Kesari Chapter 2

Kesari Chapter 2
File:Kesari Chapter 2.jpg Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Karan Singh Tyagi
Produced by	Hiroo Yash Johar Aruna Bhatia Karan Johar Adar Poonawalla Apoorva Mehta Amritpal Singh Bindra Anand Tiwari
Written by	Karan Singh Tyagi Amritpal Singh Bindra Sumit Saxena (Dialogues)
Based on	The Case That Shook The Empire by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat
Starring	Akshay Kumar R. Madhavan Ananya Panday
Narrated by	Vicky Kaushal
Music by	Shashwat Sachdev Kavita Seth–Kanishk Seth
Cinematography	Debojeet Ray
Edited by	Nitin Baid
Production company	Dharma Productions Leo Media Collective Cape of Good Films
Distributed by	Dharma Productions
Release date	18 April 2025 (2025-04-18)
Running time	135 minutes
Country	India
Language	Hindi
Budget	1.5 arab ₹
Box office	est. 1.13 arab ₹

Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh is a 2025 Indian Hindi-language historical courtroom drama film directed by Karan Singh Tyagi and produced by Dharma Productions, Leo Media Collective, and Cape of Good Films. Serving as a spiritual sequel to Kesari (2019), the film is based on the book The Case That Shook The Empire by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat, focusing on C. Sankaran Nair and the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre. It stars Akshay Kumar in the role of Nair, alongside R. Madhavan and Ananya Panday. The film was released on 18 April 2025, coinciding with the 106th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

Plot

The narrative follows C. Sankaran Nair, a prominent Indian barrister and member of the Viceroy’s Council, who is initially tasked by the British to investigate the massacre, expecting to produce a report favoring the colonial narrative. However, as Nair uncovers the horrific truth behind General Reginald Dyer’s orders that led to the slaughter of unarmed civilians in Amritsar, his conscience compels him to sue The Crown and Dyer for genocide, challenging the British Empire's version of events.

With the assistance of a young revolutionary, Pargat Singh, and a determined law student, Dilreet Gill, Nair confronts Neville McKinley, a bitter Anglo-Indian lawyer with a personal vendetta, who is appointed to defend the British. The intense courtroom drama reveals the colonial suppression of truth and media manipulation, while Nair’s quest for justice ignites a wave of patriotic resistance.

Reception

Kesari Chapter 2 received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, 50% of 12 critics' reviews were positive. Bollywood Hungama rated the film 3.5/5, stating, "On the whole, KESARI CHAPTER 2 is a hard-hitting courtroom drama that resonates due to its performances and treatment, illuminating an untold and shocking chapter of Indian history. It will require strong word of mouth to sustain at the box office, and its adults-only rating may limit its commercial potential."

Rishi Jogani from Pinkvilla described it as a must-watch for its gripping courtroom drama and powerful performances, despite some distracting commercial elements. Vineeta Kumar of India Today also gave it a 3.5/5 rating, highlighting its nuanced portrayal of patriotism and creative dialogue. Lachmi Deb Roy from Firstpost rated it 4/5, calling it a powerful and engaging depiction of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the courageous lawyer, Shankaran Nair.

Conversely, Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express rated it 2.5/5, suggesting it was overly reliant on patriotic fervor. Anuj Kumar of The Hindu criticised the film for distorting historical facts for dramatic effect, arguing that while the tragic acts of the Empire should be exposed, the film misuses real incidents and characters to craft a sensationalised narrative.