Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Hindi film “12th Fail” weaves a tale of resilience, dreams, and the pursuit of success, know about the character Pritam Pandey and his name in real life
12th Fail is set against the backdrop of Manoj Kumar’s journey from a small village to aspiring for a civil servant position. Central to the narrative is Pritam Pandey, a character who becomes a guiding light for Manoj during challenging times. The question arises: Is Pritam Pandey inspired by a real person, and where is he now?
Who is Pritam Pandey friend of IPS Manoj Sharma in 12th Fail, his story, name and photo in real life
Pritam Pandey, portrayed by actor Joshi Anantvijay embodies the classic ride-or-die trait by remaining a constant companion by Manoj’s side throughout the film 12th Fail.
IAS officer Awanish Sharan has now shared a touching story about his friend Dev, who resembles the character of Pritam Pandey in the film ’12th Fail’ and Sharan’s post was inspired by the film which stars Vikrant Massey as Manoj Kumar Sharma, a character who, against all odds, becomes an IPS officer.
Sharan recounted how during his days of struggle, while preparing for the UPSC examination – one of India’s most challenging academic feats – Dev emerged as his pillar of support and he reminisced about their first encounter in Mukherjee Nagar, where Dev offered him a room in his flat. This act of kindness marked the beginning of a friendship that would see Dev stand by Sharan.
Pritam Pandey from ’12th Fail’ most likely takes partial inspiration from a real-life person as Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s film has a basis in the eponymous 2019 inspirational non-fiction novel by Anurag Pathak. Therefore, many of the characters, including the film’s main cast, are adapted to the screen from the pages of Pathak’s work. In turn, since the latter is a biography based on Manoj Kumar’s real life, set during the years he attempted the UPSC exams.
Considering Pandey is a primary character within Pathak’s ’12th Fail,’ we can conclude that the UPSC student-turned-TV-reporter is a real-life person but unlike Kumar and his wife, Shraddha Joshi, who are each an IPS Officer and an IRS Officer, respectively, Pandey has remained out of the limelight, especially in relation to Pathak’s work with his real identity yet unknown.
Every Manoj deserves Pritam Pandey & Gauri Bhaiya..! 💙 https://t.co/KLPU9dlouy pic.twitter.com/3fWYfB1cD8
— Nobita..!! (@AlwayzHappy) January 6, 2024
The character’s missteps and mistakes contribute to his authenticity, making him more than just a supportive friend; he becomes a relatable figure navigating life’s complexities.
Interestingly, Pritam’s character takes on the role of a narrator in the film by drawing parallels between author Anurag Pathak and the character. This subtle connection adds layers to Pritam’s realism, blurring the lines between fiction and the author’s own experiences.
Additionally, Pritam shares another parallel with Pathak—both characters express concern, albeit misguided, about Manoj’s romance with Shraddha. Whether intentional or coincidental, these parallels contribute to the depth and authenticity of the character.
Anurag Pathak’s non-fiction novel serves as the primary source for understanding Pritam Pandey. The character’s ambiguity extends to the real-life counterpart, as there is currently no available information about the man. Fans eager to know more about Pritam can only rely on the pages of Pathak’s work, where the author describes Pritam’s life alongside Manoj and their close friends.
Every Manoj deserves a Shraddha, Gauri bhaiya and a Pritam Pandey pic.twitter.com/xXnMYX3C44
— Shashu (@LamerGappu) January 2, 2024
As per the novel, Pritam Pandey’s journey takes an intriguing turn by leading him to become a TV reporter—an aspect the film hints at as well. However, beyond this point, details about Pritam’s life remain shrouded in mystery. The lack of information adds an air of anticipation, leaving fans curious about the real person behind this enigmatic character.
The intentional ambiguity surrounding Pritam’s real-life counterpart raises questions about the creative choices made by the filmmakers. While some details may be fictionalized for cinematic purposes, the commitment to authenticity is evident in Pritam’s portrayal. Unfortunately, nothing is known about who the real life Pritam is with no details available about him, his name and photo.