120 Bahadur Review Roundup: Valor, Memory, and the Burden of Sacrifice

120 Bahadur brings to life one of India’s most courageous last stands — the 1962 Battle of Rezang La. Under the direction of Razneesh “Razy” Ghai, the film traces the journey of Major Shaitan Singh Bhati (played by Farhan Akhtar) and the 120 men of Charlie Company, 13 Kumaon Regiment, as they defend their position in the brutal, towering heights of Ladakh against overwhelming odds. Interwoven with their military resolve are human stories: the brotherhood among soldiers, the doubts and fears of family waiting back home, and the unspoken moral weight of sacrifice. This is not just a war film about territory; it is a tribute to memory, honor, and the men whose names risk being forgotten.

What Critics Are Saying

Critics have greeted 120 Bahadur with respectful admiration for its intent and craft, even as many register frustration at uneven execution. India Today praises the youthful ensemble — names like Sparsh Walia, Ankit Siwach, Sahib Verma and Dhanveer Singh — for bringing immediacy and camaraderie to the frontline, though the review suggests Farhan Akhtar’s turn as Major Shaitan Singh sometimes lacks the raw intensity demanded by such a towering historical figure. The reviewer notes that several emotional beats feel engineered, but concedes the film’s visual design and the soldiers’ bond land with genuine effect.

Scroll.in captures the film’s tonal dilemma: it calls 120 Bahadur a “moist-eyed, heartfelt tribute” that nevertheless makes audiences wait for its emotional payoff. The piece highlights the patience of the first half and the fierce payoffs in the battle sequences, while warning that the build-up sometimes dilutes momentum.

Economic Times coverage and ET Online emphasize the film’s technical achievements: netizens and critics alike have praised its immersive visuals and the way Ladakh’s harshness is rendered on screen. That review also flags social reaction — viewers applauding the scale and authenticity even as they debate pacing and historical emphasis.

NDTV gives the film a watchable rating, appreciating the steady craftsmanship and consistent watchability. The review points out that the film’s staging and battle choreography create credible intensity, though it observes that the emotional arcs could have been deeper.

Koimoi takes a celebratory tone, arguing that the film’s chief service is to the unsung heroes — it urges viewers to honour bravery rather than judge performance choices, and frames the film as a necessary tribute that prioritises remembrance over critique.

By contrast, Firstpost offers a sharper critique: while commending the intention and certain technical sequences, it argues that Bollywood — and this film — owe the Indian Army and the memory of Major Shaitan Singh a more commanding cinematic portrayal. Firstpost finds the execution intermittently tentative, calling for greater narrative rigor in conveying the historical enormity.

News18 singles out Sparsh Walia as a scene-stealing presence and praises the ensemble’s capacity to humanize a historical episode. This review highlights how the film succeeds when it narrows its focus to soldierly bonds rather than dramatized spectacle.

Moneycontrol calls 120 Bahadur “one of Hindi cinema’s finer war stories,” arguing that its visual and auditory design restore Rezang La to public memory and do so with a technical confidence that many earlier attempts lacked.

Free Press Journal situates the film at a crossroads: while applauding Farhan Akhtar’s sincere attempt and the film’s reverence, it criticizes a slack in direction that sometimes tips the balance toward patriotic sentiment rather than critical reflection.

Finally, BollywoodLife offers a balanced read: it acknowledges Farhan Akhtar’s steady presence and applauds the production values and battle staging, but notes the film isn’t flawless — pacing issues and uneven emotional emphasis prevent it from being a complete triumph.

Taken together, these voices form a clear consensus: 120 Bahadur is an earnest, often powerful tribute that succeeds most when it foregrounds the soldiers themselves — their humor, fear, and resolve — while it falters when the film reaches for grander emotional or narrative gestures that feel slightly manufactured. The film’s technical mastery and its commitment to remembrance make it a meaningful cinematic attempt to recover Rezang La for contemporary audiences, even as debates about representation and execution continue.

Early audience reviews are equally layered. On Reddit, some viewers praise the realism, action, and emotional honesty, while others question casting choices and narrative structure. Comments reflect genuine admiration for the film’s intent: “a fresh take on the camaraderie of soldiers amid war,” one user writes. Another praises how the makers chose to hold paid preview screenings on the anniversary of the actual Battle of Rezang La — a nod to both history and remembrance.