November 20, 2025 : The Delhi High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the release of Farhan Akhtar’s upcoming war drama “120 Bahadur”, rejecting claims that the film distorts the historical facts of the 1962 Battle of Rezang La. The court’s ruling paves the way for the movie to hit theatres on its scheduled date, November 21, 2025.
What the Plea Alleged
The petition was filed by the Sanyukt Ahir Regiment Morcha, a trust representing descendants of soldiers who fought in the Battle of Rezang La. The petitioners argued that the film glorifies Major Shaitan Singh (fictionalised as “Bhati”), while underplaying the sacrifice of the many Ahir soldiers who died in the conflict. They claimed this misrepresentation distorted public memory and erased the collective identity of the regiment.
They sought multiple remedies:
- Revoking or reconsidering the CBFC certification
- Changing the film’s title to “120 Vir Ahir”
- Including all 120 soldiers’ names in the credits
- Adding a disclaimer or factual corrections
Court’s Decision
A bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Shail Jain rejected the plea. The court noted that:
- It was too late to change the film’s title or delay its release, given the imminent premiere.
- The producers have included a tribute segment at the end of the film, listing the names of the 120 soldiers.
- The petitioners are allowed to verify the credits after watching the film; if they find omissions, they can ask for corrections during its OTT release, where full names and regimental details must be properly credited.
Next Steps & Court’s Direction
- The court has allowed the theatrical release to proceed on schedule.
- It has asked the filmmakers to ensure “proper regiment” attribution along with soldier names, especially for the OTT release.
- The petitioners have been asked to watch the film first to confirm whether all 120 names are listed; any omissions or corrections are to be made in the digital (OTT) version.
Context & Background
The Battle of Rezang La is remembered as one of India’s most heroic last stands in the 1962 Sino-Indian War. The C-Company of the 13 Kumaon Regiment, largely composed of Ahir soldiers from Haryana, defended their post against overwhelming odds, with many soldiers laying down their lives.
The PIL argued that the film’s portrayal “singularly glorifies” Major Singh, thereby diminishing the role of the entire company, especially the Ahir community’s contribution.
Reaction & Significance
- The court’s green signal is being seen as a win for creative freedom and cinematic interpretation.
- Some community members, however, may still scrutinize the final credits to ensure that every soldier’s contribution is acknowledged.
- The decision underlines a balancing act: preserving historical memory while not disrupting artistic releases at the eleventh hour.
Summary
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a PIL against Farhan Akhtar’s 120 Bahadur, rejecting claims of historical distortion and allowing its release on November 21. The film credits all 120 Rezang La soldiers.