Akshay Kumar's starrer Kesari: Chapter 2 is all set to share a new side of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. This year marks 106 years since April 13, 1919, when thousands of innocent people were brutally killed by British forces.
The film is based on the courageous fight of C. Sankaran Nair, a lawyer who challenged the British Empire in court. Director Karan Singh Tyagi also revealed that he was drawn to the story of Kesari Chapter 2 because of its complex politics and emotional depth.
He also recalled watching a documentary where General Dyer's great-granddaughter defended his actions, calling the people gathered looters. He admitted that the documentary left him deeply disturbed.
He said, "That interview really angered me. She labelled the people who came to Jallianwala as looters. The film is important because you'll be shocked to know that the empire went into overdrive after the massacre. They went to extreme lengths in order to laud General Dyer as a hero."
However, the filmmaker further reflected on the massacre and revealed that the story is still relevant. He said, "The event speaks to the present times that we live in. It's a post-truth world where fake news is rampant. I was fascinated that when people read about the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy, the next day, the truth was suppressed.”
He also emphasised how the British tried to silence every voice that spoke against the massacre.
The filmmaker added, "There were regional newspapers that wanted to report the truth, which got burned down. There's this famous poem written by a survivor called Khooni Baisakhi—the British Empire went to great lengths to ban that poem. The Empire started spreading a fake narrative... where the victims were labelled as terrorists... I think it's a fascinating story to bring to the people in 2025."
He explained about the film, "This is the story of Sankaran Nair, who was knighted by the British Empire... For him to then take on the British in the most dramatic of ways is a story of valour. When he resigned from the council, he told the Viceroy [who can be compared to the PM today] that your empire is being run by yes-men so why don't you make the jamadar replace me."
Karan Singh Tyagi also praised Akshay Kumar’s performance and appreciated his support. He said, “He's been incredible in his support for me. I just want the audience to watch the film because I feel this is one of his best performances. He's heard stories from his grandfather, from his father. So he feels a personal connection to the tragedy.”
The upcoming film features Akshay Kumar as Nair, R. Madhavan as Adv. Neville McKinley and Ananya Panday as Dilreet Gill. Kesari Chapter 2 will be released in the theatres on April 18, 2025.
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