Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh:

'Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh' is an interpretation in the form of the courtroom drama of a story that unfolds after the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Karan Singh Tyagi directs the film which deals with the legal struggle of C. Sankaran Nair, where he attempts to make the British Empire answerable. Akshay Kumar plays the role of Nair and is joined by R. Madhavan along with Ananya Panday.

From Celebration to Tragedy

The story depicts the Jallianwala Bagh massacre where British soldiers mercilessly opened fire on the Indians during the Baisakhi festival, which included a Sikh religious holiday, as well as on a huge protest gathering against the Rowlatt Act. This particular law permitted the British to imprison people without any judicial proceedings that caused more trouble.

The Legal Battle

Abolishing the post of EXECUTIVE COUNCIL makes him one of the most famous anti-colonial lawyers in India today. C. Sankaran Nair, who was an eminent lawyer and part of the vice-regal executive council, resigns in outrage of the massacre. He files a varadakshina suit against The O'Dwyer Defamation case against Michael O'Dwyer, former lieutenant governor of Punjab, Countering the British Narrative. The Indian courtroom drama is presented slightly differently with Nair battling out with the British employer Neville McKinley.

Performances

In the role of Nair, Akshay Kumar puts in a subtle portrayal showcasing the internal struggle he goes through, and the resolve he possesses.

As McKinley, R Madhavan plays the part with controlled self-assuredness which marks the British legal position.

Ananya Panday plays law student Dilreet Gill who is Nair's aide, this being her first pivotal performance in the film.

Direction and Screenplay

Karan Singh Tyagi’s direction stays within the boundaries of the court proceedings and does not deviate into subplots. The screenplay was based on a book written by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat, ‘The Case that Shook the Empire’ and focuses on an overlooked part of the struggle for freedom in India.

Visual Presentation

The film succeeds in capturing the tension of a courtroom, but some scenes, and particularly the portrayal of the massacre, border on sensationalism. A softer touch would have been more beneficial to hisstory.