Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh Review

On 13th April 1919, the day of the Baisakhi festival in Punjab, 1,650 (official figure) rounds of bullets were fired at innocent Indians, gathered to protest against Rowlatt Act, under the orders of Brigadier General R E H Dyer. Most bullets found their targets. This year marks the 106th anniversary of what is unarguably one of the most brutal incidents in history - and also the occasion for a surge of patriotism and the release of Kesari Chapter 2, a movie based on the event. So far, so good.

But it also raises questions: Were the makers genuinely moved by the tragedy so much that they felt compelled to make the film? No. Under the guise of being "inspired by true events", they've given us pure fiction, tailored for box office success. The first giveway - this is supposedly a sequel but has nothing to do with Kesari script-wise. The common thread between them is just patriotism.

So, in the aftermath of the infamous massacre, the British Empire sets up a commission to prove Dyer (Simon Paisley Day) "not guilty" of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, and appoints Nair (Akshay Kumar), a smart and loyal barrister, as one of the commission's members. The Empire covers up key facts, manipulates the print media, silences dissenting voices, bribes commission members and the jury, and eventually acquits Dyer.

However, later on, Nair himself and Dilreet Gill (Ananya Panday), a fresh law graduate, take up the case and prove that the massacre was a premeditated act of genocide orchestrated by Dyer. In the trial, Neville McKiney (R Madhavan) represents the Empire.

Barring a few key incidents and figures, the movie takes as much creative liberty as it can, and latches on to the burning issues of our time - including freedom of speech, Hindu-Muslim unity and love for the nation. That's not a bad thing in itself. But in all that, it fails to pay attention to the matter at hand - the actual facts of the event. Many details are conveniently ignored, and many more are entirely invented.

For example, Nair was bestowed with a knighthood by the British - so why does he suddenly turn against them? The way the film explains it is hard to digest. And the way it paints Nair in broad strokes feels lazy. One member in the Viceroy's coterie says Nair is good at everything from kalaripayattu to kalam (pen). That's it - the character is deemed established. We don't know about his kalaripayattu. Nair was smart and patriotic, no doubt - but also a complex character. He could oppose the British, and at the same time, disagree with Gandhi. That's the real, documented history for you.

Also, the portrayal of Nair and Neville's relationship - as if they were jealous of each other, rivals, and so on - is entirely fictional. The film also exploits Neville's character to the fullest - how he is half-Indian and half-British, how the British wronged him, and how they were ultimately forced to make him fight the case for the Empire. And what were Neville's motivations? Just to be part of the coterie.

After Nair and Neville, the most interesting character in the movie is Dyer. So why did he do what he did - shoot hundreds of unarmed, silent protesters in a confined area? Turns out, he was mocked by his Sikh classmates for his stammering when he was a child, and that's why he avenged it by killing Sikh men, women and children. Yes, that's a General's confession to a massacre. By the way, in the documented history there were many Hindus and Christians, too, in the dead and the injured.

If you can forgive the silly script, the rest is actually quite good. The performances, the screenplay, the background music and the art direction - all boast cinematic brilliance.

For the most part, Kesari 2 is a courtroom drama - and the face-to-face courtroom showdown between Kumar and Madhavan is just perfect. Panday also shines in a small role. Also worth noting: Kumar's portrayal of a barrister in this film is starkly different from the lawyer he played in Jolly LLB 2. Here, he acts with more conviction and seems driven by a strong sense of purpose. Madhavan, as Neville, also plays his part with ease.

The most interesting among the performers are however perhaps the British actors playing British characters. They must have gone through a great deal of effort to mouth their lines in broken Hindi. Yes, for the most part, they speak in Hindi. The Indian cast speak more English than the Britishers. Simon Paisley Day takes the cake for speaking the most Hindi - and the way he does it is quite entertaining. What's not, however, is how tight-lipped the British actors appear whenever they aren't speaking.

From a cinematography perspective, the movie can be divided into two major parts: first, the massacre; and second, the courtroom proceedings. Both require completely different treatment. The massacre is depicted using long shots, quick panning and precise alignment. The Army marches onto the ground, aligns itself, and then raises rifles in unison before opening fire incessantly. A few heads drop, and people run frantically in all directions. These scenes have been masterfully captured with well-composed shots. The camera then shifts to quick close-ups of the dead and the dying.

In the courtroom, there isn't much physical action, so close-ups play a major role. It's all about the eyes, the lips, and the occasional pan-out to the audience and the jury. These moments have also been beautifully filmed.

The art direction is also impeccable. It transports you right into the milieu of 1919 and the Punjab of that era. Accordingly, utmost care has been taken with the costumes, vehicles and all other props. It's period-perfect.

The background score too is quite good and inspiring, blending seamlessly with the screenplay.

Kesari 2 deserves a watch from those who love and understand cinema - but it is those unfamiliar with the history that might enjoy it the most.