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The Hindu
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
FIR filed against ‘Kesari Chapter 2' for ‘distorting history' of Bengali freedom fighters
An FIR has been registered against the producers of the film Kesari Chapter 2 at the Bidhannagar South police station in West Bengal, following allegations of misrepresenting historical facts related to the state's freedom fighters. The complaint, filed by Ranajit Biswas, a resident of Nabapally, accuses the film of inaccurately portraying prominent Bengali revolutionaries. According to the FIR, the film refers to Khudiram Bose as 'Khudiram Singh' and identifies Barindra Kumar Ghosh as 'Birendra Kumar' from Amritsar. The film is currently streaming on Jio Hotstar. Police have registered the case under sections 352, 353(1)(c), and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, covering intentional insult, public mischief, and circulation of false information. The film, directed by Karan Singh Tyagi and based on the book The Case That Shook the Empire by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat, has drawn criticism from political and cultural circles in West Bengal. The cast includes Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, and Ananya Panday. Leaders of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have strongly objected to the portrayal. At a press conference, senior party leaders Kunal Ghosh and Arup Chakraborty called the film a 'deliberate distortion' of Bengal's role in the freedom movement. 'The names of Bengali revolutionaries who sacrificed their lives for India's freedom were being distorted... this is a conspiracy to erase Bengal's role in the freedom movement. How did such a film get a censor certificate?' said Ghosh. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also addressed the issue during a public event, without naming the film. She said there were 'repeated efforts to undermine the contributions of Bengal's freedom fighters,' and accused the BJP of politicising history. The complaint also mentions the character of Hemchandra Kanungo, who is said to have been replaced by a fictional figure named Kripal Singh. TMC leaders have questioned how the film was approved by the censor board and demanded accountability from the Centre. The BJP has denied any involvement, calling the controversy 'unnecessary.' BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya said, 'Character names are often changed in films. The TMC is using this to stir political sentiment.' Actor Ritwick Chakraborty also criticised the film, stating that the inaccuracies reflect either poor research or lack of attention to detail.
India Today
19-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
FIR against Kesari Chapter 2, Trinamool says film insults Bengal's freedom struggle
On June 18, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) strongly condemned the makers of 'Kesari Chapter 2', accusing them of 'distorting' Bengal's contribution to India's freedom struggle. The party described the depiction of prominent Bengali revolutionaries as a 'deliberate insult' to the state's rich historical FIR has been filed against seven of the film's producers at Bidhannagar South police station under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).advertisementThe controversy flared up after a scene in the film allegedly misrepresented iconic freedom fighters Khudiram Bose and Barindra Kumar Ghosh. According to the TMC, the film refers to Bose as 'Khudiram Singh' and portrays Barindra Ghosh as 'Birendra Kumar' from Amritsar, a move the party has slammed as a 'deliberate distortion of historical facts.' In a recent press conference, senior TMC leaders Kunal Ghosh and Arup Chakraborty spoke about Bengal's contribution to freedom. 'The names of Bengali revolutionaries who sacrificed their lives for India's freedom were being distorted. This is not just a mistake, this is a conspiracy to erase Bengal's role in the freedom movement. How did such a film get a censor certificate?' Ghosh Minister Mamata Banerjee also weighed in on the same and said that there are several attempts to downplay Bengal's historical directly naming the film, she said, 'There are attempts to undermine the role played by the Bengali revolutionaries during the independence struggle. We condemn this. The BJP has been targeting Bengal and our cultural heritage.'Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi, 'Kesari Chapter 2' is reportedly inspired by the book The Case That Shook the Empire by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat. Starring Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, and Ananya Panday, the film has drawn criticism for altering historical facts, most notably for renaming and replacing key revolutionaries. As per Ghosh, the film replaces Hemchandra Kanungo, who trained young revolutionaries in bomb-making, with a fictional character named Kripal party demanded strict action and accountability from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). 'Why didn't the censor board flag these historical distortions? Who allowed such a film to pass certification?' they by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions, 'Kesari Chapter 2' earned strong audience approval, translating into a robust box-office run. Since its April 18 release, the film has amassed Rs 142 crore worldwide. It is currently streaming on Watch
Hindustan Times
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
FIR against makers of Akshay Kumar's Kesari Chapter 2 for 'distorting' Bengal's freedom movement, TMC calls it 'insult'
