120 Bahadur Review: Farhan Akhtar's Heartfelt Tribute Struggles to Connect Emotionally, Despite Technical Strengths
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The 1962 Rezang La battle serves as the backdrop for 120 Bahadur, a war drama that takes time to find its footing. Directed by Razneesh Razi Ghai, the film tells the story of 120 soldiers from the 13 Kumaon regiment who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the Rezang La pass from the Chinese. Farhan Akhtar leads the cast as Shaitan Singh Bhati, the commanding officer of Charlie Company. While the film's cinematography by Tetsuo Nagata captures the harsh beauty of Ladakh with striking clarity, the storytelling falters in its emotional depth. The screenplay often relies on predictability, and the emotional peaks feel functional rather than genuine. The second half of the film, however, comes alive as the battle sequences turn raw and intense. Farhan Akhtar delivers a solid performance, but his signature suave manner of speaking sometimes detracts from his portrayal of Shaitan Singh. Sparsh Walia and Raashii Khanna also suit their roles, but Raashii's character adds little to the film. Despite its technical strengths and sincere intention, 120 Bahadur falls short of delivering a lasting impact due to a lack of emotional balance and cliched melodrama. A tighter screenplay and sharper balance between sentiment and spectacle could have elevated the film to a stirring war drama.
