Review
Kesari Chapter 2: A Historical Drama with Creative Liberties
The film Kesari Chapter 2 sheds light on the aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, focusing on Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair's legal battle against the British Empire. While it draws from historical events, the film takes significant creative liberties, blending fact with fiction.
As I studied after watching the film, some points I would like to explain, as it is concerned for a unsung hero.
Historical Inaccuracies:
The film depicts Nair suing the British Crown and Dyer for genocide, which is inaccurate. Historically, Nair fought a defamation case filed by O'Dwyer in court of London, not in India.
The trial, held at the Court of the King’s Bench, lasted over five weeks and ended with an 11-to-1 jury verdict in O’Dwyer’s favor. Nair was ordered to pay 500 pounds in damages but refused to apologize, and the trial brought global attention to the massacre.
The character Neville McKinley is fictional, and the film's portrayal of the trial deviates from the real legal dynamics.
The film creates confusion Reginald Dyer and Michael O'Dwyer, muddling historical roles and responsibilities.
The massacre details, including casualty figures and soldier composition, are also inaccurate.
Fictional Characters and Subplots:
The character Dilreet Gill is fictional, and her role adds a modern feminist angle but lacks historical basis.
Subplots like the false rape charge were unnecessary and detracted from the film's historical significance.
My Final opinion
The film's emotional impact and powerful storytelling are noteworthy.
The performances are strong, particularly Akshay Kumar as Nair.
The film spotlights Nair's overlooked contributions to India's freedom struggle
My Rating 3 out of 5
Overall, while Kesari Chapter 2 has its flaws, it remains a significant historical drama that sheds light on an important chapter in India's independence history.