120 Bahadur Review: I walked into the theater on the 18th, thinking this was just another war film. You know the type: patriotic music, emotional speeches, all that. But the moment I saw the security setup (they had bouncers inside the hall to stop people from sneaking recordings), I realized 120 Bahadur meant something more to people. And honestly, after watching it, I get why.

“120 Bahadur” dives into the Battle of Rezang La, the real one, the one your history teacher never explained properly. Farhan Akhtar plays Major Shaitan Singh Bhati, the man who led 120 Ahir soldiers against three thousand Chinese troops in 1962. Just thinking about that ratio makes your stomach twist. Imagine standing in -24°C weather, with barely any backup, and still fighting like the land under your feet is the only thing that matters.

The film tries to capture that feeling. And to be fair, when it works, it really works.

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The First Half — Slow but Necessary

Here’s the thing: the first half moves like a calm before a storm. Not boring, just… patient. It reminded me of Border (1997) — the small character backstories, the families waiting back home, the little jokes soldiers crack to hide their fear. It doesn’t dig too deep, but you get just enough to understand these men as people, not just uniforms.

There’s even a song sequence that instantly brought back that “Sandese Aate Hain” nostalgia. Not at that level, but you see what they were trying to do.

If you’re someone who wants nonstop action from the first minute, you might fidget a bit. But if you stay with it, the emotional payoff lands harder.

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The Second Half — The Battle Everyone Came For

Once the movie hits the halfway mark, all the softness disappears. It transforms into pure chaos.

Snow. Blood. Mud. Echoes of gunshots. Panic. Resolve.

And even though I’ve seen war films like Kesari and Shershaah, this one hits differently because the odds are so absurd. The soldiers aren’t superheroes; they’re exhausted men in freezing air, still refusing to step back.

Now, full honesty: the action choreography could’ve been stronger. Kesari and Shershaah had cleaner, sharper fight sequences. “120 Bahadur” feels a bit rough around the edges, like they wanted realism but didn’t fully get the execution right. Some shots don’t land with the impact they should have.

But the emotion? That part never fakes it. There’s a moment near the end where the screen goes quiet… and the entire hall felt numb. No coughing. No popcorn crunching. Just silence.

That’s how you know the film hit people.

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Farhan Akhtar as Shaitan Singh — Good, Not Legendary

Farhan’s return to the big screen is solid. He’s calm, steady, mature, the kind of leader you’d want in a real fight. But something’s missing. That fire. That raw intensity you expect from a character this iconic.

I kept thinking, “If another actor had taken this role, would the impact be stronger?”
Probably. Farhan does well, but he doesn’t redefine the character the way Vicky Kaushal did in Uri or Sidharth did in Shershaah.

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Music & Sound — Good BGM, Forgettable Songs

The background score works. It lifts scenes when needed. But the songs? You’ll forget them the moment credits roll.

And the biggest surprise:
That “Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon” tease from the trailer? It’s not even in the movie.

They had a golden emotional weapon and didn’t use it. A big missed opportunity.

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So, Is the 120 Bahadur Worth Watching?

Absolutely, but not because it’s perfect.
Because the story deserves to be seen.

If you take your parents or your family with you, you’ll feel the weight of the sacrifice even more. There’s no cheap vulgarity, no forced heroism. Just men doing what they believed was right, even when the math said they wouldn’t survive.

I walked out quietly. And that says more about the movie than any rating ever could.

Also Read: Varanasi: Why SS Rajamouli’s Most Ambitious Universe Has Me Excited… and Worried

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The Good & The Not-So-Good in 120 Bahadur

What Works	What Doesn’t
Strong emotional core	Action scenes lack polish
Honest portrayal of Rezang La	Farhan Akhtar’s performance feels restrained
Powerful second half	Songs are forgettable
Respectful tone, no over-dramatization	The teaser song missing hurts the impact
Family-safe war film	First half feels slow for some viewers

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Final Word on 120 Bahadur

“120 Bahadur” isn’t here to entertain you; it’s here to remind you.
Remind you that ordinary-looking men once stood in impossible conditions and still chose courage over survival.

Go watch it with family. Feel it. And when the final frame hits, don’t be surprised if you walk out of the theater a little quieter than you came in.