Delhi High Court Supports Release of 120 Bahadur Amid Historical Controversy

On Wednesday, the Delhi High Court permitted the release of 120 Bahadur, featuring Farhan Akhtar, allowing it to debut in theaters on November 21. This decision comes in light of a petition contesting the film’s certification due to alleged historical inaccuracies related to the 1962 Battle of Rezang La.

Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Shail Jain dismissed the petition, stating it was impractical to alter the film’s title, release date, or make last-minute changes. The court highlighted that the filmmakers included the names of the soldiers at the film’s conclusion as a tribute.

The bench confirmed the film's release will proceed as scheduled and invited the petitioners to view the film post-release to check if all 120 soldiers' names are presented.

Any necessary adjustments, the court indicated, can be addressed in the film's OTT release, allowing for the inclusion of soldiers’ names and accurate regiments without modifying the movie's title.

The appeal was brought by the Sanyukt Ahir Regiment Morcha, a charitable organization, along with one trustee and the families of the soldiers who died in the Rezang La battle. The petition asserts that the film inaccurately portrays Major Shaitan Singh as the main hero under a fictional name while undermining the contributions of the predominantly Ahir (Yadav) company involved in the battle.

Earlier, this issue was scheduled before a different bench but was postponed due to the bench not being convened. Faced with the film's imminent release, the petitioners sought urgent consideration from another bench.

120 Bahadur narrates the tale of Major Shaitan Singh, who received the Param Vir Chakra for commanding the C Company of the 13 Kumaon Regiment during the 1962 Battle of Rezang La. This unit, primarily composed of Ahir soldiers from Rewari and nearby areas, exhibited remarkable bravery while defending the Chushul sector.

According to the petitioners, the film downplays the significant roles of the 113 Ahir soldiers who fought alongside Major Shaitan Singh, impacting their collective identity and regiment’s honor.

Directed by Rajnees “Razy” Ghai, with Farhan Akhtar portraying Major Shaitan Singh, the court's approval allows 120 Bahadur to be released in theaters on November 21 as planned.