“Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh” is a courtroom drama based on one of colonial India’s darkest hours, its legal implications. The Karan Singh Tyagi-directed film focuses on Judge Chettoor Sankaran Nair, played by Akshay Kumar. With the film trying to merge drama with history, it is a mixed affair.
Plot Overview
The movie tracks the journey of Justice Chettoor Sankaran Nair, a fearless barrister who challenges the British Crown to court over the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre. His litigation takes on the empire and holds the perpetrators responsible for violence perpetrated on unarmed citizens. The hook of the film is good as it is a drama centered mostly on the trial courtroom. A large part of Nair’s greater political reputation has been glossed over, though.
Performance Analysis
Akshay Kumar as Justice Nair
Akshay Kumar’s casting has come under criticism. Although he does put in earnest effort, critics feel that he lacks regional authenticity and depth to play a character like Nair. His efforts to play the character fail, and the incorporation of cultural elements such as kalaripayattu and Kathakali feels removed from the overall plot.
Supporting Cast
R. Madhavan gives a more subtle performance as the British attorney who is opposing Nair. Regina Cassandra and Ananya Panday have supporting roles but their characters are underdeveloped, restricting their contribution to the narrative.
Direction and Screenplay
Karan Singh Tyagi prefers a courtroom-centric storyline, which makes the movie intense but repetitive. The co-written screenplay loses chances to portray Nair’s political life and impact in the Indian freedom struggle. Characters other than those in the courtroom are neglected, and the pacing takes a hit because of it.
Cinematography and Production Design
Visually, the film is good. Cinematographer Debojeet Ray does justice to the period look. The courtroom scenes are filmed with seriousness, and the production team is meticulous about recreating early 20th-century settings. In spite of that, the good visuals cannot compensate for the story weaknesses of the film entirely.
Music and Soundtrack
The music contains songs that are in the theme of the film but none are memorable. The music is kept at the background and does not significantly contribute to emotional involvement.
Historical and Cultural Context
The effort on the part of the film to address a crucial moment in history is commendable, but the constrained scope deprives it of further reach. Substantial background—Nair’s political leanings and ideological positioning—is missing or broached too superficially. Cultural aspects are handled more as surface references than as integrated elements of the narrative.
Conclusion
“Kesari Chapter 2” attempts to merge history with courtroom suspense but does not quite succeed. Although Akshay Kumar is committed, the character perhaps might not have been the most suitable for him. The movie fails to delve thoroughly into one of the greatest chapters of India’s independence struggle. There are good visuals and a sound premise, but the movie fails to provide a thorough and emotionally engaging experience.
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