At the grand music launch of 120 Bahadur — held on Tuesday evening at the Royal Opera House, Mumbai — the spotlight wasn’t just on patriotic melodies and cinematic grandeur. It was also a moment of reflection, as producer Ritesh Sidhwani shared his thoughts on the fine balance between truth and storytelling when adapting real-life heroism for the big screen.
When asked about capturing authenticity while maintaining cinematic appeal, Ritesh explained, “It is a bit delicate when you make an epic. The story is very real, but to make it into a cinematic experience — I think cinema has its own breathing and structure, so it becomes delicate. But then you have such fine writers, such as Rajiv G. Menon and Sumit for dialogues, and a director like Razneesh Ghai, who is the captain of the ship.”
He went on to elaborate how the team managed to retain the soul of the story while ensuring it remained engaging for audiences. “I think it’s turned out well,” he said. “What we’ve managed to do is keep the story authentic, because it’s about courage and emotion — about those 120 gentlemen who walked into something knowing they would never make it back. It’s delicate, but the entire team has managed to bring it to life and make it engaging. Cinema needs to be an immersive experience — and we’ve managed to make it that way. Hopefully, it will resonate.”
The event was a star-studded affair, celebrating both the music and the spirit of valor that defines 120 Bahadur. In attendance were Farhan Akhtar, Javed Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani, director Razneesh ‘Razy’ Ghai, Raashii Khanna, music composers Amit Trivedi, Salim–Sulaiman, and singer Sukhwinder Singh. Together, they unveiled the powerful soundtrack that promises to echo with patriotism and pride.
120 Bahadur, directed by Razneesh ‘Razy’ Ghai and produced by Excel Entertainment and Trigger Happy Studios, stars Farhan Akhtar as Major Shaitan Singh Bhati and Raashii Khanna as Shagun Kanwari Singh. The film revisits the Battle of Rezang La — one of the most heroic chapters in Indian military history — and is slated for a theatrical release on November 21, 2025.