Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh launched on 18 April 2025, the 106th anniversary of the disastrous Amritsar massacre. This hindi movie is produced by Karan Singh Tyagi, and co-produced by Cape of Good Films, Dharma Productions, and Leo Media Collective.
This movie is sequel to Kesari (2019) tells a fresh courtroom story about the pivotal moment in India's fight for independence. Akshay Kumar plays Justice Chettoor Sankaran Nair, the sole Indian lawyer who had the courage to confront the British Empire with its own narrative. Powered by histrionic performances by R. Madhavan and Ananya Panday, the film has been generating quite a buzz both on screen as also on the internet.
About The Film
Directed on the novel The Case That Shook The Empire written by Raghu and Pushpa Palat, Kesari Chapter 2 romanticizes Sankaran Nair's quest for the truth in the aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh killings.
The screenplay, by Karan Singh Tyagi and Amritpal Singh Bindra, balances historical accuracy with cinematic flair over a lean 135-minute stretch. Shot on lavish sets replicating 1919 Punjab—a huge Jallianwala Bagh set in Mumbai—the film is crafted to situate the viewer inside colonial-era animosities and the ethical conflict of a man split between Crown devotion and national obligation. Wikipedia Star-Studded Cast
- Akshay Kumar as Justice Chettoor Sankaran Nair, the upright lawyer who gambles his reputation to expose British brutality.
- R. Madhavan as Advocate Neville McKinley, the Crown's aggressive fluent defence attorney whose individual past is intertwined with that of Nair's.
- Ananya Panday as Dilreet Gill, the angry law pupil whose interactions spark Nair's transformation.
- Regina Cassandra as Parvathy Nair, Sankaran's devoted wife.
- Simon Paisley Day as General Reginald Dyer, the person who ordered troops to fire at unarmed civilians.
- Alexx O'Nell plays Lord Chelmsford, the Viceroy directing the inquiry into the massacre.
Audience Response
Kesari Chapter 2 has garnered mostly positive reviews for its intense courtroom drama and powerful performances, particularly by Akshay Kumar. Critics like Bollywood Hungama and Pinkvilla lauded its “hard‑hitting” narrative and unflinching depiction of a dark chapter in history, while Firstpost praised its emotional depth. India Today admired the film’s creative dialogue and exploration of unity, and News18 highlighted Akshay’s committed dramatic turn.
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| Image Credit: YT Movie Trailer |
However, some reviewers—such as The Indian Express, The Hindu, and Mint—felt the movie leaned too heavily into patriotic spectacle, occasionally sacrificing historical nuance for sensationalism. Overall, while the acting and courtroom sequences earned widespread acclaim, opinions diverge on its balance between factual accuracy and cinematic flair.
OTT Release
Jio Hotstar has acquired the digital streaming rights to Kesari Chapter 2 officially. In line with typical Bollywood custom, the film will likely open online between 30–60 days of its theatrical release—likely in late May or early June 2025. Keep an eye out on Jio Hotstar for the official release.
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