Kesari Chapter 2

<p>The film follows , a distinguished Indian barrister and member of the Viceroy’s Council who is initially tasked by the British colonial government with investigating the in , expecting a report in their favor. As Nair uncovers the truth of the massacre and Brigadier-general ‘s role in ordering it, his conscience drives him to sue the colonial government and Dyer for genocide. Aided by young Indian revolutionary Pargat Singh and determined law student Dilreet Gill, Nair faces off against Neville McKinley, a jaded lawyer with a personal vendetta, appointed to defend the colonial government. The intense courtroom battle exposes the colonial suppression of truth and media manipulation, while Nair’s pursuit of justice sparks a surge of patriotic resistance. The film was initially titled , then it was renamed as in February 2025 to establish a thematic link with (2019). It was officially announced by on 22 March 2025. It is based on the life of , an Indian lawyer and statesman who fought against the British Raj to uncover the truth about the , the 1919 massacre of Indian protesters in by General Dyer. Advocate Neville McKinley was a fictional character that was an amalgamation of ten different historical figures. was cast as C. Sankaran Nair, a lawyer and statesman who was also a member of the . was cast opposite Kumar, marking their first project. and was also cast for important roles. The film’s shooting began in November 2022 with Akshay Kumar, with Madhavan joining in January 2023, and later moved to mid-2023 in where a large set of was constructed. Later, some important sequences which included Kumar and Panday were shot in . The next schedule was held in . Some portion of the film was also shot in and and in parts of including , and north campus area. The shooting was wrapped up by September 2024. The film’s soundtrack is composed by and – , with the lyrics written by . The first single titled “O Shera – Teer Te Taj”, composed by , was released on 12 April 2025. The song was recreated from a 2020 song “Teer Te Taj” which was released during the . The second single titled “Kithe Gaya Tu Saaiyaan” was released on 14 April 2025. The teaser was released on 24 March 2025, and the trailer was released on 3 April 2025. The trailer launch event was held on 3 April 2025 in Delhi. The film was first scheduled to be released 14 March 2025, but was delayed until 18 April 2025. The dubbed version released 23 May 2025. The digital streaming rights were acquired by . The film began streaming on the platform from 13 June 2025. On the website , 44% of 16 critics’ reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.2/10. rated the film 3.5/5 noting, “On the whole, is a hard-hitting courtroom drama and works due to the performances and treatment and also because it tells an untold and shocking chapter of . At the box office, it will need a strong word of mouth to sustain and emerge as a profitable venture. The adults only rating might restrict its business to some extent.” Rishi Jogani in his review for wrote, “Kesari Chapter 2 is a must-watch for its gripping , stellar performances, and unflinching portrayal of a dark chapter in history. While the film’s commercial aspects like the loud score often detract from the movie’s groundedness, its powerful second half, soulful music, and exceptional performances make it a compelling experience.” Vineeta Kumar of rated the film 3.5/5 noting, ” doesn’t entirely rely on a chest-thumping, bulldozed sense of patriotism to win the audience’s hearts – there’s that hard-to-forget use of the in an , and an elaborate dialogue explaining . It unapologetically adds a bit of creative swag, and lets you be a part of the drama.” Lachmi Deb Roy of rated the film 4/5 calling it “a powerful and immensely engaging movie based on the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre and the fearless lawyer, Shankaran Nair (Akshay Kumar) who shook the foundation of the “. of rated the film 2.5/5 mentioning it as a film of its time, for its time, with dollops of patriotic fervour. Anuj Kumar of was critical of the film writing, “It seems that after playing with , the big boys of are meddling with . While the dastardly act of the Empire needs to be exposed, the film, produced by Dharma Productions, milks the sacrifice of martyrs in Jallianwala Bagh to create a trumped-up narrative around the tragic episode. The disclaimer says it is a piece of fiction, but, as it turns out, it uses real incidents and characters to distort well-documented historical incidents that are easily available at the press of a button.” Writing for , Rishabh Suri rated the film 4/5, praising the writing and Akshay Kumar’s performance. Uday Bhatia of gave a negative review writing, “As with Dharma’s other recent historical, (2024), this is a case of Hindi filmmakers being unable to recognise surefire material when they see it, and burying it under piles of nonsense. Nair’s actual journey is fascinating, criticising , returning his decorations by the British, fighting a very public case on their soil. But is interested in Nair only to the extent that he provides a broad outline for Kumar to shout and weep and proclaim his love for India.” Titas Chowdhury of rated the film 3.5/5 writing, “Akshay Kumar sheds off his aura as a superstar and chooses to lean on his acting prowess, taking it a notch higher than .” Poet and Youtuber Yahya Bootwala accused the makers of the film of plagiarizing his poem for scene which Dilreet Gill’s speech on allegedly lifted. in June 2025, FIR case filled by Ranajit Biswas against makers for alleged insult Bengal Freedom fighters. A sequel, titled , was confirmed by and Deepak Rao Capour in April 2025, which would be based on the life of , the first commander-in-chief of the (the army of the ).</p>