Vestibular para a Vida

Varun Grover's directorial venture, 'All India Rank,' stands as a refreshing departure from the conventional narratives surrounding the pursuit of academic success, as depicted in TVF's 'Kota Factory.' While both explore the pressures of competitive examinations, 'All India Rank' takes a distinct approach by shifting the camera's focus beyond the aspirant, delving into the intricate dynamics of familial relationships.

Unlike the idealized portrayal of the IIT dream often depicted in mainstream media, Grover's film humanizes it by presenting an IITian as a flawed individual, devoid of the typical hero-villain binary. Each character in 'All India Rank' is imbued with depth, their arcs unfolding organically without the need for contrived comparisons.

Grover's maturity as a storyteller is evident in his measured approach, eschewing flashy gimmicks in favor of a composed and calculated narrative. The film neither glorifies nor vilifies the IIT dream, striking a delicate balance that resonates with the middle-class insecurities harbored by many aspirants.

One of the film's strengths lies in its ability to captivate without overwhelming the audience. Instead of bombarding viewers with triumphant narratives, 'All India Rank' gently embraces the vulnerabilities and disappointments inherent in the pursuit of success.

In contrast to its counterparts, such as '12th Fail,' Grover's film refrains from fetishizing the IIT dream, opting for a more nuanced and sensible portrayal. This approach, coupled with the film's warmth and depth, elevates it beyond a mere exploration of academic ambition.

For those seeking a cinematic experience that transcends the clichés of the genre, 'All India Rank' offers a compelling narrative that leaves a lasting impression. Whether you're familiar with similar subject matter or not, a trip to the theater to witness Grover's directorial debut is well worth the investment.

"Transported to the late 1990s, 'All India Rank' unfolds the saga of Vivek, a 17-year-old hailing from a serene village. Thrust into a prep school for the cutthroat IIT entrance examination, often equated to India's MIT, the film intricately explores Vivek's heartfelt struggle with academics, life's intricacies, and family dynamics. It encapsulates the essence of a young dreamer maneuvering through the hurdles of a new world, where ambitious minds unite to brace for the impending exam.

As a college guy watching this film, it struck a chord, echoing the harsh realities of the Indian education system and the weight of parental expectations. 'All India Rank' mirrors the society I'm navigating-a poignant depiction of the challenges faced by young minds in their relentless pursuit of success."

Transporting us back to 1990s nostalgia, All India Rank in a simple way beautifully explores the heartfelt struggle with academics, dreams and aspirations, the personal life of students, family dynamics and most importantly the journey. Varun Grover captures the world beautifully, it's such a sincere and honest attempt from him. You could feel the vibes of love and warmth throughout, it was wholesome. Those visuals and animations were integrated in a creative manner. And the music was so cool, cannot get "Noodle Sa Dil" out of my head. The film actually struck a chord with me and I could relate with Vivek to an extent on a personal level.

I wish the film was longer as I was invested in it properly and I was craving to more of this world. And please don't compare it with 12th Fail, both are very different from each other and are good in their own ways.

All india rank is a comedy drama film directed by varun grover.

This is a sweet film. The era of 90s is beautifully captured, the production design, the art design is really good. The screenplay uses various animations to bring freshness into the narrative. The music is something I really liked, specially the background score. The teenage life is also retty genuine. But the problem is that all the things are surface level, the problems, the tension, the solutions are never really explored deep, the emotions are lacking, as a result you are just like, meh its okayish. The subplot of the vulgar PCO boy was unexplained, making no sense to me. The film is about life, how it is not at all random, but I wanted more from it.

It is a good movie. A fresh breath of air, something different. You would think that it is a movie like 3 idiots or 12th fail, but it is not! It shows the struggles of a boy who is phasing into adulthood and trying to fulfill his parent's dream (for him). But the story explores so many thematics - friendship, dreams and realities, parent, studies, competition, betrayal, love - in a simple narrative. The story captures you in a loop of nostalgia and has glimpse of every emotions, from laughing to being sad. Overall, it is a well made movie where at the end it leaves you with an important lesson in life.

PS I like this actor. I have seen him in Patal Lok as well. He's one to watch for in the future!