The discomfiting paradox of the war film is that it asks viewers to acknowledge extraordinary acts of sacrifice even as it relies on carnage for impact. Combatants die spectacularly so that others may live peacefully – this dilemma is acutely present in 120 Bahadur, which snaps to life only in the scenes in which soldiers are perishing one by one for their country.

120 Bahadur is a moist-eyed, heartfelt tribute to the heroism displayed by an Indian Army unit during the India-China War of 1962. Razneesh Ghai’s Hindi movie about the Battle of Rezang La, written by Rajiv G Menon with dialogue by Sumit Arora, has moving scenes of uncommon valour – but you have to wait for it.

The 137-minute film’s entire pre-interval section is a largely uninvolving build-up to the moment when 120 bravehearts, led by Major Shaitan Singh (Farhan Akhtar), defend a crucial border post from a rampaging Chinese company in adverse conditions. The men fight nearly to the finish to prevent 3,000 Chinese soldiers from capturing a crucial air base in Ladakh. Only the radio operator Ramchander (Sparsh Walia) makes it out of the corpse-strewn mountainside alive.

Flashbacks reveal the camaraderie that runs through the Indian unit – the similar backgrounds, shared jokes and friendly rivalries of the largely Ahir community members that make up the Kumaon Regiment. The soldiers are astutely cast, with several of the actors actually resembling each other.

We also get glimpses of Shaitan Singh’s back story and his marriage with Sugan (Raashii Khanna). Dutiful as well as dull, this section does little to boost confidence in Farhan Akhtar, whose sincerity can’t overcome his unsuitability for the lead role. The hoarse-voiced, youthful-looking actor is hard-pressed to portray a magnetic military veteran whose stirring speeches will inspire his men to lay down their lives.

Shaitan Singh’s actions speak louder than his words. Unfazed by the unending waves of Chinese soldiers, Shaitan Singh leads by example on the battlefield.

The Rezang La incident previously inspired Chetan Anand’s black-and-white film Haqeeqat, which came out in 1964. 120 Bahadur takes full advantage of technological advances in shooting methods to mount a visually captivating viewing experience. Shot by Tetsuo Nagata, the handsomely produced movie transports audiences to the chilly upper reaches of Ladakh, where tragedy – and posthumous glory – awaits the soldiers.

The cast includes Ajinkya Deo and Eijaz Khan as Shaitan Singh’s superiors. There is a bizarre insinuation that these commanding officers doubt the veracity of Ramchander’s testimony – even though they were receiving a blow-by-blow account of the battle from Shaitan Singh.

Rather than a blame game, the message that comes through is of a rigorous, selfless military ethic. At least in the gripping last hour of 120 Bahadur, the significance of Rezang La becomes amply clear. While India lost its war with China, this battle, at least, was won – an assertion that 120 Bahadur manages to make after far too much dithering and forgettable songs.

The extended action-heavy climax reveals the sheer tenacity of the Indians as they take on a vastly superior force. The secondary performers stand out in these moments. Sparsh Walia, Dhanveer Singh, Sahib Verma, Devendra Ahirwar, Ankit Siwach, Atul Singh, Brijesh Karanwal, Ashutosh Shukla – like the men who followed the real Shaitan Singh into sure death, these actors too ensure that they won’t be forgotten.

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