Kesari Chapter 2 in History: Kesari Returns with a Purpose
Following the resounding success of *Kesari*, which chronicled the legendary Battle of Saragarhi, *Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh* makes a new narrative bold move. More concerned with courtroom drama than battlefield heroism, this follow-up goes into the courtroom and into people’s hearts who chose to challenge an empire. Karan Singh Tyagi directs this part, which has strong performances from Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, and Ananya Panday, and takes its eyes off the generally known military bravery and toward the lesser-known legal battle that followed one of the darkest episodes in Indian colonial history—the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919.
Based on the book *The Case That Shook the Empire* by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat, the film brings alive the valiant stand of lawyer C. Sankaran Nair, who dared to challenge the power of the British Empire in a court of law, demanding accountability for the Amritsar bloodshed. The film released today with a wave of expectation and has already made a big splash with advance bookings crossing ₹3 crore on Day 1.
From Battlefield to Courtroom: A Bold Shift in Tone
While the first *Kesari* was based on physical courage in the battlefield, *Kesari Chapter 2* plunges into moral and intellectual courage. It swaps rifles and swords for law texts and witness statements, giving a riveting account of the court trials that ensued after the massacre. The setting is in the wake of the ghastly act, as the Indian struggle for freedom gains steam and dissident voices swell louder.
At the center of the story is C. Sankaran Nair, ably played by Akshay Kumar in a superbly controlled yet compelling performance. For once, he steps out of his action-hero avatar to become a scrupulous barrister who dares all to reveal the truth. R. Madhavan gets to play a British legal counterpart with great subtlety and presents a riveting counterpoint. The courtroom drama is woven with emotional richness, historical accuracy, and an unstoppable quest for justice.
Initial Reviews Praise: ‘Hauntingly Powerful’ and Emotionally Moving
Initial reviews have been broadly positive. Audiences and critics alike are praising *Kesari Chapter 2* for its powerful storytelling and emotional resonance. Many are labeling it “hauntingly powerful,” singling out the film’s depiction of grief, injustice, and resistance. The film does not flinch from the violence of the massacre or from the psychological trauma it inflicted on survivors and witnesses.
Social media is abuzz with gratitude for the court room scenes, which are likened to some of the best intense legal potboilers of Indian cinema. In contrast to melodramatic court room hackneyed set pieces, here is a much more realistic and documentary-style narrative. The exchanges are crisp, the stakes genuine, and in some scenes, the silence has more impact. Akshay and Madhavan’s portions together are particularly praised for having subtle tensions as well as overpowering presence.
Spiritual Start: Cast Visits Golden Temple Before Release
In a move that echoed the film’s strong emotional and spiritual underpinnings, the lead cast visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar just days prior to release. Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, and Ananya Panday made the journey to seek blessings, paying respects to the sacrifices that are at the heart of the story they helped bring to life.
Ananya posted a peaceful picture from their visit with the caption, “Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,” that captured the humility and respect of the moment. Akshay, in a later interview, described feeling a deep sense of peace and duty after the visit. He asked audiences to treat the film with the same respect, asking that phones be silenced during showings to respect the seriousness of the topic.
A Cultural and Political Occasion: Delhi Screening Receives Acclaim
Prior to its official release, *Kesari Chapter 2* was screened in Delhi for political and cultural leaders. The screening turned into something greater than a screening of a film—it became an introspective moment on India’s fight for freedom and the stories that continue to be discovered.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta commended the film’s raw and honest depiction of colonial violence and the emotional courage required to resist it. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri went even further, describing the film as “a cinematic ode to India’s freedom movement.” BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj and Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa shared similar sentiments, acknowledging the film’s contribution to reviving public memory of the massacre and its subsequent judicial fallout.
Akshay Kumar, in an interview after the screening, conveyed his heartfelt appreciation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for recognizing C. Sankaran Nair’s legacy. He stressed that these kinds of historical tales must be brought to the fore now more than ever, as India takes a peek at the past to forge its future.
Behind the Camera: A Vision Brought to Life
Director Karan Singh Tyagi, a master of introspective stories, has undertaken an enormous challenge in this sequel. Contrary to the fast-paced pace of its antecedent, *Kesari Chapter 2* is contemplative, multi-layered, and emotive. Tyagi and his crew spent time researching extensively to make it historically correct, using not just recorded facts but also letters written by people from that time and court cases from the era.
Cinematographer Aseem Mishra evokes the melancholic mood with poetic elegance—dust-covered courtrooms, tense colonial offices, and ghostly flashbacks to the massacre all add to a visual tone that reflects the inner turmoil of the characters. The subdued palette, along with a rousing score by Shantanu Moitra, heightens the emotional tension without turning overwhelming.
Ananya Panday Surprises with Depth
As most of the focus has been on the veteran actors Akshay and Madhavan, Ananya Panday gives what might be her best performance yet. She is an Indian journalist dealing with the risky terrain of truth-telling during colonial times. Her character becomes the moral anchor of the audience, responding to the happenings around her with empathy, anger, and toughness.
Critics are commenting on her acting as a “surprising standout,” and one that proves a maturity and gravitas unexplored in her previous performances. Her moments with Akshay are particularly poignant, presenting glimpses of intergenerational discussion on justice, fear, and national pride.
The Bigger Picture: Britain’s Silence and India’s Reckoning
As the film reignites conversations about the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, it also indirectly highlights an unresolved historical wound—Britain has yet to formally apologize for the massacre. Even over a century later, the echoes of that atrocity linger. While some in the UK, including members of General Dyer’s family, controversially maintain he was an “honourable man,” the film offers a stark rebuttal to such perspectives.
*Kesari Chapter 2* does not merely recount history; it questions collective memory, poses tough questions, and seeks recognition—not just from foreign nations but from Indian society as well. At a time when revisionist histories risk obscuring the truth, the film grounds itself in facts and emotional truth.
Conclusion: A Must-Watch for This Generation
With more than 3700 shows in India on opening day and robust advance bookings, *Kesari Chapter 2* is already a commercial hit in the making. But behind the numbers is its real value—reviving public interest in lesser-known tales of India’s freedom struggle, providing a platform for forgotten heroes such as C. Sankaran Nair, and asking audiences to confront the past.
More than a movie, *Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh* is a cultural event—a reminder that certain wars aren’t won using weapons, but through courage, truth, and uncompromising hope. While *Kesari* told us about soldiers’ bravery, this chapter speaks of the persistence of the soul.