Kesari (2019 film)

2022-12-10T10:41:19Z

185.69.144.202: robot: Create/upgrade articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.

{{short description|2019 film directed by Anurag Singh}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}{{Use Indian English|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Kesari
| image = Kesari poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Anurag Singh (director)|Anurag Singh]]
| producer = {{Unbulleted list|Aruna Bhatia|Karan Johar|Hiroo Yash Johar|Apoorva Mehta|Sunir Khetarpal}}
| writer = {{Unbulleted list|[[Anurag Singh (director)|Anurag Singh]]|[[Girish Kohli]]}}
| language = Hindi
| starring = [[Akshay Kumar]] [[Parineeti Chopra]]
| music = '''Songs:''' [[Tanishk Bagchi]] [[Arko Pravo Mukherjee]] [[Chirantan Bhatt]] [[Jasbir Jassi]] Gurmoh [[Jasleen Royal]] '''Score:''' [[Raju Singh]]
| cinematography = Anshul Chobey
| editing = Manish More
| studio = {{Unbulleted list|[[Dharma Productions]]|[[Zee Studios]]|[[Cape of Good Films]]|Azure Entertainment}}
| distributor = Zee Studios
| released = {{Film date|2019|03|21|df=y}}
| runtime = 150 minutes<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/kesari-2019 |title=Kesari 2019 {{!}} British Board of Film Classification|date=20 March 2019|website=Bbfc.co.uk}}</ref>
| country = India
| budget = 
| gross = {{INR}}207.09 crore<ref name="boxoffice">{{cite web |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/kesari/box-office/ |title=Kesari – Box Office Collection till Now – Bollywood Hungama |publisher=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |access-date=11 May 2022}}</ref>
}}

'''''Kesari''''' ({{translation|[[Saffron]]}}) is a 2019 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[war film]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/report-exclusive-akshay-kumar-gave-a-nod-to-kesari-s-subject-even-before-it-was-offered-to-him-director-anurag-singh-2781689|title=EXCLUSIVE - 'Akshay Kumar gave a nod to 'Kesari's' subject even before it was offered to him': Director Anurag Singh|publisher=DNA India|access-date=15 August 2019|quote= It's a war film and to know what kind of terrain and the need for that location, the budget was high.}}</ref> written and directed by [[Anurag Singh (director)|Anurag Singh]]. It was jointly produced by Aruna Bhatia, Karan Johar, Hiroo Yash Johar, Apoorva Mehta, and Sunir Khetarpal under the banners of [[Dharma Productions]], Cape of Good Films, Azure Entertainment, and [[Zee Studios]]. The film stars [[Akshay Kumar]] with [[Parineeti Chopra]] in a special appearance, [[Vikram Singh Chauhan]], Sarwar, Vansh Bhardwaj, Jaspreet Singh, Vivek Saini, Vikram Kochhar, and Rakesh Sharma in supporting roles. It follows the events leading to the [[Battle of Saragarhi]], a battle between 21 Sikh<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-19 |title=Ahead of Akshay Kumar’s Kesari, here’s the true story of Battle of Saragarhi |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/ahead-of-akshay-kumar-s-kesari-here-s-the-true-story-of-battle-of-saragarhi/story-s8shvaI4Uhz3nawC6FBbLP.html |access-date=2022-10-30 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> soldiers of the 36th Sikhs of the British Indian Army and 10,000 Afridi and Orakzai Pashtun tribesmen in 1897.

Initially planned as a production collaboration between [[Salman Khan]] and Johar with Kumar starring in the lead role, ''Kesari'' was announced in October 2017, with Kumar and Johar reprising their responsibilities; Khan later quit the project. Parineeti Chopra was cast as the wife of Kumar's character. Principal photography for the film began in January 2018 and concluded in December. The soundtrack was composed by [[Tanishk Bagchi]], [[Arko Pravo Mukherjee]], [[Chirantan Bhatt]], [[Jasbir Jassi]], Gurmoh and [[Jasleen Royal]] with lyrics written by [[Kumaar]], [[Manoj Muntashir]], Kunwar Juneja and Bagchi. Produced on a budget of {{INRConvert|80|c|year=2019|link=yes}}, the film was distributed internationally by Zee Studios.<ref name="budget"/>

