Akshay Kumar returns as a crusading barrister in Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh, a spiritual sequel to the 2019 hit Kesari. Directed by debutant Karan Singh Tyagi, this Hindi historical courtroom drama unearths the forgotten legal fight against British atrocities. Released on the 106th anniversary of the massacre, it blends raw patriotism with procedural tension. R. Madhavan and Ananya Panday bolster the ensemble in a tale of truth versus empire. Amid debates on historical accuracy, it stirs national pride. Craving a Kesari Chapter 2 movie review that weighs its emotional punches against factual fumbles? We delve into the drama’s depths, from gavel strikes to lingering echoes.
Movie Overview
Vital stats in this quick table:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Movie Title | Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh |
| Release Date | April 18, 2025 |
| Language and Genre | Hindi, Historical Courtroom Drama |
| Director | Karan Singh Tyagi |
| Producer | Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, Amritpal Singh Bindra, Anand Tiwari |
| Production House | Dharma Productions, Leo Media Collective, Cape of Good Films |
| Running Time | 135 minutes |
| Budget (Approx.) | ₹150 crore |
| Box Office Collection (Approx.) | ₹142–144 crore worldwide |
The film opened modestly but gained traction through word-of-mouth, closing with respectable returns despite mixed buzz.
Cast and Crew
Tyagi’s debut casts a mix of stars and specialists for authenticity. Core lineup:
- Akshay Kumar as Justice C. Sankaran Nair: The resolute barrister challenging colonial might. Kumar’s fire fuels the fight.
- R. Madhavan as Adv. Neville McKinley: The sharp British lawyer in opposition. Madhavan’s finesse adds edge.
- Ananya Panday as Dilreet Gill: Nair’s determined aide and voice of youth. Panday’s poise impresses.
- Regena Cassandrra as Parvathy Nair: Nair’s supportive spouse. Cassandrra’s warmth grounds the grit.
- Simon Paisley Day as General Reginald Dyer: The infamous massacre architect. Day’s chilling detachment haunts.
- Alexx O’Nell as Lord Chelmsford: The Viceroy navigating fallout. O’Nell’s authority looms large.
- Amit Sial as Tirath Singh: A key witness from the tragedy. Sial’s intensity resonates.
- Deepak Antani as Mahatma Gandhi: In archival-inspired scenes. Antani’s gravitas evokes icons.
Vicky Kaushal narrates, lending epic scope. Masaba Gupta cameos as a dancer in “Khumaari.” Regena Cassandrra debuts opposite Kumar. Standouts? Kumar’s transformative rage and Day’s villainous ice—they dominate the docket.
Storyline / Plot Summary (No Spoilers)
Kesari Chapter 2 pivots from battlefield valor to legal valor. It follows Justice C. Sankaran Nair, a Viceroy’s Council member, as he probes the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh horrors. Shocked by the slaughter of innocents, Nair sues the Crown and General Dyer in London’s courts. Allies rally; empires stonewall.
The theme? Justice’s long shadow over silenced screams. Central conflict erupts in Nair’s clash: personal integrity versus imperial loyalty. Emotional core throbs with collective grief—families shattered, unity forged in fury. Tyagi draws from The Case That Shook The Empire, crafting a saga of quiet rebellion. It’s a riveting reminder of forgotten foot soldiers, blending history’s weight with human fire. No twists revealed—just a call to courtroom courage.
Direction, Screenplay, and Editing
Tyagi’s vision pulses with debut zeal, shifting Kesari‘s swords to scales of justice. He envisions a chamber of echoes, where whispers of massacre haunt hallowed halls. Storytelling arcs like a trial: measured openings build to thunderous closings, honoring the source material’s gravity.
Screenplay by Sumit Purohit and Shubham P. Singh layers taut arguments with poignant flashbacks. Dialogues crackle in English-Hindi clashes, though some patriotic swells feel scripted. Pacing holds firm in debates but quickens unevenly during recreations. Editing by Namrata Rao slices sharply, intercutting testimonies for rhythmic tension. Unique flair? Split-screens during cross-examinations, mirroring fractured truths. Tyagi directs with passion, though restraint tempers the triumph.
Cinematography, Visuals, and Music
Debojeet Nayak’s lens frames the era’s duality: sun-baked Amritsar bleeds into foggy London fog. Sweeping shots capture crowd crushes; intimate zooms pierce pained eyes. VFX revives the massacre starkly—bullet trails and chaos feel visceral, not vulgar.
Shashwat Sachdev’s score swells with sarangi laments, evoking sorrow’s swell. Songs like “Deewana Hua” infuse folk fury, while “Khumaari” pulses with defiant dance. Background motifs—haunting flutes in silences—amplify isolation. Visuals and music entwine to evoke outrage: crimson hues stain British blues, scores crescendo with cries. They transform testimony into tragedy, deepening the drama’s defiant pulse.
Performances
Akshay Kumar soars as Nair: his baritone booms in pleas, eyes blaze with betrayal. A solitary strategy session? Soul-stirring. R. Madhavan counters as McKinley—suave yet shaken, his moral cracks captivate. Ananya Panday evolves as Dilreet, her fierce advocacy adding fresh fire; chemistry with Kumar sparks mentor-protégé sparks.
Regena Cassandrra’s Parvathy offers tender ballast, her quiet resolve clashing touchingly with Nair’s storm. Simon Paisley Day chills as Dyer—icy nonchalance masks monstrosity, stealing sinister scenes. Amit Sial’s Tirath embodies survivor scars, while Deepak Antani’s Gandhi cameo inspires. Ensemble bonds brew in war-room huddles, where loyalties lock. Powerful peak? A witness stand unraveling—tears and truths collide. Kumar leads, but the chorus conquers.
Audience and Critics’ Response
Kesari Chapter 2 polarizes: hearts ignited, historians irked. Critics fault fervor over fidelity; fans fuel its fire. Ratings snapshot:
| Platform | Rating |
|---|---|
| IMDb | 8.0/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes (Critics) | 39% |
| Rotten Tomatoes (Audience) | 85% |
| Google Users | 82% liked it |
Sentiment splits sharply. Critics decry “patriotic overreach” (The Hindu, negative) and “distorted drama” (Mint), yet praise “gripping grips” (Firstpost, 4/5; Hindustan Times, 4/5). Bollywood Hungama (3.5/5) lauds Kumar’s “masterclass.” Social media erupts in flag-waving reels; Twitter threads dissect distortions. According to online discussions on Movierulz and other film forums, users have been actively debating the film’s storyline authenticity and Akshay Kumar’s commanding performance. At IFFI 2025, it snagged Best Debut Director honors, boosting buzz.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
- Kumar’s Command: Akshay’s nuanced fury anchors the epic, blending gravitas with gusto.
- Courtroom Craft: Tyagi’s procedural pulse delivers edge-of-bench thrills, elevated by sharp script turns.
- Sonic Soul: Sachdev’s score and visuals forge unforgettable fury, honoring history’s howl.
Weaknesses:
- Historical Hiccups: Factual liberties jar, undercutting the case’s credibility.
- Pacing Pulses: Flashback floods occasionally flood the flow, diluting debate drive.
These quibbles quiet the roar but don’t quench it.
Final Verdict
Kesari Chapter 2 resurrects Jallianwala’s ghosts in a gavel of glory—flawed yet fervent, a fitting footnote to forgotten fights. Tyagi’s bow marks bold promise amid empire’s end. Patriotic pulses and history hounds will hail it; nitpickers, nay. My rating: 7.5/10. Salute in theaters; reflect thereafter.