Farhan Akhtar starrer much-anticipated war drama 120 Bahadur has received a major boost as the Delhi High Court cleared its nationwide theatrical release on November 21. The court’s order comes amid controversy over the film’s historical representation and a petition claiming that the movie distorts facts about the 1962 Battle of Rezang La.
Delhi HC Allows Release Of Farhan Akhtar Starrer 120 Bahadur, Name Change Plea Rejected
A division bench of Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Shail Jain passed the direction, noting that the producers have included the names of all 120 soldiers who fought in the battle in the film’s end credits. 120 Bahadur depicts the valour of Major Shaitan Singh Bhati, posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, and his team of Ahir soldiers who made a courageous last stand against a much larger Chinese force.
The legal challenge was filed by the charitable trust Sanyukt Ahir Regiment Morcha and several individuals claiming familial links to the soldiers. The petition raised concerns that the film exaggerated Major Singh’s heroism while neglecting the collective identity of the Charlie Company. It also sought a title change to 120 Vir Ahir to ensure proper recognition of all soldiers and suggested adding a disclaimer highlighting factual accuracy.
During the hearing, the petitioners’ lawyer said they were not seeking a title change at this time but emphasised that the full list of soldiers should be shown. The producer’s lawyer informed the court that the names of all 120 soldiers are included at the end of the film as a tribute.
Considering the imminent release, the court declined to order a title change but asked the petitioners to watch the film to verify the credits. Any discrepancies will need to be addressed in the film’s subsequent OTT release, where “only the names of the soldiers, along with the proper regiment, etc., would be mentioned.”
About The Film
120 Bahadu chronicles the heroic last stand of the Charlie Company of the 13 Kumaon Regiment during the 1962 Sino-Indian War. Despite being outnumbered three to one, the soldiers chose to fight to the death to defend their post. The film highlights the courage, camaraderie, and sacrifice of the men, steering clear of a one-man army narrative.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) approved the movie with a U/A 13+ rating and without any cuts. Earlier controversy over a dialogue in the trailer where “Ahir hai hum” was replaced with “Fauji hai hum” in theatres was voluntarily addressed by the filmmakers and did not affect the final film. The CBFC found the action sequences intense yet suitable for a U/A audience. After certification, the film runs for 2 hours and 17 minutes
120 Bahadur is all set to hit cinemas on November 21.