The film was released in India during the [[Holi]] festival, on 21 March 2019. It received positive reviews from critics, who appreciated performances of ensemble cast, visuals, production values, art direction, action sequences, and tribute, it had a good start at the box office, while the opening day morning collection was affected by Holi-related celebrations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.zeebiz.com/india/news-kesari-box-office-collection-day-1-akshay-kumar-starrer-hit-by-holi-expected-to-earn-this-much-91005 |title=Kesari box office collection day 1: Akshay Kumar starrer hit by Holi, expected to earn this much: Kesari box office collection |date=21 March 2019 |access-date=21 March 2019 |publisher=[[Zee Business]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=4842 |title=Kesari Has A Good Start |publisher=[[Box Office India]] |date=21 March 2019 |access-date=21 March 2022}}</ref> The film grossed over {{INR}}100 crore worldwide in its opening weekend.<ref name="boxoffice"/>

==Plot==
[[Ishar Singh (havildar)|Ishar Singh]] is a ''havildar'' in the Sikh Regiment of the British Indian Army. His superior and commander is an arrogant British officer, who deems all Indians to be cowards, and is jealous of Ishar Singh because of his superior fighting skills.

The regiment is posted at Gulistan Fort, on the border between British-held territory and the Afghan border. Once, while on a border patrol, the troops see a group of Afghan tribesmen, led by one Saidullah, on the verge of killing a married Afghan woman because she refuses to accept her husband, who has been chosen by her family without her consent. The British officer refuses to intervene and save the woman saying she is an Afghan citizen and does not reside in British territory; and since it is a family matter pertaining to tribal custom, and the policy of the British Raj is to not interfere in such matters. In defiance of the orders of his officer, Ishar Singh goes ahead and intervenes, fights off the tribesmen, and rescues the woman by killing her husband.

The British officer writes a strong report informing his commanding officer, who sits at the nearby Lockhart fort, of Ishar Singh's disobedience and insubordination. Soon enough, the Afghans attack the British-controlled Gulistan fort, but are held at bay by Ishar Singh who fights valiantly, killing many Afghans. Nevertheless, Ishar Singh is blamed by his superiors for his actions which caused the breach of peace with the Afghans. He is given a punishment transfer to Saragarhi fort, which sits between Gulistan and Lockhart forts, and enables communication between them. Ishar Singh duly travels to Saragarhi fort, where he finds the troop in a mess. He enforces discipline by punishing all to stay without food for an entire week. The troops are furious at first, but later begins to respect Ishar Singh after learning that he too was living without food. Meanwhile, Saidullah forms an alliance between the Afghan tribes and motivates them to mount an attack on British territories as a unified force. Ishar Singh and Lal Singh go to a nearby village in search of their informant who hadn't reported to them for over three days.

The British Commanding Officer Col. John Haughton from Lockhart fort sees the Afghan Forces marching towards Sargarhi and alerts Ishar. Ishar and his battalion see ten thousand tribesmen approaching and encircling the fort. Saidullah, with the entire Afghan army at his back, beheads the woman Ishar Singh had rescued earlier in front of the Saragarhi Fort. Despite the commanding officer's orders to abandon the fort and flee, Ishar Singh and his men decide to fight till death. Khuda Daad the cook volunteers to fight but Ishar Singh asks him to instead provide water to the injured soldiers (Including the Afghans). The Afghans initiate the battle, and Bhagwan Singh is the first to be killed. Gurmukh Singh, being an inexperienced soldier, is unable to fight, due to which Ishar Singh asks him to keep the CO updated regarding the battle, and decides to prolong the battle to prevent the Afghans from advancing to the Gulistan and Lockhart forts. As the battle prolongs, Lal Singh alone fights the Afghans outside the fort and dies while asking one of the sepoys to close the gate to the fort. The Afghans manage to destroy the back wall of the fort using explosives.

