Post by : Meena Ariff

On Wednesday, the Delhi High Court granted approval for the nationwide release of 120 Bahadur, featuring Farhan Akhtar, setting the stage for its debut in theaters on November 21. This decision comes in spite of a petition that questioned the film's certification, citing potential misrepresentation of events from the 1962 Battle of Rezang La.

Judges Prathiba M. Singh and Shail Jain decided to dismiss the petition, emphasizing that changes to the film’s title, release date, or last-minute edits could not be accommodated at this late stage. They acknowledged that the filmmakers have acknowledged the sacrifices of the soldiers by including their names at the film's conclusion as a tribute.

The bench confirmed that the film could be released as scheduled nationwide. They indicated that petitioners could view the film post-release to check if all 120 soldiers' names are included.

Should any changes be necessary, the court mentioned corrections could be implemented in the film's OTT release, clarifying that this would be limited to updating names and correct regiments, without modifying the film's title.

The petition was brought forth by Sanyukt Ahir Regiment Morcha, a charitable organization, along with one of its trustees and relatives of soldiers who lost their lives during the Rezang La battle. The petition alleged that the film misrepresents history by depicting Major Shaitan Singh as the primary hero under a fictional name, while neglecting the collective contributions of the predominantly Ahir (Yadav) unit that fought valiantly.

Earlier in the day, the case was scheduled before another bench, but was postponed due to the bench's unavailability. Considering the imminent release, the petitioners sought an expedited review by a different bench.

120 Bahadur narrates the tale of Major Shaitan Singh, who was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his leadership of the C Company in the 13 Kumaon Regiment during the 1962 Battle of Rezang La. This unit was primarily composed of Ahir soldiers from Rewari and surrounding areas, recognized for their extraordinary courage in defending the Chushul sector.

The petitioners argue that the film undermines the contributions of the 113 Ahir soldiers who fought alongside Major Shaitan Singh, threatening their collective identity and regimental pride.

Directed by Rajnees “Razy” Ghai, 120 Bahadur stars Farhan Akhtar as Major Shaitan Singh. Following the court’s endorsement, the movie is set to be released in theaters on November 21 as planned.

#Global News #Entertainment News