Farhan Akhtar’s war epic “120 Bahadur” will make its mark in film history with an unprecedented screening at the Rezang La War Memorial Auditorium in Ladakh’s Chushul village, which organizers say will be the highest ever for a film to be released at an altitude of 16,452 feet.
The film centers on the 1962 conflict, the Battle of Rezang La. In the conflict, 120 Indian soldiers from Charlie Company, 13th Kumaon Regiment fought against Chinese troops at an altitude of over 16,000 feet in Ladakh, resulting in 114 deaths.
The November 22nd screening, just days after the 63rd anniversary of the screening on November 18th, will bring the film to soldiers and local residents near the site of the battle. The traveling theater company Picture Time will host 14 shows at the Memorial Auditorium for military personnel and villagers serving in the area.
“We are planning to screen the film at the Rezang La Memorial Auditorium in Chushul village, next to the mountain pass where the war took place,” said Sushil Chaudhary, founder and CEO of Picture Time. “This will be the highest-altitude screening of any film. We are proud that this story of incredible courage will be witnessed on the big screen by villagers and soldiers. It will run for at least two weeks.”
This mountain premiere follows the recent announcement that “120 Bahadur” will be the first film to be released in defense theaters in India. PictureTime has partnered with GenSync Brat Media to screen the film exclusively for the defense community in more than 800 theaters nationwide starting November 21st.
This initiative represents Picture Time’s latest effort to expand access to cinemas beyond traditional venues. The company is currently operating an inflatable theater at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, screening titles such as Shah Rukh Khan classics and contemporary films until November 28.
The ensemble cast includes Akhtar, Raashi Khanna, Sparsh Walia, Vivaan Bhatena, Dhanveer Singh, Digvijay Pratap, Sahib Verma, Ankit Shiwati, Devendra Ahirwal, Ashutosh Shukla, Brijesh Karanwal, Atul Singh, Ajinkya Deo and Eijaz Khan.
Directed by Razneesh “Lazy” Ghai. Ritesh Sidhwani and Akhtar are producing on Excel Entertainment and Amit Chandrara on Trigger Happy Studios. “120 Bahadur” will be released nationwide from November 21st.