Ishar Singh remembers his wife Jeevani one last time after removing the stripes from his uniform and starts fighting the Afghans with a red-hot sword until he gets fatally stabbed. Saidullah kills Khuda Daad before himself being stabbed to death by Ishar while trying to remove his turban. Ishar's bravery impresses an Afghan chieftain who orders his men not to touch any Sikh's turban. He also says the Afghans have actually lost the battle because now it's too late for them to capture Gulistan and Lockhart forts also, because of the Saragarhi battle. At this another Afghan chieftains named Gul Badshah orders the signaling post to be lit up so Gurmukh Singh's painful screams can be heard as a consolation. As the Afghans set the post on fire, Gurmukh Singh emerges with his body on fire. He chants "''[[Bole So Nihal]], [[Sat Sri Akaal]]''" thrice, grabs Gul Badshah and triggers the grenades attached to his body, resulting in a huge explosion. The shout echoes and reaches both the nearby forts. The Sikh soldiers present there also start chanting in the name of their Guru. The surviving Afghans loot the fort and eventually set it on fire. The [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|British Parliament]] honours the fallen with a two-minute silence and posthumously awards them the British Order of Merit - the highest gallantry award an Indian soldier could receive.

== Cast ==
{{div col}}
* [[Akshay Kumar]] as [[Havildar]] [[Ishar Singh (havildar)|Ishar Singh]]
* [[Parineeti Chopra]] as Jeevani Kaur (special appearance)
* [[Mir Sarwar]] as Khan Masud
* Ashwath Bhatt as Gul Badshah Khan
* Rakesh Chaturvedi as [[Saidullah|Mullah Saidullah]]
* Hariom kalra as afgani tribal sardar
* Vivek Saini as [[Sepoy|Sep.]] Jiwan Singh
* Pritpal Pali [[Sepoy|Sep.]] Gurmukh singh
* [[Vikram Kochhar]] as Sep. Gulab Singh
* Suvinder Vicky as [[Naik (military rank)|Nk.]] Lal Singh
* Vansh Bharadwaj as [[Lance Naik|L/Nk.]] Chanda Singh
* Ravinder Pawar as Sep. Attar Singh
* Surmeet Singh Basra as Sep. Gurmukh Singh
* Ajit Singh Mahela as Sep. Nand Singh
* Sandeep Nahar as Sep. Buta Singh
* Harvinder Singh as Sep. Daya Singh
* Rakesh Sharma as Sep. Bhola Singh
* Adhrit Sharma as Sep. Uttam Singh
* Harbhagwan Singh as Sep. Bhaghwan Singh
* Rajdeep Singh Dhaliwal as Sep. Ram Singh
* Gurpreet Toti as Sep. Saheb Singh
* Harry Brar as Sep. Sunder Singh
* Pali Sandhu as Sep. Narayan Singh
* [[Vikram Singh Chauhan]] as Sep. Hira Singh
* Gagneet Singh Makhan as Sep. Jiwan Singh
* Jaspreet Singh as Taklu
* Toranj Kayvon as Gulwarien
*[[Edward Sonnenblick]] as [[Lieutenant|Lt.]] Lawrence
* R. Bhakti Klein as Major Des-Voeux
* Brahma Mishra as Daad
* Muzamil Bhawani as Marksman/Sniper
{{div col end}}

== Production ==

=== Development ===
In 2017, [[Salman Khan]] and [[Karan Johar]] announced that they would be producing a film together based on the [[Battle of Saragarhi]] starring [[Akshay Kumar]] in the lead role. Media reports later speculated Khan left the project in favor of a similarly themed film starring [[Ajay Devgn]], and in October that year, Johar and Kumar announced a statement about their collaboration on the film; that Khan had quit the film, and that it would be titled ''Kesari''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Karan Johar and Akshay Kumar's Battle of Saragarhi film to be titled Kesari |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/karan-johar-and-akshay-kumars-battle-of-saragarhi-film-to-be-titled-kesari-4883851/ |access-date=11 October 2022}}</ref> [[Parineeti Chopra]] was confirmed for a minor role as the wife of Kumar's character, whom he had left behind at the village after joining the army.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/parineeti-chopra-on-kesari-we-joke-that-i-did-the-film-just-for-the-romantic-song-with-akshay-kumar/story-LcTLsZIDsTVD0GocALztaK.html |title=Parineeti Chopra on Kesari: We joke that I did the film just for the romantic song with Akshay Kumar |date=14 March 2019 |website=Hindustan Times}}</ref>

