12th Fail (2023)

Masala Meter 2/5 · Quality 9/10 · Hindi · Drama, Biography

The UPSC film that will make you call your old tuition teacher.

Vikrant Massey plays Manoj, a boy from Chambal who fails his board exams and then sets his sights on the toughest exam in the country. Based on a true story, it follows him through Delhi's coaching lanes, flour mills and rented rooms where a dozen aspirants share one dream.

It's earnest and sometimes heavy-handed, but it earns every tear. A rare film about ambition that's really about honesty.

Where to watch in India: JioHotstar.