India’s 300 that wasn't !

India’ 300 that wasn't : My quick take on “120 Bahadur” (theatrical release)

Nahi yaar… nahi jama.

That would be my spontaneous take after watching 120 Bahadur in the theatre.

It honestly pains me that such a powerful plot, a golden chapter from the Indian military annals, failed to create even a ripple on the big screen. Full marks to the makers for choosing the story of Major Shaitan Singh, whose feat is still feared, or rather revered, by the Chinese. But the way this towering story was mounted on screen sadly met the same fate as our unsung heroes: their sacrifice went unnoticed, partly because their bodies were never found. The film deserved better. So did they.

The plot had the potential to be India’s answer to Hollywood’s 300. But it misses the mark.

Maybe it lacked those hummable, stirring tracks that made Border and Haqeeqat cult classics.

Maybe it needed a Vicky Kaushal-like protagonist to inject that Josh.

Maybe the setup felt stretched and the pacing uneven.

But still, credit where it’s due:

That hand-to-hand combat sequence, my god, that single stretch is enough to spike your blood pressure and your adrenaline. Take a bow, makers.

Overall, 120 Bahadur gets full marks for intention, for attempting to tell the extraordinary story of 120 brave men who battled brutal weather and a tsunami of aggression. On paper, the story is goosebumps guaranteed. On screen, it remains a noble attempt that falls short.

And yet, let’s not tear down the film.

If we discourage attempts like these, who will come forward to tell us the stories of the other Shaitan Singhs, still lost, buried, and waiting in the military annals?