=== Principal photography ===
Principal photography began on 5 January 2018<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last=Thakur |first=Charu |title=Kesari first look: Akshay Kumar begins shooting for one 'epic' film |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kesari-first-look-akshay-kumar-turban-karan-johar/1/1124086.html |date=5 January 2018 |access-date=6 January 2018 |work=India Today}}</ref> and finished on 31 December 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment/news/bollywood-news/article/as-akshay-kumar-wraps-kesari-parineeti-chopra-shares-her-first-look-from-the-war-film-see-photos/332184 |title=As Akshay Kumar wraps Kesari, Parineeti Chopra shares her first look from the war film – see photos {{!}} Bollywood News|website=www.timesnownews.com|language=en-GB|access-date=18 December 2022}}</ref> The film was produced on a budget of {{INRConvert|80|c|year=2019|link=yes}}.<ref name="budget"/><ref name="BOI">{{cite web |url=https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=5617 |title=Kesari |publisher=[[Box Office India]] |date=21 March 2019 |access-date=21 March 2022}}</ref>

== Music ==
{{Infobox album
| name = Kesari
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[Tanishk Bagchi]], [[Arko Pravo Mukherjee]], [[Chirantan Bhatt]], [[Jasbir Jassi]], Gurmoh and [[Jasleen Royal]]
| alt =
| released = 18 March 2019<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/kesari/uJBqq5YxDlM_ |title=Kesari – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |publisher=Jio Saavn}}</ref>
| recorded = 2018
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Feature film soundtrack]]
| length = 30:02
| label = [[Zee Music Company]]
| language = [[Hindi]] [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]
| producer =
| misc = {{External media
| audio1 = {{YouTube|KQ7FTytpGPk|Audio Jukebox}}
}}
}}
The music of the film is composed by [[Tanishk Bagchi]], [[Arko Pravo Mukherjee]], [[Chirantan Bhatt]], [[Jasbir Jassi]], Gurmoh and [[Jasleen Royal]] with lyrics written by [[Kumaar]], [[Manoj Muntashir]], Kunwar Juneja and Tanishk Bagchi.

{{Tracklist
| headline = Track listing
| total_length = 30:02
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = [[Ek Onkar|Ek Onkaar]]
| extra1 = [[Jasbir Jassi]]
| music1 = Jasbir Jassi
| lyrics1 = [[Guru Nanak|Guru Nanak Dev Ji]]
| length1 = 1:02
| title2 = Ve Maahi
| extra2 = [[Arijit Singh]], Tanishk Bagchi, [[Asees Kaur]]
| music2 = [[Tanishk Bagchi]]
| lyrics2 = [[Tanishk Bagchi]]
| length2 = 3:44
| title3 = [[Teri Mitti]]
| extra3 = [[Arko Pravo Mukherjee|Arko]], [[B Praak]]
| music3 = [[Arko Pravo Mukherjee|Arko]]
| lyrics3 = [[Manoj Muntashir]]
| length3 = 5:14
| title4 = Sanu Kehndi
| extra4 = Romy, [[Brijesh Shandilya]]
| music4 = Tanishk Bagchi
| lyrics4 = [[Kumaar]]
| length4 = 2:48
| title5 = Ajj Singh Garjega
| extra5 = [[Jazzy B]]
| music5 = [[Chirantan Bhatt]]
| lyrics5 = Kunwar Juneja
| length5 = 4:02
| title6 = [[Deh Siva Var Mohe|Deh Shiva]]
| note6 = Male
| music6 = Gurmoh
| extra6 = [[Sukhwinder Singh]]
| lyrics6 = [[Guru Gobind Singh|Guru Gobind Singh Ji]]
| length6 = 3:11
| title7 = Deh Shiva
| note7 = Female
| extra7 = Jasleen Royal
| music7 = [[Jasleen Royal]]
| lyrics7 = Guru Gobind Singh Ji
| length7 = 2:36
| title8 = Teri Mitti
| note8 = Female
| extra8 = [[Parineeti Chopra]]
| lyrics8 = Manoj Muntashir
| music8 = Arko
| length8 = 3:37
| title9 = Teri Mitti
| note9 = Tribute Version
| extra9 = Arko, B Praak
| lyrics9 = Manoj Muntashir
| music9 = Arko
| length9 = 3:48
| all_writing =
}}

