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If you thought Kesari was intense, wait till you hear about Kesari Chapter 2! This time, Akshay Kumar steps into the shoes of Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair, a fearless lawyer and nationalist who took on the British Empire after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Sounds thrilling, right?
Imagine challenging the very rulers who controlled India—Nair did just that! His fight for justice became a historic courtroom battle in London, shaking the British Raj to its core. Backed by Dharma Productions, the film brings to life a chapter of history that many don’t know about.
But how did Nair’s bold stance against the British lead to one of the most controversial legal cases of that time? And what role do R Madhavan and Ananya Panday play in this gripping drama? Let’s dive into everything we know about Kesari Chapter 2!
Kesari Chapter 2 Announcement
Actor Akshay Kumar has played numerous notable Indians on film, ranging from emperor Prithviraj Chauhan to social innovator Arunachalam Muruganantham. On Monday, Dharma Productions released the teaser for Kumar’s newest project, Kesari Chapter 2.
The original Kesari, launched in 2019, drew inspiration from the historic Battle of Saragarhi, featuring Kumar as Ishar Singh, the leader of a courageous Sikh regiment who defended a British outpost against 10,000 tribesmen. In contrast, the new film progresses to the early 20th century, depicting the horrific Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919 and its consequences.
Teaser
The teaser skillfully uses sound to recreate the horrors of April 3 in Amritsar, when Reginald Dyer, a British Brigadier-General, commanded troops to shoot at an unarmed assembly of more than 15,000 Indians who had congregated at Jallianwala Bagh on Baisakhi day. The audience had assembled to peacefully demonstrate against the Rowlatt Act. The murders shocked the world and served as a focal point for anti-British feelings in India.
Akshay Kumar As Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair in Kesari Chapter 2
As the teaser indicates, Akshay Kumar portrays the character of Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair in Kesari Chapter 2. CS Nair, a member of a prosperous family from Pallakad district on the Malabar coast, was a prominent Indian lawyer, nationalist, and statesman. He was elected the youngest president of the Indian National Congress during its early years. In 1912, he received knighthood from the British crown.
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During the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, CS Nair held the position of Education Minister and was the only Indian member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council—a unique distinction. The magnitude and lack of accountability of the massacre profoundly impacted him. Similar to Rabindranath Tagore, who gave up his knighthood in opposition to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, CS Nair expressed his distress over the British government's actions and resigned from his position in protest. His resignation surprised the British, resulting in prompt changes, including the lifting of martial law in Punjab.
Chettur Sankaran Nair’s Book
CS Nair subsequently wrote a book, Gandhi and Anarchy (1922), in which he criticized Michael O’Dwyer, the lieutenant governor of Punjab at the time of the massacre. He blamed O’Dwyer for facilitating the atrocities via his oppressive governance. This, in response, led to a libel case filed by O’Dwyer, who by that time had gone back to England after being removed from Punjab. Kesari Chapter 2 aims to dramatise the case O’Dwyer v. Nair, which was heard in the High Court in London.
Kesari Chapter 2 Based On Which Book?
CS Nair died in Madras in 1934, whereas O’Dwyer was killed by Indian revolutionary Udham Singh in 1940 at Caxton Hall, London. A Bollywood movie, Sardar Udham, featuring Vicky Kaushal, was previously created on this topic.
Kesari Chapter 2 is based on the book ‘The Case That Shook The Empire,’ written by Pushpa Palat and Raghu Palat. The film's screenplay is authored by Tyagi and Amritpal Singh Bindra. In addition to Kumar, R Madhavan and Ananya Panday will also star in the film.
With Kesari Chapter 2, Akshay Kumar brings to life a forgotten hero who dared to stand against the British Raj. This gripping historical drama promises power-packed performances and a story that deserves to be told!
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