Like our political leadership, Bollywood too remains largely silent on our fights and skirmishes with our northern neighbour. This week is a glorious exception, as director Rajneesh Razi Ghai brings a tale of valor from the Chinese front as he reminds us of the Battle of Rezang La, where 120 Indian braves from the plains foiled the Dragons’ plans at Chushul Airfield to capture the entire Ladakh on November 21, 1962, during the India-China war.
On the 63rd anniversary of the war, 120 brave It traces the fierce resistance put up by Charlie Company of the Kumaon Regiment, led by Major Shaitan Singh Bhati (Farhan Akhtar), which inflicts heavy losses on the Chinese forces, forcing them to declare a unilateral ceasefire. While India suffered a setback in the war, the military resolve shown at Rezang La remains an enduring symbol of national pride. Refusing orders to retreat, the soldiers fought heroically to the last, fighting hand to hand and fighting to the last bullet and the last man.
120 Bahadur (Hindi)
Director: Rajneesh Ghai
Mould: Farhan Akhtar, Raashi Khanna, Vivaan Bhatena, Ankit Siwach, Ajinkya Dev, Ejaz Khan
Duration: 137 minutes
Story: It is based on the true story of 120 brave soldiers of Charlie Company, led by Major Shaitan Singh, who fought the final battle at the icy Rezang La Pass to thwart the Chinese invasion during the India-China war of 1962.
In contrast to the usual chest-thumping, chauvinistic celebration of military milestones that is celebrated in Bollywood, 120 brave It’s an honest, technically proficient tribute that gives both the heart and the mind their due on the battlefield. It aligns the beats and the attitude and swagger that are so prevalent today, without diluting the details of military maneuvers in the punishing environment.
More importantly, it showcases the diverse social composition of our armed forces, which our mainstream cinema fails to highlight or provide symbolic representation. This battle was fought by Ahir soldiers from the plains of Haryana and Rajasthan. These were sons of farmers, and as Shaitan Singh says in the film, they had absorbed the stories of their fathers fighting to save their land. The film makes us realize their purpose and determination without being preachy.
Despite their exploits in the world wars, it reveals why the Ahirs were considered undisciplined by the colonial rulers and how Shaitan Singh transformed their patience and love for the motherland and Lord Krishna into a ferocious force with the war slogan Dada Kishan Ki Jai resonating in the socio-political chambers. The Ahirs believe that they are descended from the master strategist Krishna and hence consider him as their ancestor (grandfather).
The allusions to the film, told in flashback mode in the voice of a genius radio operator converted during the war, are not superficial. It is not part of the narrative, but the film comes at a time when Ahirs or Yadavs are demanding recognition for their contributions and a separate regiment on the lines of Sikh and Jat formations.
Bhati is a Rajput, but Shaitan Singh is also echoed in the Gurjar belt, where Bhati is a common surname. It shows that one can fight for the national interest while remaining true to one’s caste identity. Among the soldiers there is a Dahiya who can sing and a Yadav who loves his chocolate. Exuding youthful energy seeps through the screen.
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Years later Dharmendra portrayed him in Chetan Anand’s highly acclaimed film reality, Farhan Akhtar revives the legend of the devil, Who defeated the Chinese. Delivering the emotional core of the film, Farhan plays a role that demands quiet authority and determination with surprising authenticity. He transforms a revered historical figure into a deeply humane leader whose calm demeanor masks the raging storm inside him.
it’s all in AirEthereal, and Farhan portrays the stream that flows through Satan, right. When necessary, he uses clenched jaw and iron fist and there is a rhythm in his dialogue delivery as per the emotional intensity of the scene. Over the years, Farhan’s films display the kind of cheeky flair and clever irreverence that endures today. He brings out that smart swagger in Shaitan Singh, who not only looks the enemy in the eyes but also thinks outside the box to beat the Chinese at their own game.
Ghai, who impressed with his ambition dashing, Here he puts his potential into kinetic action. He provides Farhan the ground to fire his limited but effective acting ammunition by creating visceral battle sequences in the stunning Himalayan surroundings captured by Japanese cinematographer Tetsuo Nagata. Whether it’s artillery fire or hand-to-hand combat, he takes the audience into the heart of the cold desert, making them feel the bruises, cuts and smell of blood on the snow cover.
The highlight is the scene where a cornered devil, with his courage and presence of mind, kills a complacent Chinese general. Having said that, the film gives the mighty Chinese their due and captures them with low-angle shots to evoke their towering stature and height advantage on the battlefield.
Despite the uneven diction of the supporting cast, and Raashi Khanna’s efforts to keep the domestic story devoid of clichés, the film sometimes falters in emotional pace, and a few clichés creep into the story. It may not be a genre-defining epic, but 120 brave Deserves your time and attention.
120 Bahadur is currently running in theatres.
published – November 21, 2025 01:54 PM IST