== Marketing and release ==
Kumar released ''Kesari''{{'}}s first look poster on 12 September 2018, through [[Twitter]]. Another poster was released on India's [[Republic Day (India)|Republic Day]], 26 January 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kesari First Poster Released: Akshay Kumar Pays Tribute To Martyrs Of Saragarhi |url=https://headlinestoday.org/entertainment/2701/kesari-first-poster-released-akshay-kumar-pays-tribute-to-martyrs-of-saragarhi/ |access-date=12 September 2018 |agency=''Headlines Today''}}</ref> The film's theatrical poster was released on 11 February 2019.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=taran_adarsh |author=Taran Adarsh |date=11 February 2019 |number = 1094990068924723202 |title=Unraveling the pages of history... First glimpse of #Kesari... 21 March 2019 release... #GlimpsesOfKesari https://t.co/HiksYMvKLc}}</ref>

The following day, Dharma Productions released three videos titled "Glimpses of ''Kesari''" on their [[YouTube]] channel, detailing the film's production.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r6c9ALhgzH4 |title=Glimpses of Kesari – Part 1{{!}} Akshay Kumar {{!}}Parineeti Chopra|publisher= Dharma Productions on YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=q9In6sxMFDA |title=Glimpses of Kesari – Part 2{{!}}Akshay Kumar{{!}}Parineeti Chopra{{!}}Anurag Singh|publisher= Dharma Productions on YouTube}}</ref> A second theatrical release poster for ''Kesari'' was released on 20 February 2019.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=taran_adarsh |author=Taran Adarsh |date=20 February 2019 |number = 1098148312937488384 |title=Trailer out tomorrow... New poster of #Kesari... Stars Akshay Kumar and Parineeti Chopra... Directed by Anurag Singh... 21 March 2019 release. #KesariTrailerTomorrow https://t.co/l1MkoAxzzK}}</ref>

The first song of the film "Sanu Kehndi" was released on 27 February 2019, the second one "Teri Mitti" was released on 15 March 2019 and the full album was released on 18 March 2019.

''Kesari'' was released worldwide during the Indian [[Holi]] festival, on 21 March 2019. It had a release on 4200 screens worldwide, 3600 screens of which were in India and the rest overseas.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=taran_adarsh |author=Taran Adarsh |date=21 March 2019 |number = 1108583887465336833 |title=#Kesari screen count... India: 3600 Overseas: 600 Worldwide total: 4200 screens.}}</ref><ref name="budget">{{cite web |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/trending/box-office/akshay-kumar-kesari-movie-check-out-trailer-box-office-prediction-songs-cast/story/328793.html |title=Akshay Kumar's Kesari movie: Check out trailer, box office prediction, songs, cast |website=Business Today |date=18 March 2022}}</ref>

===Home video===
''Kesari'' was made available as [[Video on demand|VOD]] on [[Amazon Prime Video]] in May 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gqindia.com/entertainment/content/best-amazon-prime-movies-originals-newly-added-and-list-of-hollywood-and-bollywood-movies-to-watch-on-amazon-prime-in-may-2019 |title=Here is the list of latest movies to watch on Amazon Prime in May 2019 |website=GQ India}}</ref>

