Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh (2025) Review!!!

Synopsis – A dramatization of the life story of C. Sankaran Nair, the lawyer who fought for the truth behind the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

My Take – Though Indian cinema has (and will continue to) produce various stories surrounding the atrocities carried out by members & officers of the British Crown/Empire during their nearly 200 years long rule over India, in recent times, there can be no comparison to the raw, haunting, and visually stunning re-recreation of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre as seen in Sardar Udham (2021).

A horrifying 1919 event which saw more than 1000 people getting killed after General Reginald Dyer ordered his army troops to fire on a crowd of civilians trapped in an enclosed park in Amritsar, Punjab. But while at the time, the British tried to suppress the details, the controversy surrounding was big enough that they had to constitute the Hunter Commission to look into the matter. Unfortunately, despite Dyer’s actions getting condemned, the Viceroy’s Executive Council opted not to prosecute.

This latest Dharma Production, that marks the feature directorial debut of Karan Singh Tyagi, not only once again reproduces the particular sequence in utmost evocative detail, it also takes a step further by going after the brutal perpetrators of the act through a lesser-known legal battle, all the while highlighting the unbreakable spirit of the Indian people, who were determined for independence.

Acting as a spiritual sequel to Kesari (2019), the resulting film, helmed with grit, sensitivity and without shying away from the brutal reality of colonial cruelty, is a full-blown commercial yet well-intentioned and thought-provoking courtroom drama anchored by its excellent performances and compelling premise.

Based on the book ‘The Case That Shook The Empire‘ by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat, the film not only re-introduces the world to an overlooked revolutionary in the form of C. Sankaran Nair, but also pays homage to the fallen by igniting a renewed conversation on justice, memory, and the cost of freedom.

Yes, the story takes a few artistic liberties and often veers into melodrama, but the tone of the film is clear: as a country we continue to mourn those thousands of people, including women and children, who were martyred that day. Making it a 106 years old loud call to stir the audience.

Set in Pre-Independence era, the story follows C. Sankaran Nair (Akshay Kumar), an Indian Viceroy’s Council member and barrister with a sublime track record, who is content to serve the British. Seemingly out of touch with the plight of his people, Nair is not only dined and wined by the foreign rulers with his wife Parvathi (Regina Cassandra) by his side, he also sends a freedom fighter to prison by proving that the man, a teacher and poet, is a violent terrorist.

And when the massacre happens, Nair, recently awarded with Knighthood, is given the task of being the only Indian in the inquiry committee set up to investigate the event. But though he finds discrepancies in his findings, particularly in the form of the survivor, 13-year-old Pargat Singh (Krish Rao), a talented boy who demands to expose the deliberate plan behind the carnage, he numbly accepts the no-action decision by the British Viceroy’s Commission.

It is not until a tragedy occurs that everything begins to weighs heavy on his conscience. And upon being pulled into a fight for truth by junior advocate Dilreet Gill (Ananya Panday), Nair not just realizes that he has been fighting on the wrong side, but also decides to sue the Crown and General Dyer (Simon Paisley Day) for genocide. Making matters more difficult is the appointment of Neville McKinley (R. Madhavan), a jaded, alcoholic Anglo-Indian advocate, who is brought in to represent Dyer and British, and is determined to use the case to settle an old score with Nair.

Opening with the horrendous massacre, the recreation of the event is haunting, using minimal dialogue and powerful visuals to let the silence speak louder than words. The cinematography and background score together create a chilling, unforgettable experience that lingers long after the credits roll. While the first half serves as a foundation that introduces the political set-up, the socio-cultural climate at the time, and the individuals complicit in the tragedy, the latter half unfolds as a gripping legal drama.

Sure, quite a few cinematic liberties seem to be taken with a few arguable historical inaccuracies, and the tone good have been easily dialed down, yet, director Tyagi, known for his work on underrated series like the ‘Kaalkoot’ and ‘Bandish Bandits,’ proves capable of handling weighty subject matter without losing narrative momentum.

Unlike many films that wander into unnecessary subplots, here, director Tyagi and co-writer Amritpal Singh Bindra maintain a clear narrative purpose that enhances its emotional and intellectual impact. At a basic level, it will seem that this is the story of a hero’s fight with a villain, but soon enough, it becomes the story of the fight of the whole country. Right from the conspiracies of Dyer from before the Jallianwala Bagh massacre to trying to divert the case to a false rape case, the film shows it all.

A handful of scenes, like the one when Sir Nair realizes that it’s time to stop being a lackey to the British and take matters into his own hands and bring justice to oppressed Indians, evokes a familiar sentiment that one might feel while watching a well-made patriotic drama. His confrontation sequence with General Dyer in the restroom, the pre-climax sequence in the court, and the climax sequence at the bar council are sure to induce goosebumps and evoke extreme emotions.

The performances are also quite excellent across the board. Akshay Kumar’s exuberance shines bright throughout the film. His portrayal of C Sankaran Nair is a brilliant combination of vulnerability and intensity. Be it in the courtroom scenes wherein he has to roar loudly or in the emotionally high-octane scenes wherein he has to challenge his conscience, the actor is simply a visual delight in every frame. R Madhavan once again showcases his incredible versatility. The shrewdness, frustration and insecurity of Neville McKinley etches out clearly in his performance.

Ananya Panday too surprises with her nuanced turn. What’s truly impressive is that young actress never gets overshadowed by the brilliance of these two veterans and manages to hold her own with remarkable poise and presence. Regina Cassandra is decent in a very limited role, while Amit Sial is impressive as always.

However, it is Simon Paisley Day who is absolutely phenomenal, embodying the character with chilling precision. Given that you feel profound anger and disgust at just the sight of him, proves the stellar turn the veteran performer brings. On the whole, ‘Kesari Chapter 2‘ is an emotionally charged courtroom drama bolstered by its hard-hitting narrative and excellent performances.