Farhan Akhtar’s 120 Bahadur Receives Emotional Response at Special Indian Sign Language Screenings
Special screenings of the upcoming war drama 120 Bahadur, starring Farhan Akhtar, have received an emotional and encouraging response from the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community across India. The film was presented with Indian Sign Language (ISL) interpretation and closed captions to ensure accessibility for audiences who frequently face barriers when accessing mainstream cinema.
What Happened
On August 9, film producers Excel Entertainment and Trigger Happy Studios, in collaboration with India Signing Hands, organised dedicated accessible screenings of 120 Bahadur. The initiative spanned 10 Indian cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Surat, bringing together more than 1,500 Deaf and hard-of-hearing attendees.
The screenings incorporated both closed captions and synchronised ISL interpretation. Attendees responded with deep emotion, noting that it was the first time many had experienced a mainstream feature film presented with full sign language access. Videos from the event showed audience members moved to tears by the historical narrative of the 120 Indian soldiers.
Key Highlights
- Widespread Reach: Screenings took place in 10 major cities, attracting over 1,500 viewers from the hearing-impaired community.
- Accessibility Features: The screenings featured both Indian Sign Language interpretation—praised for its synchronisation and the work of a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA) interpreter—and closed captions.
- The Historical Narrative: Directed by Razneesh ‘Razy’ Ghai, the film depicts the 1962 Battle of Rezang La, where Major Shaitan Singh Bhati, PVC (played by Farhan Akhtar) and the 120 soldiers of Charlie Company fought against 3,000 Chinese soldiers.
- Production Collaboration: The project is produced by Excel Entertainment (founded by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar) and Trigger Happy Studios (founded by Amit Chandrra), in partnership with India Signing Hands for the accessible showcase.
Why This Matters
Mainstream theatrical releases in India have historically offered limited accessible viewing options for Deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences. Viewers at the screenings highlighted that the inclusion of ISL enabled them to experience the dialogue, scale, and emotional depth of the story directly without relying on others to translate. Actor and producer Farhan Akhtar stated that because the film centres on themes of courage, sacrifice, and the human spirit, ensuring it is accessible in Indian Sign Language allows more individuals to connect with the historical account.
What to Watch Next
Following the positive reception, attendees expressed strong interest and hope for more mainstream films to adopt ISL interpretation and accessible formats in regular commercial cinema halls.
Frequently Asked Questions
What historical event is depicted in 120 Bahadur?
The film chronicles the 1962 Battle of Rezang La, focusing on Charlie Company and Major Shaitan Singh Bhati, PVC, who led 120 Indian soldiers against a vastly larger force of 3,000 Chinese troops.
Who organised the accessible screenings?
The screenings were organised by production banners Excel Entertainment and Trigger Happy Studios in partnership with the organisation India Signing Hands.
In which cities were the ISL screenings held?
The screenings were hosted across 10 cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Surat, and Ahmedabad.
Source: Bollywood Hungama