At the 71st National Film Awards 12th Fail emerged as a standout clinching the Best Feature Film award. Directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra the film features Vikrant Massey in the lead role supported by Medha Shankr Anant Joshi Anshumaan Pushkar and Priyanshu Chatterjee. Masseys portrayal of Manoj Kumar Sharma man who overcomes poverty to become an IPS officer earned him the Best Actor award which he shared with Shah Rukh Khan for his electrifying performance in Jawan. What is the storyline of 12th Fail? 12th Fail is based on the inspiring true story of Manoj Kumar Sharma an IPS officer who once failed his 12th-grade exams but eventually rose above his struggles to serve the nation. Set against the backdrop of Indias highly competitive civil services examination system the film offers a grounded and emotionally resonant narrative of perseverance poverty and unbreakable spirit. How were the performances in 12th Fail? Vikrant Masseys performance was the film’s emotional backbone showcasing a man who rose from abject poverty failed in school yet never gave up on his dream to serve the nation. His portrayal earned not just applause but one of the highest honors an Indian actor can receive. Medha Shankr as Shraddha added emotional depth to the narrative playing the steadfast companion in Manojs difficult journey. Anant Joshi and Priyanshu Chatterjee added strength to the supporting cast portraying characters that highlighted the personal struggles that many aspirants face. How was the box office reception? Upon its release on October 27 2023 12th Fail received critical acclaim and became a sleeper hit grossing over Rs 50 crore in India which was made under budget of Rs 20 crore. 12th Fail has received widespread critical acclaim reflected in its impressive IMDb rating of 9.2 making it one of the highest-rated Indian films in recent years which is currently streaming on JioHotstar. More about 71st National Awards The 71st National Film Awards also recognized other notable talents: Rani Mukerji won Best Actress for Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway Sudipto Sen received Best Director for The Kerala Story and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani was honored as the Best Popular Film for Wholesome Entertainment. Ranbir Kapoor starrer Animal also earned major recognition in technical categories. Harshavardhan Rameshwar won Best Background Music for his powerful score while Sachin Sudhakaran and Hariharan Muralidharan bagged Best Sound Design.