The Hindi cinema has depicted the tragedy of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre several times and each time, this heart-wrenching incident leaves you deeply shaken. Kesari Chapter 2 is another retelling of this haunting incident, focusing on C Sankaran Nair’s fight against the Crown to hold them accountable for the bloodshed.
Positive:
Kesari Chapter 2 does not leave a minute to capture the attention of its audience with the chilling depiction of the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy. From gory visuals of blood scatter to the merciless killing of innocent children, director Karan Singh Tyagi makes sure that the terrifying details of the massacre are not just shown but also felt. The movie also handles this gruesome incident, that has been etched into the mind of every Indian, with sensibility and carefully.
Kesari Chapter 2 has many heart-wrenching scenes that will anger any Indian, making the courtroom proceedings in the second half even more intense. The movie features several intense monologues, that have been delivered by every actor with absolute brilliance.
The beautiful rendition of the song ‘Teri Mitti’ with the horrific visuals of the aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh incident. Apart from some soulful songs, its background music is powerful and perfectly portrays the pain and defiance.
Negative:
The only negative aspect in Kesari Chapter 2 is a jazz song that is used while introducing R Madhavan’s character. It is the least memorable song of the film and feels out of place.
Performances:
Akshay Kumar delivers his career-best performance in Kesari Chapter 2. His intense and powerful dialogue delivery as C Sankaran Nair will leave a lasting impact and strike an emotional cord with the audience. Ananya Panday also gives her most compelling act to date and aces every scene. She brilliantly portrayed the charm, nervousness, ambitions, and innocence of Dilreet Kaur and it was refreshing to see her in a different light. R Madhavan, as Akshay Kumar’s nemesis, is an absolute delight and makes the courtroom scenes even more compelling to watch.
Apart from the main trio, British actor Simon Paisley Day is impeccable as General Dyer. His menacing performance brings Dyer to life and provokes a sense of rage inside you. The movie also introduces a fresh talent, Krish Rao, whose portrayal of Pargat Singh beautifully captures the anguish caused by the aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Final Thoughts:
Kesari Chapter 2 makes its space alongside many other powerful films on the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, serving as a fitting tribute to the lost lives in that gruesome incident. The debutant filmmaker Karan Singh Tyagi perfectly captured the soul of patriotism perfectly, while also depicting the tragedy with sensibility. The cast excels in each and every scene, elevating the film with their brilliant performances.
