Kesari Chapter 2 Review: A Gripping Legal Drama
In Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh, director Karan Singh Tyagi boldly shifts gears from the battlefield to the courtroom. After the success of Kesari (2019), which spotlighted the valiant stand of 21 Sikh soldiers against thousands of Afghan invaders, this sequel dares to tell a quieter, yet equally potent story—the legal and moral battle that followed one of the darkest days in India’s colonial past.
Starring Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, and Ananya Panday, Kesari Chapter 2 dives deep into the political aftermath of the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Tyagi doesn’t flinch from the brutality of the event, nor does he soften the rage and anguish that fuel the central characters. Instead, he channels these emotions into a courtroom drama that resonates with both historical weight and emotional intensity.
A Story That Needed Telling
The film adapts The Case That Shook the Empire, the powerful account written by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat. It tells the true story of lawyer and freedom fighter C. Sankaran Nair, who launched a courageous legal challenge against the British Empire in the wake of the massacre.
Tyagi wastes no time setting the tone. The film opens with haunting visuals of the massacre—blood on the ground, panic in the air, and a silence that screams. Cinematographer Amalendu Chaudhary captures this with stark realism, refusing to let the audience look away. Then, just as the despair sets in, the narrative pivots to Nair, the man who refuses to let the Empire bury the truth.
Akshay Kumar as C. Sankaran Nair: A Role of Quiet Power
Akshay Kumar steps into the shoes of C. Sankaran Nair with surprising restraint and layered intensity. Gone is the larger-than-life soldier from Kesari. In his place stands a man of law, wielding words like weapons and never backing down from injustice. Kumar doesn’t resort to theatrics. He lets his eyes speak in the courtroom, his pauses echo louder than dialogues. His portrayal of Nair is one of his most mature performances in recent memory.
Nair’s journey is anything but smooth. British officials attempt to intimidate him, fellow Indians question his methods, and personal tragedy strikes without warning. Yet Kumar’s Nair never falters. He walks into courtrooms with spine straight and head high, carrying the weight of a nation’s grief.
R. Madhavan Brings Fire and Grit
R. Madhavan plays General Reginald Dyer’s legal counsel—a role that could’ve easily slipped into caricature, but Madhavan refuses to let that happen. He portrays the complexities of a man who believes he’s on the right side of history, even as his conscience begins to crack under the weight of truth.
The courtroom scenes between Kumar and Madhavan burn with intensity. These two seasoned actors square off like seasoned gladiators, using evidence, logic, and raw emotion as their arsenal. Their verbal sparring carries the tension of a duel, and Tyagi’s tight direction ensures each exchange leaves an impact.
A Narrative That Cuts Deep
The strength of Kesari Chapter 2 lies in its narrative spine. Tyagi doesn’t use the massacre merely as a historical backdrop; he treats it with the gravity it deserves. The courtroom becomes the arena where the British Empire’s cruelty stands trial—not just legally, but morally and ethically. The film refrains from jingoism and focuses instead on truth, accountability, and justice.
Every twist in the legal proceedings reveals a new layer of colonial brutality. The film outlines how the British covered up the massacre, destroyed key evidence, and justified their actions under the guise of law and order. Through Nair’s arguments and Meera’s writings, the story dismantles these lies, one by one.
Technical Brilliance Elevates the Film
Visually, Kesari Chapter 2 maintains a gritty, sepia-toned aesthetic that immerses viewers in early 20th-century India. The production design recreates British courts, colonial offices, and Indian streets with meticulous detail. Amit Trivedi’s background score flows like an undercurrent, never overpowering the scenes but always reinforcing their emotional stakes.
Editor Yasha Ramchandani keeps the pace taut. Even though the film leans into long courtroom exchanges, not a moment feels wasted. Tyagi cuts away just in time to let emotions settle, then returns to escalate the drama. The film clocks in at just over two hours, but the intensity never lets up.
A Tribute to Courage and Justice
Kesari Chapter 2 doesn’t just retell a moment in history—it reclaims it. While most narratives around Jallianwala Bagh end with mourning, this film picks up where the tragedy left off. It honors not just those who died, but also those who fought to make their deaths matter.
It reminds us that justice isn’t a passive ideal. It demands courage, strategy, and relentless pursuit. C. Sankaran Nair never raised a gun against the British, but he inflicted damage with every word he uttered in court. And Kesari Chapter 2 captures that power brilliantly.
Final Verdict
Karan Singh Tyagi delivers a masterclass in historical storytelling with Kesari Chapter 2. With strong direction, tight writing, and powerhouse performances, especially from Akshay Kumar and R. Madhavan, the film hits all the right notes. It blends emotion, intellect, and patriotism without becoming preachy.
This is not just a film—it’s a tribute. A tribute to those who died at Jallianwala Bagh, to those who fought for truth, and to those who believed that justice could shake an empire.
Rating: 4.5/5
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