Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 22: It’s not every day that a Bollywood film attempts something this audacious: 120 Bahadur, a war epic starring Farhan Akhtar, is poised to hit cinemas on 21 November 2025, and it’s doing more than just recreating history — it’s making history. With a theatrical release that reaches over 800 defence-cinema halls across India, this isn’t just a film for the public. It’s a cinematic salute to those who serve, in the very spaces they call home.
A Cinematic Salute: Honouring the Heroes of Rezang La
At its core, 120 Bahadur is a profoundly patriotic war drama based on the legendary Battle of Rezang La (1962), where 120 Indian soldiers of the Charlie Company, 13 Kumaon Regiment, stood their ground under the leadership of Major Shaitan Singh Bhati.
Directed by Razneesh “Razy” Ghai and backed by Excel Entertainment (Farhan’s own production house) alongside Trigger Happy Studios, the film is built on reverence. Farhan Akhtar himself steps into the shoes of Major Bhati, with Raashii Khanna, Sparsh Walia, Vivan Bhatena, Dhanveer Singh, Digvijay Pratap, and several others rounding out a cast that balances star power with raw newcomer talent.
The movie’s trailer — narrated by a commanding Amitabh Bachchan — doesn’t pull punches. Atmospheric visuals, sweeping battle sequences, and the emotional weight of sacrifice collide in a way that promises both scale and sincerity.
A Bold Rollout: Cinema in the Barracks
Here’s where 120 Bahadur truly flexes its ambition: it’s the first Indian film to debut in over 800 defence theatre halls, leveraging PictureTime’s mobile cinema infrastructure. This move is more than symbolic — it’s a deliberate effort to provide the people who gave their lives for service a chance to watch this tribute in their own spaces.
According to the team, many of these theatre locations are in remote or underserved military areas. Excel Entertainment’s CEO, Vishal Ramchandani, along with PictureTime’s Sushil Chaudhary, have emphasized how emotionally significant this rollout is: “The soldiers whose spirit the film celebrates will be watching it with their families.”
The Pay-Preview Strategy: A Timely Homage
The makers are also running paid preview screenings on 18 November, a bold and meaningful choice. Why that day? Because that’s the actual anniversary of the Battle of Rezang La. It’s an elegantly respectful touch — not just marketing, but a tribute in itself.
Social media and Reddit boards are buzzing with praise. One user wrote:
“That preview date feels like a genuine salute, not just a PR gimmick. They’re saying: Come early. This is more than a movie.”
Another highlighted the emotional impact:
“the story itself deserves a theatrical watch… a legendary story of warriors, every Indian should know.”
What’s Working — and What Might Trip the Trigger
Why 120 Bahadur could soar:
Authenticity & Respect: The narrative isn’t just spectacle; it’s a heartfelt commemoration of real soldiers and real sacrifice.
Scale + Access: Releasing in defence cinemas means the very people being honoured get front-row seats — rare and powerful.
Technical Ambition: The trailer promises grand visuals, strong action sequences, and VFX that aim to rival global war films.
Emotional Connectivity: For audiences, this isn’t just war — it’s legacy, loss, and the burden of courage.
But… the risks are real:
Box Office Pressure: Despite the ambitious rollout, early box office figures show the film collected just ₹2.35 crore on day one. That’s modest for a film with such scale and backing.
Representation Debate: There’s controversy. Some from the Ahir community have argued that the film’s title underplays their soldiers’ contributions, demanding recognition as “120 Veer Ahir.”
Narrative Compression: As one Reddit viewer noted, the runtime feels short — strong action, but emotional depth may not land fully.
Audience Fatigue: War films remain appealing, but the genre is crowded; making a historical drama resonate widely is no small feat.
Strategic Shots & Cinematic Power Plays
From a PR perspective, 120 Bahadur is executing like a General mapping out terrain. The defence-theatre rollout is a strong statement — not just emotionally loud, but strategically smart. It builds goodwill with the armed forces and their communities, while also signaling to the mainstream: this isn’t just a war movie; this is theirs.
But the film’s success may depend on a delicate balance: honoring history without becoming stodgy, delivering action without losing heart, and reaching niche audiences while appealing broadly.
Voices from the Ground
Reddit Praise: Fans say the preview event felt deeply respectful.
Critique: Some feel Farhan Akhtar’s voice in the film is a bit “worked,” not naturally heroic.
Representation Concern: There are genuine discussions about community identity and how history is memorialized.
Final Verdict: Courage Is the Real Hero Here
120 Bahadur isn’t just a film. It’s a declaration — that cinema can remember, that sacrifice isn’t merely fodder for spectacle, and that those who serve deserve more than poetic lines; they deserve remembrance in living, breathing frames.
There’s ambition, heart, and a clear intent to honor. There’s also risk — financial, cultural, and narrative. But if 120 Bahadur succeeds, it could become a modern war epic that refuses to feel hollow or performative. If it falters, its fault won’t lie in its scale, but in how much the audience was willing to feel the weight it carries.
Either way, it’s not just a movie — it’s a mission. And that, in today’s cinema climate, is potent.
