120 Bahadur

“Farhan Akhtar plays Bhati with brio, leading his men into a 'jung' from where there was no coming back, and the result is a war film which brims with the action-and-emotion necessary for a Bollywood drama, but refuses to go under because of it. The 'vardi' and the 'valour' that demands that ultimate 'balidaan' brings a lump to the throat, and a tear to the eye.”

“Farhan Akhtar's film is consistently watchable and the director fleshes out the Param Vir Chakra-recipient without overstretching himself.”

“'120 Bahadur' reviews bravery, brotherhood in 1962's Indo-China war. A fitting tribute to Major Singh & 120 soldiers, with gripping cinematography, Farhan's role, balanced emotion, and Raashii Khanna's performance.”

“120 Bahadur is about a battle that India won, while heavily outnumbered against an estimated 3000 Chinese soldiers, at a particular post, in Ladakh. The film sets a new benchmark for Hindi war films with its compelling narrative and strong performances.”

“Farhan Akhtar's 120 Bahadur has silently stayed with me, and left me with gratitude, and a very strong thought! Who am I to judge a war hero's story? Why should I mellow down a martyr's sacrifice in the name of entertainment? Why not just celebrate such stories?”

“Yet 120 Bahadur is not without flaws. For a film built on such an inherently powerful historical episode, the pacing is surprisingly uneven. Even with these shortcomings, 120 Bahadur remains a sincere, often stirring tribute elevated by superb combat realism and a commanding central performance.”

“A heartfelt tribute wrapped in a familiar template; 120 Bahadur deserved gripping execution.”

“What 120 Bahadur needed was a stronger emotional spine throughout to bind its technical strengths together. The craft is certainly there, the intention is unwavering, but the film stops short of delivering the kind of lingering impact a story of this magnitude deserves.”

“Despite sincere performances and stunning visuals, the film falls short of delivering a deeply moving war drama.”

“120 Bahadur is underwhelming, adding little fresh perspective and feeling like a standard war drama we have seen umpteen times before. Despite its sincerity and good intentions, the familiar treatment prevents 120 Bahadur from offering much in the way of surprise or wonder.”

“Major Shaitan Singh must be turning in heaven and howling to see the way Farhan Akhtar has played his part!”

“Unlike the generic chest-thumping, jingoistic celebrations of military milestones that Bollywood churns out, 120 Bahadur is a sincere, technically proficient tribute that gives both heart and mind their due on the battlefield. It may not be a genre-defining epic, but 120 Bahadur deserves your time and attention.”