One of the best things about the Internet is that it makes sure that no good gets wasted. The movie 12th Fail is one of its biggest examples. While the initial reaction to the movie was sombre at best, the movie peaked later because of word-of-mouth appreciation and in all honesty, its sheer brilliance! And if we were to point out one thing that absolutely stuck out for us in the movie, then it has to be the real-life shooting locations in it. In pure Vidhu Vinod Chopra fashion, the director actually shot the movie in locations like Mukherjee Nagar and Rajendra Nagar in Delhi to capture the essence of the IAS aspirants.
Mukherjee Nagar & Rajendra Nagar – The Hub Of IAS Students In Delhi
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Remember the busy streets that welcome Vikrant Massey’s Manoj Kumar Sharma in Delhi in the film? Well, that’s actually a shot captured in Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar. These bustling neighbourhoods in Delhi are home to most UPSC aspirants that come to Delhi. From affordable, hole-in-the-wall accommodations to coaching centres that are filled to the brim – these places are actually just as Vidhu Vinod Chopra featured in his movie. Instead of shooting in a studio, the director decided to shoot the movie in real-life locations.
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According to an interview with PYNR, Dr. Vikas Divyakirti, a popular UPSC teacher who was also a part of the movie, shared that Vidhu Vinod Chopra decided to shoot in real locations as he was floored by the raw emotions of UPSC students in these areas. He said that the director wasn’t satisfied with the ‘artificial vibe’ created in a set and wanted to show the real struggle of the aspirants. Thus, the real-life locations.
Also Read: Delhi Metro Records Highest Ridership In 6 Years With 67 Lakh Commuters On First Day Of 2024
Why People Choose These Locations Despite The Chaos?
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While Delhi as a whole is a crowded city, coaching hubs like Mukherjee Nagar and Rajendra Nagar are a whole different story. These places are flooded with students trying to make the cut for a government job. Just as depicted in the movie, these areas are purely chaotic! So, why do students from around the country head here to prepare for their exams? Well, some of the best UPSC coaching classes in India are based in Mukherjee Nagar and Rajendra Nagar. That’s why students from different states and cities head here to prepare for their exams.
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Also, it’s not just the classes but the entire vibe of these places that attract people. From tea stalls and paan shops to libraries, you’ll find lakhs of people here preparing for these tough competitive exams. In fact, as shown in the movie, even the tea sellers here are quite updated on the syllabus and workings of various government exams.
Besides these, the film also captured Dilli Haat INA in one of its sequences. It is a popular tourist spot in the Capital that was beautifully captured in 12th Fail.
Quite interesting, isn’t it? So, what was your favourite part of the film? Let us know in the comments below!
Cover Image Courtesy: Instagram/@vidhuvinodchoprafilms
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