==Reception==

===Critical response===
Rachit Gupta of ''[[The Times of India]]'' gave ''Kesari'' four stars out of five, praising its "technical brilliance, intricate writing and thundering performances".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/kesari/movie-review/68495644.cms |title=Kesari Review by TOI |date=20 March 2019 |work=Times of India |access-date=20 March 2022}}</ref> [[Taran Adarsh]] gave it four stars and felt it "chronicles a significant chapter from history brilliantly... Nationalism, patriotism, heroism, scale and soul – ''Kesari'' has it all".<ref>{{cite tweet |user=taran_adarsh |author=Taran Adarsh |date=20 March 2019 |number = 1108086963263803392 |title=#OneWordReview… #Kesari: OUTSTANDING! Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Chronicles a significant chapter from history brilliantly... Nationalism, patriotism, heroism, scale and soul – #Kesari has it all... Akshay’s career-best act... Anurag Singh’s direction was terrific... Don’t miss it! #KesariReview https://t.co/hrNtAgObno}}</ref> Writing for [[Times Now]], Gaurang Chauhan rated the film three and a half stars out of five and opined, "''Kesari'' is not the best patriotic film or action film to come out of Bollywood, but it surely is worth the time and money".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment/reviews/movies/article/kesari-movie-review-akshay-kumars-action-avatar-is-the-highlight-of-this-emotional-war-drama/386044 |title=Kesari Movie Review: Akshay Kumar's action avatar is the highlight of this patriotic war drama |website=Times Now News |date=20 March 2019|access-date=21 March 2019 |first=Gaurang |last=Chauhan}}</ref> [[Bollywood Hungama]] rated it four stars out of five, remarking, "On the whole, ''Kesari'' is a brave and inspirational tale of courage, with patriotism and the dramatic battle sequences being the USP of the film".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/kesari/critic-review/ |title=Kesari Movie Review: Kesari |publisher=Bollywood Hungama |date=20 March 2019 |access-date=21 March 2022}}</ref> Nandini Ramnath of [[Scroll.in]] writes, "Sluggishly paced until the interval and springing to life only in fits and starts in the second half, ''Kesari'' is a poor attempt to revisit a chapter in [[Indian military]] history that earned the admiration even of British colonizers." Though mainly positively received in India, the film was negatively received in the [[Muslim world]], which saw the film's portrayal of the main antagonist as a Muslim maulana, as well as displaying rancor against a Sikh turban by Muslim Afghans as little more than [[Hindu Nationalism|Hindu Nationalist]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://scroll.in/reel/917358/kesari-movie-review-Akshay-kumar-flexes-his-vocal-cords-in-underwhelming-ode-to-bravery |title=‘Kesari’ movie review: Akshay Kumar flexes his vocal cords in underwhelming ode to bravery |first=Nandini |last=Ramnath |website=Scroll.in}}</ref>

