"Kesari Chapter 2", directed by Karan Singh Tyagi and released on April 18, 2025, boldly shifts from battlefield heroics to the courtroom, uncovering one of the darkest moments in India's history— the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

Kesari Chapter 2


Quick Facts:

Director: Karan Singh Tyagi
Producer: 
       Hiroo Yash Johar, Aruna Bhatia, 
       Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, 
       Apoorva Mehta, Amritpal Singh Bindra
Lead Cast:
  • Akshay Kumar as Justice Chettoor Sankaran Nair
  • R. Madhavan as Adv. Neville McKinley
  • Ananya Panday as Dilreet Gill
  • Regina Cassandra as Parvathy Nair, Sankaran's wife
Genre: Historical Drama, Courtroom Thriller
Release Date: April 18, 2025

 

Review:

While Kesari Chapter 2 is marketed as a sequel to Kesari (2019), it takes a dramatic departure from its predecessor's battlefield heroics, diving into the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, one of the darkest chapters in India's colonial history.

The movie revolves around the legal justice war in the courtroom for innocents killed at Jallianwala Bagh on Apr-13, 1919. The film follows C. Sankaran Nair (Akshay Kumar), a lawyer who wages a relentless courtroom battle against the British Empire, seeking justice for the massacre that shook the nation. As he squares off against Neville McKinley (R. Madhavan), an ambitious British prosecutor determined to bury the truth, the legal face-off exposes deep-seated political conspiracies that shaped India's fight for freedom.

Karan Singh Tyagi crafts an intense, emotionally charged narrative that swaps warzone heroism for legal warfare, delivering edge-of-the-seat drama packed with historical depth. Unlike the battle-driven Kesari, this sequel zeroes in on the power of argument, intellect, and resistance, proving that justice can be just as fierce a battleground as war.

Akshay Kumar dominates the screen with a commanding presence, portraying Nair as both a strategic thinker and an impassioned patriot. His courtroom monologues are delivered with fiery conviction, making the legal arguments feel like battlefield maneuvers. R. Madhavan, as McKinley, brings layers of calculated intensity, ensuring the British side is not reduced to caricature.

Ananya Panday’s portrayal of Dilreet Gill, a young lawyer aiding Nair, adds fresh emotional weight to the narrative. Simon Paisley Day as General Reginald Dyer embodies the brutality of the colonial regime with chilling precision.

While the film thrives on sharp dialogues and gripping legal confrontations, some scenes feel slightly dramatized for cinematic effect, occasionally straying from historical realism. However, the courtroom tension more than compensates for these moments, keeping audiences deeply invested.

 

Final Verdict:

The movie can’t be weighed or compared against ordinary, regular movies releasing over the year in theaters. Kesari Chapter 2 is a must-watch for history enthusiasts and fans of courtroom dramas. It delivers a powerful message, reminding audiences of the struggles and sacrifices that shaped India's fight for independence.