'120 Bahadur' review: Farhan leads sincere but mediocre war drama
What's the story
From directing the coming-of-age war drama Lakshya in 2004 to now leading a historical war epic, Farhan Akhtar's life has come full circle. Razneesh Ghai's 120 Bahadur, which tells an unbelievably true story from the 1962 Indo-China war, is ambitious, sincere, and patriotic. However, it's also overlong, extremely formulaic, and clichéd in its overall approach, ultimately failing to reach its full potential.
Plot
Focuses on the Battle of Rezang La
120 Bahadur focuses on the Battle of Rezang La, where 120 Indian soldiers of Charlie Company of the 13th Kumaon Regiment fought against over 1,000 Chinese soldiers. As many as 114 Indian bravehearts lost their lives during this battle at an altitude of over 16,000 feet in Ladakh. Akhtar plays Major Shaitan Singh Bhati, PVC, the brave commanding officer of the Charlie Company.
#1
What works: The real locations accentuate the story
120 Bahadur has been shot in the extremely challenging terrain of Ladakh, and the war scenes look incredible on screen. The real locations do what VFX can't, and the cast's performance in these scenes makes you feel for the martyrs. Additionally, the film also highlights how the Indian side lacked sufficient food, artillery, and even jackets, but their valor never wavered.
#2
Shows the brutality, futility of war
Bodies strewn across the blood-stained snow, the Indian soldiers' remains not being discovered for months, and even their sacrifice being questioned—120 Bahadur vividly captures the brutality of war. In many scenes, you can feel the pulsating tension of the war: soldiers begin to write their last letters, and their eyes converse with each other when their end is near.
#3
What doesn't work: It gives us no memorable character
The weak characterization is a major drawback. Random conversations among the Indian soldiers are meant as a window into their lives, but they're so uneventful and awkwardly written that you forget them within minutes. The Chinese soldiers are presented as evil, cartoonish caricatures, and the film is so obsessed with the war scenes that everything else is relegated to the sidelines.
#4
The tonal shifts are jarring
120 Bahadur struggles to commit to a tone properly. A scene featuring Bhati motivating his soldiers is awkwardly followed by a flashback featuring him and his wife, Shagun (Raashii Khanna). You can't help but notice how 120 Bahadur suffers each time the camera moves away from the battlefield. Plus, Akhtar seems miscast; a more seasoned performer, perhaps Ajay Devgn, could have done justice.
Verdict
Wait for its OTT premiere; 2.5/5 stars
The intention to honor the sons of the soil is laudable, but owing to its done-to-death tropes, 120 Bahadur is reduced to just another war drama. Thanks to overdramatic dialogues, weak character development, and forgettable music, the movie struggles to engage. Ghai and Akhtar are sincere and devoted in their approach, but memorable films demand much more than just sincerity. 2.5/5 stars.