logo
Kesari 2 director calls Akshay Kumar-starrer ‘synthesis of history and fiction': ‘Films based on real-life events aren't supposed to be photographs'

Kesari 2 director calls Akshay Kumar-starrer ‘synthesis of history and fiction': ‘Films based on real-life events aren't supposed to be photographs'

Indian Express21-04-2025

There's an ongoing conversation around Akshay Kumar's latest film Kesari 2, with many questioning whether it's a fictional story that uses real-life characters. The film stars Akshay in the role of lawyer SC Sankaran Nair, who legally fought the British Empire in the aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919. In a recent interaction, the film's director Karan Singh Tyagi addressed the issue and called the film a 'synthesis of history and fiction.'
During an interaction with Bollywood Hungama, when Karan was asked if Kesari 2 is a 'synthesis of history and fiction,' he agreed and responded, 'You called it a 'synthesis of history and fiction' — and that's exactly what I wanted it to be. One of my screenwriting heroes, Aaron Sorkin, once said that films based on real-life events aren't supposed to be photographs. They can be paintings. In a painting, there's more room for interpretation, more latitude to dramatize and express an idea.'
Karan admitted that he took creative liberties so the film could reach a wider audience. He said, 'That's what I aimed to do. I wanted Sankaran Nair's story to reach as wide an audience as possible. With the support of his family, my co-writers and I set out to portray a man's journey from a British loyalist to one of India's fiercest patriots — someone who used the power of the courts to challenge an empire.'
Despite the criticism, Kesari 2 was hailed by several political dignitaries including Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj, Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, and Minister Anurag Thakur during its screening in Delhi.
SCREEN review of the film by Shubhra Gupta read, 'While the film is clearly aligned with the Make India Great Again thinking, you can spot a couple of smartly subversive ideas nestling in there. A line about a joint 'Hindu-Muslim' celebration around Ram Navami which happened for the 'first time ' just before the massacre (apparently the dangerous thing that incensed the divide-and-rule British masters so much that it put the pre-planned executions at Jallianwala Bagh into motion, according to the film) tells us such a thing actually happened, something that seems like a receding hope these days. And both the British and Indian lawyers blow the bugle for 'freedom of speech': now where have we heard that phrase before? And can it gain currency again?'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Twist in UP politics: Swami Prasad Maurya launches bloc, names himself CM candidate
Twist in UP politics: Swami Prasad Maurya launches bloc, names himself CM candidate

Hindustan Times

time26 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

Twist in UP politics: Swami Prasad Maurya launches bloc, names himself CM candidate

Former minister and a prominent OBC face in Uttar Pradesh politics, Swami Prasad Maurya on Thursday announced the launch of a new political front - Lok Morcha - comprising nine small parties. Addressing a press conference, Maurya declared himself as the chief ministerial candidate of the Morcha. 'We will launch a campaign for the 2027 assembly election with the slogan - UP Bachao - BJP Hatao (Save UP - Remove BJP from power). The parties that joined Lok Morcha include Apni Janata Party led by Swami Prasad Maurya, Rashtriya Samanta Dal led by Motilal Shastri, Samyak Party led by Rajamani Suvvaiya Rai, Janseva Dal led by Vinesh Thakur, Political Justice Party led by Rajesh Siddharth, Sarvlokhit Samaj Party led by Satya Narayan Maurya, Swatantra Janata Raj Party led by Ghanshyam Kori, Sabka Dal-U led by Pramod Lodhi and Loktantra Suraksha Party led by Rajkumar Saini. Majority of the parties forming the Lok Morcha are led by leaders from backward communities. Maurya said the Lok Morcha will launch a movement across UP on public issues. From Friday, the leaders of the Morcha will organise meetings in the various districts of Lucknow division to enlighten people about the programme and ideology of the Morcha. The representation of the various castes in the party organisation will be given according to their population- 'jiski jitni sankha bhari- uski utni hissedari' will be our slogan to win the support of various castes, he said. Launching a scathing attack on the state government, Murya said that law and order has deteriorated, reservation is not implemented in hiring staff through outsourcing, the price of the essential commodities has skyrocketed, education has been privatised and children coming from poor families are deprived of education, the farmers are exploited and the Muslim community is terrorised, he said. The Lok Morcha will raise a demand for polling through ballot papers in assembly and Lok Sabha elections, he said. Once a close aide of BSP chief Mayawati, Maurya was minister in the BSP government - 2007-12. On August 8, 2016 he joined the BJP along with his supporters. He was given a ticket from his traditional seat Padrauna in the 2017 assembly election, Maurya represented Padrauna seat in the assembly in 2009 by poll and 2012 assembly election as well. He won the seat again in the 2017 assembly election and was made minister in the BJP government. He rose in rebellion before the 2022 assembly election and joined the Samajwadi Party. He contested assembly election from Fazilnagar seat but was defeated by the BJP candidate. Later, in February 2024 he quit the Samajwadi Party.

