Kesari Chapter 2: Shashi Tharoor Says C Sankaran Nair 'Would Never Use the Words Akshay Kumar Uses'

Politician and author Shashi Tharoor recently shared his thoughts on Kesari Chapter 2, calling it an "amazingly well-made and well-crafted film" while highlighting its depiction of India's struggle against British colonial rule. The film, based on the tragic Jallianwala Bagh massacre, caught Tharoor's attention, particularly for its portrayal of resistance within the confines of the British court system.

Speaking to the media, Shashi Tharoor explained that the film's narrative captured the essence of India's fight for freedom. He remarked, "I thought it was an amazingly well-made, well-crafted film. It took some liberties with historical fact, but it says at the very beginning it's fiction. But what it did was capture the spirit of resistance, especially using the instruments of the British court system. You can't win in the end, and we sadly waited 28 years after Jallianwala Bagh to become free. But the message of the film was brilliantly done."

Tharoor particularly admired the way the story unfolded and praised the production quality. He said, "I must say, as usual, in a very high-quality production—the acting, the direction, the way the story unfolded, everything was just so compelling. There wasn’t one dull moment. I was worried that for many people, just seeing courtroom scenes might not be so compelling. But the way the story came out, I think it was impossible to turn your eye away for one second, very well done."

One significant point of discussion in Tharoor’s review was the portrayal of C Sankaran Nair, a key figure in the fight against British oppression, played by Akshay Kumar in the film. While praising Nair’s integrity, Tharoor made a lighthearted yet pointed comment about Akshay’s use of certain language in the film. "He (C Sankaran Nair) was a man of courage, principle, and integrity. He would never use the words Akshay Kumar uses, particularly a certain four-letter word, would never have come out of him, I can tell you that for sure," he said. However, Tharoor acknowledged that the film did a commendable job of capturing the essence of Nair’s spirit and message.

Tharoor also pointed out a poignant message at the end of the film. He said, "At the end of the film, they made the point on the screen that the one thing that the British have never done is say sorry." He encouraged people to watch the film, especially urging the English to view it, adding, "Let them watch it."

Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi, Kesari Chapter 2 is based on the book The Case That Shook The Empire by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat. The film delves into the life of C Sankaran Nair, played by Akshay Kumar, and his legal battle following the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The movie also features R Madhavan as the British lawyer Neville McKinley and Ananya Panday as Nair’s assistant, Dilreet Gill.

For those interested in history and cinema, Tharoor's review makes it clear that Kesari Chapter 2 is a must-watch, offering a gripping portrayal of one of India's darkest chapters.