Kesari Chapter 2 is finally out in theatres, and it’s already become the talk of the town. While some are demanding a National Award for Akshay Kumar, others are calling the film a historical distortion wrapped in cinematic liberty. So, what’s the real story? Let’s dive right in.
Historical Accuracy or Fictional Narrative?
The movie shows that after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, C. Sankaran Nair filed a legal case against General Dyer. But in reality, the case was a defamation lawsuit filed by Michael O'Dwyer (the then Lieutenant Governor of Punjab) against Nair.
This case was held in London High Court in 1924, and it’s popularly known as O'Dwyer vs Nair — not the narrative shown in the film.
Fictional Characters Alert: Diljit Gill & Nevil McKinley
Two major characters in the film — Diljit Gill (played by Ananya Panday) and Nevil McKinley (played by R. Madhavan) — are completely fictional.
Madhavan’s character is shown as an Anglo-Indian lawyer representing the Crown, but in the real case, there was no such person. It was actually a British lawyer who represented the case in court — and of course, no Hindi-speaking Indian lawyer was involved.
The character of Diljit Gill is also a dramatic addition and does not have any real-life connection to Sankaran Nair or the actual case. This was clearly done to add emotional depth and cinematic punch.
Public Reaction & Technical Merits
Here’s what viewers are saying post-release:
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BGM – powerful and immersive
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Set Design – visually rich
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Screenplay – dramatic, but engaging
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Cinematography – solid and cinematic
So yes, from a production and storytelling standpoint, the film is well-crafted. But the creative liberties with historical facts are bothering a section of the audience, especially history buffs.
Box Office Situation
Due to its A (Adult) certificate, family audiences are staying away. So far, advance bookings are around ₹2 crore, which is modest. But just like OMG 2 — which had similar certification and still did great — this film could also pick up with positive word of mouth.
Bonus Moment: Akshay on Salman Khan
During a special screening, a reporter asked Akshay about Salman Khan’s Sikandar underperforming. His classy reply?
"Tiger is still alive. And the kind of Tiger Salman is… he can never die!"
Now that’s some brotherhood on display!
Final Verdict:
If you’re watching Kesari Chapter 2 purely for cinematic drama, emotional storytelling, and patriotism, it delivers.
But if you're expecting historical accuracy, you might want to take things with a pinch of salt — or better, do a quick fact check after watching.
So, what did YOU think of the film? Drop your thoughts in the comments.