Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 12th Fail is an uplifting melodrama based on the real-life story of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma. Hailing from Chambal, a notorious hub for dacoits, Manoj (portrayed by Vikrant Massey) grows up in a world marred by corruption and exploitation. In his school not only is cheating during exams allowed, it's actively encouraged. From his point of view, honesty doesn't have much upside. It has also brought immense suffering to his father, an unwaveringly principled man who loses his job and becomes entangled in legal battles in his quest for justice.