“120 Bahadur” is a powerful, well-mounted Hindi war drama that works emotionally and visually, even though it sometimes falls into familiar patriotic-film tropes. As a tribute to the soldiers of Rezang La and Major Shaitan Singh, it is a moving big-screen experience that is worth watching, especially if you like intense war films.​

Story and Theme

The film recreates the Battle of Rezang La during the 1962 Indo-China war, where 120 soldiers of Charlie Company, led by Major Shaitan Singh, held off thousands of Chinese troops in Ladakh’s brutal conditions. The narrative emphasizes sacrifice, camaraderie, and duty, constantly underlining how under-equipped soldiers use sheer grit to defend a crucial mountain pass.​

Performances

Farhan Akhtar delivers a committed performance as Major Shaitan Singh, balancing toughness on the battlefield with vulnerability in his personal moments. Raashii Khanna, despite limited screen time as his wife, leaves an impact in the emotional domestic portions, while the largely fresh supporting cast playing the jawans adds authenticity to the unit’s bond.​

Direction and Technicals

Director Razneesh “Razy” Ghai stages the battle sequences with impressive scale, using long takes, close-quarters combat, and realistic sound design to convey the chaos of war. The harsh Ladakh landscape, captured with crisp cinematography, and the rousing background score make the last hour particularly gripping on the big screen.​

Writing and Emotional Impact

The film mixes frontline war drama with flashbacks and family interludes, and while some songs and backstory portions feel predictable or slightly stretched, they do build up to a strong emotional payoff. Repetitions in patriotic dialogues and broad-strokes portrayal of the Chinese side are noticeable, but the sincerity of the tribute and the climax’s emotional punch largely overshadow these flaws.​

Verdict

“120 Bahadur” is not a radically new kind of war film, but it is an earnest, technically polished, and often stirring salute to Rezang La’s heroes. For audiences who enjoy patriotic dramas and large-scale battlefield action, it stands out as a must-watch theatrical experience, especially for its final act.​