120 Bahadur makes a triumphant reflection of the unsung Bravehearts of the nation. Zeroing in on the Battle of Rezang La, which dates back to 1962, when 120 soldiers of Charlie Company fought the Chinese forces (3000 soldiers), at the rugged altitude of 16000 feet in Ladakh. The conflict followed the killing of 114 soldiers.
The film awakens the spirit of Major Shaitan Singh, led by Farhan Akhtar, along with the valour and courage that the nation held during the fight. The story breathes heart and soul into the nation’s history. It scars you in and out as you witness the martyrs. What we liked about the film is how it has entwined the incidents with precision and sensitivity. With zero melodrama, you get the nitty-gritty of the annals, as the film duly promised since the beginning.
Balance becomes the film’s victory. You have a bit of everything in the movie, the laughs and then the fearsome war cries. Farhan Akhtar never disappoints; his presence always commands sincerity. Rashi Khanna enamoured the heavy with her femininity, as she portrayed Shaitan Singh’s wife. The supporting cast featured Sparsh Walia, Dhanveer Singh, Digvijay Pratap, Devendra Ahirwar, Eijaz Khan, Ankit Siwach, Ashutosh Shukla, Brijesh Karanwal, Sahib Verma, Atul Singh, Ajinkya Deo and Vivan Bhatena.
We loved the setting. To be able to showcase the rugged altitude, the snowcapped scares that are almost uninhabitable, requires a special applause. Director Rajnish Ghai spectacularly picks it up from there, and needless to say, it prompted the bona fides of the story’s legitimacy and intention.
120 Bahadur is a must-watch for anyone who stands by patriotism and loves the country. It is a tribute, an ode to the heroes of the nation who did not step back but surrendered to their devotion and love for the country.
IWMBuzz rates it 3.5 stars.
