Kesari 2 Review
The courtroom drama investigates the aftermath of the terrible 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre as lawyer C Sankaran Nair (Akshay Kumar) battles the mighty British Empire to reveal the truth and hold them responsible for genocide.
The battlefront of Saragarhi in Kesari (2019) changes to the courtroom in filmmaker Karan Singh Tyagi’s historical drama in the Review. Inspired by The Case That Shook the Empire by C. Sankaran Nair’s grandson Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat, authors Tyagi and Amritpal Bindra elicit sadness, rage, and excitement in equal measure via their story. The legal fight keeps you interested, the injustice drives your rage, and the reconstruction of the Jallianwala Bagh murder pulls at your heartstrings.
Although the pacing is first inconsistent—especially during the Sankaran assisting convict revolutionary Kirpal Singh (Jaipreet Singh) and the pre-trial against General Reginald Dyer (Simon Paisley Day)—the involvement peaks when he confronts a strong opponent in Anglo-Indian lawyer Neville McKinley (R Madhavan).
While Debojeet Ray’s cinematography and Tyagi’s direction and treatment keep you engaged all the time, production designer Rita Ghosh faithfully recreates the pre-Independence era. The story is raised to a stirring level by Shashwat Sachdev’s composition O Shera and Azeem Dayani’s background soundtrack.
Without going into overdramatisation, the narrative also depicts corruption inside the British Empire, its contempt for Indians, and the rising revolutionary feeling. Sankaran’s shift from Crown loyalist to nationalist, nevertheless, seems a bit hurried.
Anchoring the close story is Akshay Kumar, who excels as the smart and brave Sankaran. Equally strong is R. Madhavan, who gives a measured yet powerful performance. As Sankaran’s co-counsel Dilreet Gill and a driving force in the legal struggle, Ananya Panday is significant. Her performance mixes reality with anxiety as she tackles the great Empire—changing from a reluctant first-timer in court to a passionate cross-examiner in a pivotal scene.
Simon Paisley Day merits particular note as the wicked General Dyer. The portrayal of his childhood trauma—being teased for stuttering and acquiring hatred for Indians from his father—is quite good. Pargat Singh (Krish Rao), as the young child who loses his mother and sister in the massacre and courageously speaks out against it, also gives a strong performance.
A well-documented historical episode, the sad Jallianwala Bagh massacre Still, this deep dive into the lesser-known incident that rocked the Empire creates an amazing story. Its excellent acting and compelling story make it a must-see fare.
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