120 Bahadur

120 Bahadur Movie Review Rating:

Star Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Ajinkya Deo, Sahib Verma, Sparsh Walia, Ankit Siwach, Eijaz Khan, Vivaan Bhatena, Raashii Khanna & Others

Director: Razneesh ‘Razy’ Ghai

What’s Good: A warm and emotional tale of valor and courage, knowing the end is inevitable!

What’s Bad: The Music and the Background Score

Loo Break: Only in the interval

Watch or Not?: Yes, the least we can do is know the stories of such unsung heroes!

Language: Hindi

Available On: Theatrical release

Runtime: 2 hour 17 minutes

User Rating:

It has been 168 years since India first roared for its Independence in 1857. Many years later, we fought tooth and nail with the Britishers for our Independence, and ever since, we have been an Independent Nation, but we have been fighting with India and China to protect our borders. One such war was the Indo-China War of 1962 and Farhan Akhtar and his team decided to celebrate some more war heroes, while narrating some unheard tales and events of the Battle of Rezang La, fought between 120 Bahadur Jawans of the Indian Army who gave it back to 3000 Chinese Soldiers!

Whenever we talk about Indian Defence stories, there is a sense of pride, but honestly, this time, it was something different! Something that settled deep and something that I slept with overnight, something that did not resolve even after the film ended! This time, it is all gratitude and all my life, being a movie buff, I have judged films, criticized them, loved them, and slammed them. Some of these opinions resonate with people; others do not.

But Farhan Akhtar’s 120 Bahadur has silently stayed with me, and left me with gratitude, and a very strong thought! Who am I to judge a war hero’s story (probably fictionalized in parts to add drama and satiate the parameters of entertainment)? Why should I mellow down a martyr’s sacrifice in the name of entertainment? Why not just celebrate such stories? Why not just be thankful that someone dared to tell this story, without thinking or caring about box office numbers?

120 Bahadur Movie Review: Script Analysis

So to begin with, I would like to celebrate 120 unheard heroes. Heroes, who initially were forgotten and refused to be acknowledged as war heroes (watch the film to know the story behind this). The film, as seen in the trailer, sets the premise straight – India is in war with China, they are a well-equipped battalion of 3000 soldiers, marching towards a very narrow pass – Rezang La!

On the other hand, Farhan Akhtar plays Major Shaitan Singh Bhati, who pumps up courage in his army of 120 soldiers and tells his commanding officer, “Lade bina to nahi jaayenge.” Mind you, the Param Vir Chakra awardee is given an option to vacate the post and come back with his men. But the Ahir Boys refuse to do so. And while this might look like another decision to you, just think about how you decide to choose between death and life? These men, however, chose their duty; if it be dying while protecting, then so be it!

And let me remind you, these men, many of them might have been even in their 20s. The age when we just can’t decide what to wear to a birthday party tonight – these men could not wear a jacket in freezing cold temperatures and were told, “Apna pehla China ka sipahi maar ke, le aa jacket uski.” The Indian government, which was a baby at that time, could not afford jackets for its men. Men who still chose to serve their country above all!

120 Bahadur Movie Review: Star Performance

Farhan Akhtar as Major Shaitan Singh Bhati delivers a film that isn’t just a historical document – it recalibrates our understanding of courage. It is calm, it is relentless, and it is, above all, necessary. The narrative is structured as a countdown to his inevitable, but glorious end. The film spends the first hour not on melodrama, but on establishing the unreal circumstances and the sheer responsibility of being a soldier. The second half takes you to the battleground and the film just elevates its stature, leaving you physically exhausted and emotionally hollowed out.

The boys, including Ankit Siwach, Devendra Ahirwar, Ashutosh Shukla, and others, shine. But Sahib Verma and Sparsh Walia will leave you speechless with their performance. Ajinkya Deo, Eijaz Khan, and Vivaan Bhatena channel their best to portray this tale of valor! Raashi Khanna’s presence is appreciated as she struggles at times with her accent, but still moves the audience with the end.