Kesari Chapter 2, starring Akshay Kumar, is all set to hit theatres on April 18, 2025. The film focuses on the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, one of the darkest and most horrifying events in Indian history. As the tragedy marks 106 years today (April 13), the film’s director Karan Singh Tyagi shared his thoughts on the emotions and truth behind the movie.
This film is a follow-up to the 2019 hit Kesari and marks Karan Singh Tyagi’s directorial debut. The story sheds light on C Sankaran Nair, a senior member of the Viceroy’s Council during British rule. Akshay Kumar will play the role of Nair, who boldly challenged the British Empire after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre by filing a case against the Crown. He accused them of genocide, which was a dangerous and courageous move at that time.
Karan Singh Tyagi said that the film is very relevant to today’s times. He pointed out how the British tried to hide the truth and instead spread a false story, claiming that the victims of the massacre were terrorists.
The director recalled that several regional newspapers tried to report the truth but were burned down by the British. He also mentioned a famous poem titled Khooni Baisakhi, written by a survivor, which the British government banned because it exposed their crimes. Tyagi said, “The Empire started spreading a fake narrative… where the victims were labeled as terrorists… I think it’s a fascinating story to bring to the people in 2025.”
He shared a powerful story from history—C Sankaran Nair resigned from the Viceroy’s Council and boldly criticized the British, saying their empire was run only by “yes-men.” The movie will show his courtroom battle where he tries to prove that the Jallianwala Bagh massacre was planned and not an accident.
One shocking detail revealed in the film is that a plane flew over the Bagh before the shooting started to make sure enough people were gathered. The British infantry was also kept in the dark about what was going to happen, which made the act even more horrifying.
The director also criticized General Dyer’s granddaughter, who in a recent interview, called the victims “looters.” Tyagi said, “That interview really angered me. She labeled the people who came to Jallianwala as looters. The film is important because you’ll be shocked to know that the empire went into overdrive after the massacre. They went to extreme lengths in order to laud General Dyer as a hero.”
Talking about the title, Karan Singh Tyagi explained, “Kesari is the color of revolution. In this film, the baton of revolution is passed to C Sankaran Nair, a man who took a stand against the empire. Revolution sounds like a big word, but it really means doing what’s right.”
The film stars Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan, and Ananya Panday in lead roles. It is produced by Hiroo Yash Johar, Aruna Bhatia, Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, Amritpal Singh Bindra, and Anand Tiwari. The movie is presented by Dharma Productions, Cape of Good Films, and Leo Media Collective, and co-produced by Marijke deSouza, Somen Mishra, and Vedant Baali. The screenplay is written by Karan Singh Tyagi and Amritpal Singh Bindra.
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