Vijay Rupani family: All on wife Anjali Rupani and their children
Vijay Rupani family: All on wife Anjali Rupani and their children

Hindustan Times

time30 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

Vijay Rupani family: All on wife Anjali Rupani and their children

Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among those killed on the ill-fated Air India plane that crashed near Ahmedabad Airport on Thursday. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London crashed in a fireball just minutes after takeoff. There were 242 passengers and crew members onboard at the time of the horrific accident. Amid the ongoing search and rescue operations, Union minister and Gujarat BJP president CR Patil confirmed the 68-year-old's death. 'Our leader and former Chief Minister, Vijay Rupani, was going (to London) to meet his family. He is also a victim inf this incident. May his soul rest in peace. This is a big loss for the BJP,' Patil told reporters, per PTI. Earlier, aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu had confirmed that Rupani was onboard the flight, saying, 'Very sad to know that Vijay Rupani ji was also there, other nationals, and children were also there. Each and every life is precious. It's an incident which has shaken the nation.' While there is no official confirmation about Rupani's travel plans, sources close to his family told News18 that he was travelling to London to bring back his wife, Anjali Rupani, who is a member of the BJP women's wing. She has reportedly been staying overseas for the past six months. In addition to his wife, Rupani is survived by their two children — son Rushabh and daughter Radhika. The couple had previously lost their youngest son, Pujit in a car accident. In his memory, the Rupanis established the Pujit Rupani Memorial Trust, which helps underprivileged child with their academics among other needs.

Govt. neglecting farmers, no info on extent of loans: BJP
Govt. neglecting farmers, no info on extent of loans: BJP

The Hindu

time32 minutes ago

  • The Hindu

Govt. neglecting farmers, no info on extent of loans: BJP

The BJP has accused the Congress Government of neglecting farmers and pushing them into misery despite the new agriculture season commencing early this year. At a press conference at the BJP office here on Thursday, Deputy Floor leader in the Assembly, Payal Shankar, said that there is no official information about the extent of loans sanctioned by banks this season and how much has been disbursed so far. 'Many farmers are unable to go for fresh loans due to the 'half-baked' loan waiver scheme, with no clarity on those who had taken more than ₹2 lakh loan,' he said. The BJP MLA said that despite Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy assuring to join the PM's farm insurance scheme, ignored by BRS Government, there has been no forward movement with not a single paisa released so far. Why not CBI? With regard to the ongoing Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project probe, Mr. Shankar questioned why the Government has been reluctant to hand over the case to the CBI considering that there are allegations of money laundering in the case. The irrigation project has been 'corruption ridden' from Day One to the last day with allegations in every aspect of the construction, he maintained, and asked why the Government has been dilly-dallying about implementing the recommendations of the NDSA. 'Don't criticise Kishan' He advised Mr. Revanth Reddy to desist from criticising party president and Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy claiming that the latter has already ensured Telangana got sufficient funds and has been striving for more. The party has won eight MP and eight MLA seats besides bagging two MLC seats which indicates the support of the people, he said. The unfounded criticism directed against Mr. Kishan Reddy could also be a ruse to divert people's attention from the ruling party's failure to implement election promises.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store