Amidst an era fraught with uncertainty for autonomous cinema, Vishal Bhardwaj, the maestro behind the lens, has lauded the triumph of ’12th Fail’ as a beacon of hope for the genre. As per the esteemed news outlet PTI, Vishal articulated that the sphere of independent filmmaking has witnessed both growth and regression.

Reflecting on the journey of indie cinema, Vishal articulated his sentiments during a press congregation at the Jaipur Literature Festival of 2024.

 

The luminary filmmaker articulated, “The trajectory was upward, but now, it’s experiencing a downturn. The reasons behind this phenomenon are subjects of deep contemplation. There existed an epoch where ventures like Haider, Maqbool, and Omkara, despite featuring mainstream stars, coexisted with films such as Dev D and Oye Lucky Lucky Oy, garnering sufficient financial backing effortlessly. However, presently, securing funds for such ventures has become an arduous task due to widespread apprehension; stakeholders are grappling with the question of ‘ki kya chalega theatres mein’ (what will resonate in theatres).”

 

In reference to ’12th Fail,’ headlined by Vikrant Massey, Vishal opined, “Amidst this milieu, the triumph of 12th Fail shines as a silver lining. Devoid of star power or ostentation, adorned with a mellifluous background score, it epitomizes pristine cinematic craftsmanship, helmed by none other than Vidhu Vinod Chopra. In my estimation, this stands as his magnum opus. The resounding success and adulation it garnered reaffirm the audience’s appetite for diverse cinematic experiences, provided they are compelling enough to lure them to theatres. Hence, stakeholders are embroiled in a quest to discern the viability of ventures like Animal vis-a-vis productions like Jawan or Pathaan, or even mindless southern action flicks. The equilibrium remains elusive.”

 

The narrative of Manoj Kumar Sharma, who transcended adversity to attain the illustrious rank of an IPS officer, unfurls in ’12th Fail,’ a cinematic creation spearheaded by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Remarkably, the film, executed within a purported budget of Rs 20 crore, has outstripped expectations, amassing box office revenues exceeding Rs 70 crore.