===Box office===
''Kesari'' opened with collection of {{INR|210.6 million}} on its first day. The collection of extended weekend of the film is {{INR|780.7 million}}, which was the highest opening weekend collection of 2019 for Bollywood films released till May.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=taran_adarsh |author=Taran Adarsh |date=24 March 2019 |number = 1110070371963682817 |title=#Kesari benchmarks... Highest *Day 1* of 2019 [so far]: ₹ 21.06 cr Crossed ₹ 50 cr: Day 3 Crossed ₹ 75 cr: Day 4 Highest opening weekend of 2019 [so far]: ₹ 78.07 cr [4 days; Thu-Sun] India biz.}}</ref> Its domestic gross was {{INR}}182.30 crore and overseas gross {{INR}}24.79 crore. It has grossed {{INR}}207.09 crore worldwide.<ref name="boxoffice"/> The film grossed over {{INR}}100 crore worldwide in its opening weekend. It became the fastest {{INR}}100 crore earning film in domestic net in 2019 for Bollywood films released till May.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=taran_adarsh |author=Taran Adarsh |date=28 March 2019 |number = 1111150827270557696 |title=#Kesari is now *fastest* ₹ 100 cr grosser of 2019 [so far]... Crosses ₹ 100 cr on Day 7... Thu 21.06 cr, Fri 16.75 cr, Sat 18.75 cr, Sun 21.51 cr, Mon 8.25 cr, Tue 7.17 cr, Wed 6.52. Total: ₹ 100.01 cr. India biz... ₹ 100 cr in days: #GullyBoy [Day 8]. #TotalDhamaal [Day 9].}}</ref> It eventually grossed over {{INRConvert|200|c|year=2019|link=yes}} worldwide in its fourth week.<ref name="boxoffww">{{cite web |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/box-office-collections/worldwide/2019/ |title=Bollywood Top Grossers Worldwide Bollywood Hungama|access-date=20 April 2019 |website=Bollywood Hungama}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! colspan="6" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | List of awards and nominations
|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Award
! Date of ceremony
! Category
! Recipient(s)
! Result
! class="unsortable"| {{nowrap|{{Abbr|Ref(s)|References}}}}
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[Filmfare Awards]]
|rowspan="8"|[[65th Filmfare Awards|15 February 2020]]
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
|Akshay Kumar
|rowspan="8" {{nom}}
|rowspan="6"|<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/nominations-for-the-65th-filmfare-awards-are-out/articleshow/73881320.cms |title=Nominations for the 65th Amazon Filmfare Awards 2020 are out! – Times of India |website=The Times of India}}</ref>
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Music Director|Best Music]]
|Tanishk Bagchi, Arko Pravo Mukherjee, Chirantan Bhatt, Jasbir Jassi, Gurmoh and Jasleen Royal
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist|Best Lyricist]]
| [[Manoj Muntashir]] for "Teri Mitti"
|-
| Tanishk Bagchi for "Ve Mahi"
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer|Best Male Playback Singer]]
|[[Arijit Singh]] for "Ve Mahi"
|-
|[[B Praak]] for "Teri Mitti"
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Action|Best Action]]
|Parvez Shaikh Lawrence Woodward
|rowspan="2"|<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.filmfare.com/news/bollywood/technical-nominations-for-the-65th-filmfare-awards-2020_-38868.html |title=Technical Nominations for the 65th Amazon Filmfare Awards 2020 |website=filmfare.com}}</ref>
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Art Direction|Best Production Design]]
|Subrata Chakraborty Amit Ray
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[IIFA Awards]]
|rowspan="4"|[[21st IIFA Awards|24 November 2021]]
|[[IIFA Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| ''Kesari''
|rowspan="2" {{nom}}
|rowspan="4"|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iifa.com/blog/Xl-zhxEAACIAaNIf/iifa-awards-2020-here-are-the-nominations|title=IIFA - International Indian Film Academy|website=IIFA - International Indian Film Academy}}</ref>
|-
|[[IIFA Award for Best Music Director|Best Music Director]]
|Tanishk Bagchi, Arko Pravo Mukherjee, Chirantan Bhatt, Jasbir Jassi, Raju Singh, Gurmoh and Jasleen Royal
|-
|[[IIFA Award for Best Lyricist|Best Lyricist]]
| Manoj Muntashir ({{small|For "Teri Mitti"}})
|{{won}}
|-
|[[IIFA Award for Best Male Playback Singer|Best Male Playback Singer]]
| rowspan="2"|[[B Praak]] ({{small|For "Teri Mitti"}})
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[National Film Awards]]
|[[67th National Film Awards|25 October 2021]]
|[[National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer|Best Male Playback Singer]]
|{{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite news|author=The Hindu Net Desk|date=2021-03-22|title=67th National Film Awards: Complete list of winners|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/67th-national-film-awards-complete-list-updating/article34131921.ece|access-date=2021-03-22|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
|-
|[[Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards India]]
|21 December 2019
|Favourite Bollywood Movie Song
|"Ve Maahi" by Tanishk Bagchi, Arijit Singh and Asees Kaur
|{{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://m.dailyhunt.in/news/india/english/bollyy-epaper-bolyy/motu+patlu+wins+big+at+the+nickelodeon+kids+choice+awards+2019-newsid-157363030 |title=Motu Patlu Wins Big at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards 2019 – Bollyy |website=Dailyhunt}}</ref>
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|6264938}}
* [http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/kesari/ Kesari] on [[Bollywood Hungama]]
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|m/kesari}}

{{Dharma Productions}}
{{Anurag Singh (director)}}

[[Category:2019 films]]
[[Category:Hindi-language films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Action films based on actual events]]
[[Category:War films based on actual events]]
[[Category:2010s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:2010s action war films]]
[[Category:Indian action war films]]
[[Category:Indian historical action films]]
[[Category:Films set in Afghanistan]]
[[Category:Indian films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Films about Sikhism]]
[[Category:Films set in the British Raj]]
[[Category:Films directed by Anurag Singh]]
[[Category:Films set in 1897]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

Kesari (2019 film)