🎬 Kesari Chapter 2: A wonderful courtroom drama that brings history to life
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Reviewer: Aftab Critique | Genre: Historical Courtroom Drama | Duration: 2h 20m
Table of Contents
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Movie Title | Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh |
| Genre | Historical Courtroom Drama |
| Director | Karan Singh Tyagi |
| Producers | Karan Johar, Hiroo Yash Johar, Apoorva Mehta, and Zee Studios |
| Lead Cast | – Akshay Kumar as C. Sankaran Nair – R. Madhavan as Neville McKinley |
| – Ananya Panday as Dilreet Gill – Regina Cassandra as Parvathy Nair | |
| Supporting Cast | Alexx O’Nell, Simon Paisley Day, Richard Bhakti Klein |
| Writer | Karan Singh Tyagi |
| Music Directors | Shashwat Sachdev, Kavita Seth |
| Cinematography | Debojeet Ray |
| Editor | Yasha Ramchandani |
| Production Companies | Dharma Productions, Zee Studios |
| Language | Hindi |
| Country | India |
| Release Date | 26 April 2025 |
| Budget | ₹150 Crore (approx) |
| Box Office Collection | ₹125 Crore (worldwide approx) |
| Runtime | 2 hours 20 minutes |
| Platform (if OTT) | Not confirmed yet (Possibly Zee5 or Netflix) |
📖 A story that shakes you up
When you watch “Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh”, you are not just watching a film — you are watching a chapter that brings a forgotten legal scandal of the British Raj into the spotlight.
The focus of this film is C. Sankaran Nair (played brilliantly by Akshay Kumar) – a barrister who fought a legal battle against the British Crown after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919. The film explores his legal battle, moral courage, and patriotism – without being overly dramatic.
🎭 Performances: Jahan Dil Aur Dimaag Dono Kaam Karte Hain
- Akshay Kumar has once again proved that he is not just an action or comedy star, but when he gets a layered, restrained role – he shines.
- R. Madhavan as British lawyer Neville McKinley – powerful, classy and intimidating. His and Akshay’s courtroom face-off literally gives you goosebumps.
- Ananya Panday pleasantly surprises as Dilreet Gill, a young law student who helps Sankaran Nair. This is his most matured performance so far.
🎥 Direction & Screenplay
Director Karan Singh Tyagi has focused on the authenticity of the subject rather than making it sensational. The kind of dialogue writing and pacing in the courtroom scenes makes the film gripping.
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre is shown in flashback, but in a sensible way – without melodrama. The screenplay of this film is tight and the editing is crisp – there are no unnecessary scenes.
🎵 Music & Technicals
Music by Shashwat Sachdev and Kavita Seth is soulful and thematic. Especially the song “O Shera – Teer Te Taj” stirs patriotic emotions without being preachy.
Cinematography by Debojeet Ray truly captures the pre-independence British India vibe – dark courtrooms, candle-lit libraries, and dusty streets.
The production design is rich, but not flashy. Everything seems grounded and believable.
🔍 What Works:
✅ Strong performances, specially Akshay & Madhavan
✅ Emotionally impactful story based on true events
✅ Authentic courtroom drama – no unnecessary heroism
✅ Engaging background score & period setting
⚠️ What Could Be Better:
❌ Climax could have been a little more powerful
❌ Pace may seem a little slow for mass audience
❌ Supporting characters could have been developed even more
📌 Verdict
Kesari Chapter 2 is an important historical film which should be seen not just as a movie but as a lesson*. This reminds me of those unsung heroes who fought for freedom without weapons and through law.
If you like courtroom dramas, or history is your interest — then don’t miss this movie. This can be a career-defining performance by Akshay Kumar.
🟠 Recommended for: Students, history lovers, and serious cinema goers
🔵 Avoid if: You only want to watch masala movies
What is your opinion? Have you seen this movie? How did you like Akshay’s intense avatar? Tell us in the comments. 🎥👇
