120 Bahadur Review: A sincere tribute to our unsung heroes of Battle of Rezang La
120 Bahadur Movie Rating: 3 Stars
Watched 120 Bahadur movie in Cinema. Let’s focus on the complete details, story, positive/negatives and at last my view on this movie.
Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Raashii Khanna, Vivan Bhatena, Dhanveer Singh, Sahib Verma, Sparsh Walia, Ajinkya Deo, Eijaz Khan, Ashutosh Shukla, Atul Singh and Devendra Ahirwar
Director: Razneesh Ghai
Release Date: 21st November 2025 in cinemas
Story: Set in 1962, tensions arise between India and China escalate in the icy heights of Ladakh. Major Shaitan Singh Bhati (Farhan Akhtar) heads the 13th Battalion of Kumaon Regiment and his platoon is holding a position at Rezang La in the Chushul sector. The unit is led by experienced officers including Lieutenant Colonel H.S. Dhingra (Eijaz Khan) and the regiment’s commanding officer Brigadier T.N. Raina (Ajinkya Deo) who oversees the larger 144 Mountain Brigade.
Chushul consists of an airstrip, and the Chinese are desperate to capture this sector. Shaitan realizes the importance of Chushul and fears that if the Chinese gain control of it, they can also be at an advantage to capture the rest of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir. On November 17, Major Shaitan Singh Bhati spots more than 3000 Chinese soldiers marching towards Rezang La. He informs the army headquarters, and his senior asks him to leave Rezang La since the Indian side is outnumbered.
But Major tells his commanding officer that he and his 120 brave men would not leave their position and fight the enemy until their last breath. What happens next forms the rest of the film.
Positives
1. Performances
2. Cinematography
3. Direction
4. Story
5. Dialogues
Negatives
1. Length
2. Songs
3. Climax
4. Screenplay in 1st half
Durgesh Tiwary’s View: When I watched the trailer of this film planned to watch this movie in cinemas on release date as liked the trailer and its based on the sacrifices of our unsung heroes. The film recounts the Battle of Rezang La which is considered one of the major events of the Sino-Indian War and fought on 18 November 1962, when 120 soldiers of the Charlie Company, 13 Kumaon Regiment entirely made up of Ahirs defended their post against a 3000-strong Chinese Army contingent, inflicting on them over 1300 casualties.
120 Bahadur set against the backdrop of the 1962 India-China war, this story brings to life on the big screen the immortal saga of Major Shaitan Singh Bhati and his 120 brave soldiers. The film begins on a promising note, courtesy a strong musical piece and a powerful voiceover by Amitabh Bachchan. Farhan Akhtar delivers such a powerful and sensitive performance as Major Shaitan Singh that his name will now be remembered alongside every great war-based film. Razneesh Ghai has made not just a film, but a tribute. He has portrayed every sacrifice, every emotion, and every soldier’s resolve with utmost sensitivity and depth. The war sequences are realistic and never overdramatic. The film’s biggest weapon is its dialogues. The action stands out as the film’s strongest pillar. The desperate standoffs snipers, close-range firefights, brawls when ammunition runs out are gripping.
The story of Razang La deserves to be told and celebrated, especially to the young generation, the majority of whom have been unaware of the bravery and the story of valour and determination, except through rote learning to pass examinations. Cinema is the best way to bring any story to life through powerful storytelling, visuals, and performances. And that is the power of cinema, or we could say its magic. Despite being based on a lesser-known part of history, the movie comes with a familiar tone and plot. The makers have done a fantastic job when it comes to the authenticity of the story. One of the instances mentions how officers doubted Shaitan Singh’s idea of protecting the passage of Razang La, and even the Ahir troops in the mountains.
On the negative side, the first half is slow-moving and boring. A lot of time has been taken to establish the characters (mostly the prominent among the 120 bahadurs) but they don’t get established as well as they should’ve been. This realization gets underlined when the army men are killed on the battlefield one after another, because the emotional appeal falls way below the mark. Had the characters been well-established, the tug at the heart strings would’ve been far more. Even otherwise, the feeling of patriotism which the audience experience is below the mark. Yes, a couple of emotions towards the end do touch the heart but they are just not enough. All in all, a weak first half and a less-than-expected second half make the drama ordinary, at best. The suffocating dread of an inevitable onslaught never fully takes hold, and the immense psychological strain on the soldiers doesn’t land with the impact it should.
Overall, despite its flaws this film every Indian should watch. For the love of our history and army and to know what happens at the border when we are safe and shielded at our home by our cosy illusions. This is not just a story of war, but a story of courage, duty, brotherhood, and patriotism that reminds us of the history we carry on our shoulders. It stands as a sincere and stirring salute to the heroes of Rezang La, powered by immersive war detailing and a commanding performance by Farhan Akhtar. Its sincerity is both its strength and its limitation. A heartfelt tribute wrapped in a familiar template; 120 Bahadur deserved a more arresting and emotionally resonant execution. My view on this film Recommended.
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