve the biggest of problems. Coming from Denzel Washington, who also stars in the film, this is one inspiring film one mustn’t miss even if the world is ending in two hours.
So there we have it, our 10 movie alternatives to watch when you’re finished watching 12th Fail.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!