Karan Singh Tyagi's directorial historical courtroom drama film Kesari Chapter 2 starring Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, and Ananya Panday in the lead roles, was released in theatres on 18 April 2025.
Set against the haunting backdrop of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Kesari 2 chronicles the courageous legal journey of Shankaran Nair (Akshay Kumar) as he challenges the British Empire in court. Aided by advocate Dilreet Gill (Ananya Panday), he seeks to hold General Dyer accountable for crimes against humanity, establishing his guilt in one of the most horrific genocides in colonial history.
Akshay Kumar delivers a top-notch performance, marking a triumphant return to the kind of impactful roles that spark joy among fans. His portrayal reaches its emotional peak during the powerful Bar Council sequence in the climax—a scene that reminds us why he remains one of the industry's finest actors.
R. Madhavan impresses as Advocate Neville McKinley, especially in the intense face-off scenes with Akshay Kumar. Their courtroom clashes are thoroughly enjoyable, packed with sharp dialogue and tension.
As Dilreet Gill, Ananya Panday shows marked improvement over her earlier performances. It’s refreshing to see her in a role with substance, and one can only hope she continues this upward trajectory with more such characters.
Director Karan Singh Tyagi impresses with his command over storytelling, extracting stellar performances from both Akshay Kumar and R. Madhavan. His debut is a testament to Karan Johar’s consistent eye for talent—Karan Singh Tyagi is the 24th debutant filmmaker launched by Dharma Productions, and his arrival is nothing short of promising.
The music composition by Shashwat Sachdev and the duo Kavita Seth–Kanishk Seth deserves huge applause. The songs are beautifully placed, evoking emotion right where it’s needed, while the background score elevates key moments with striking impact.
Regina Cassandra as Shankaran's wife Parvathy Nair, Simon Paisley Day as General Reginald Dyer, Alexx O'Nell as Lord Chelmsford, and Amit Sial as Tirath Singh—all deliver solid supporting performances that add depth and nuance to the narrative.
The screenplay tends to lag at times, and the editing could have been crisper. A stronger focus on the emotional beats would have added more depth to the narrative.
According to Dharma Productions’ official update on 21st April 2025, the film collected an impressive ₹29.62 crores in just 3 days at the box office.
The current box office numbers indicate that Kesari Chapter 2 faces an uphill battle in crossing the ₹100 crore mark. However, with strong word-of-mouth and growing audience appreciation, there’s hope that this powerful historical courtroom drama will find the love it truly deserves in the coming days.
Rating: 8/10
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