West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress on Wednesday attacked the makers of Bollywood film Kesari Chapter 2, accusing them of distorting the history of the state's contribution to India's freedom struggle and insulting Bengali revolutionaries. An FIR has been filed against seven producers of Kesari Chapter 2 under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Bidhannagar South police station. The controversy erupted over a scene in the movie that allegedly misrepresents key freedom fighters from Bengal — notably the iconic Bengali revolutionaries Khudiram Bose and Barindra Kumar Ghosh. According to the TMC, the film refers to Khudiram Bose as 'Khudiram Singh' and presents Barindra Kumar Ghosh as 'Birendra Kumar' from Amritsar. Calling it a 'deliberate distortion of history' and a 'deep insult to Bengal,' senior TMC leaders Kunal Ghosh and Arup Chakraborty addressed a press conference at the party headquarters, condemning the portrayal. Ghosh said, 'The names of Bengali revolutionaries who sacrificed their lives for India's freedom were being distorted. This is not just a mistake — this is a conspiracy to erase Bengal's role in the freedom movement. How did such a film get a censor certificate?' West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, without naming the movie, also slammed the filmmakers charging them with trying to undermine the contributions of freedom fighters from Bengal, in collusion with the BJP. "There are attempts to undermine the role played by the Bengali revolutionaries during the independence struggle. We condemn this. The BJP has been targeting Bengal and our cultural heritage," she said. The TMC alleged that the Centre's BJP-led government has repeatedly attempted to undermine Bengal's history and cultural identity. 'This is not the first time. The central government has often played games with Bengal's legacy and dignity. But this time, the limit has been crossed,' claimed Ghosh. The film, directed by Karan Singh Tyagi and based on the book The Case That Shook the Empire by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat, allegedly altered the identities of multiple historical figures. Actor Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, and Ananya Panday are among the film's cast. Apart from Khudiram Bose and Barindra Kumar Ghosh, the film is also said to misrepresent Hemchandra Kanungo, the revolutionary who trained the young men in bomb-making. The filmmakers allegedly replaced his character with a fictional figure named Kripal Singh, Ghosh claimed. TMC leaders have demanded immediate action from the Centre and questioned the role of the censor board. 'Why didn't the censor board flag these historical distortions? Who allowed such a film to pass certification?' they asked. The BJP, however, claimed that the TMC is trying to make an issue out of a non-issue. "At times in feature films, we have seen the names of characters have been changed. So, how is the BJP related to all of this? We are all aware how much honour the TMC has shown to our freedom fighters," BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya said. Noted Bengali actor Ritwick Chakraborty also criticised the filmmakers for not giving due attention to facts and details. "I don't know whether I should call it a bad research team or a poor screenplay. It is quite obvious that attempts were made to undermine the role of Bengali revolutionaries," Chakraborty said. A section of Bengali viewers has also taken to social media to express anger and demand accountability.
Hans India
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Kesari Chapter 2: True Story of C. Sankaran Nair and Jallianwala Bagh
After completing a successful 50-day run in theatres, the historical courtroom drama Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh is now available for streaming on JioHotstar, starting June 13, 2025. About the Film The film is from the book The Case That Shook the Empire. It's about C. Sankaran Nair, an Indian lawyer who studied the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The British wanted him to support their side, but he told the truth and fought their story. Cast
News18
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Missed It In Theatres? Here's Where To Watch Kesari 2 On OTT
Last Updated: The film, directed by Karan Singh Tyagi, revisits the massive killings at Amritsar's Jallianwala Bagh in 1919. Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan and Ananya Panday's Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh hit theatres in April. The film has a successful run with a noteworthy box office collection and critical acclaim. But in case you missed the film in theatres, here's your chance to watch it from the comfort of your home. Kesari 2 is now accessible to view online. Kesari Chapter 2 started streaming on JioHotstar from June 13. The film, directed by Karan Singh Tyagi and produced by an impressive team that included Hiroo Yash Johar, Aruna Bhatia, Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, Amritpal Singh Bindra, and Anand Tiwari, stands out as an emotionally charged legal drama that revisits one of the darkest and least-discussed episodes of colonial India. The film is based on Raghu and Pushpa Palat's book 'The Case That Shook the Empire'. The film follows C. Sankaran Nair, an Indian lawyer and Viceroy's Council member who was initially sent to investigate the Jallianwala Bagh massacre by the British. They anticipated Nair to write a report in their favour, but when the barrister discovered layer after layer of the tragic incident, he decided to question the British Empire's story. Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, and Ananya Panday play the roles of lawyer C. Sankaran Nair, advocate Neville McKinley, and law student Dilreet Gill, respectively. Kasari 2 collected a total of Rs 89 crore throughout its run, as per Sacnilk. The film opened with a collection of Rs 7.75 crore on its first day and over Rs 28 crore on its first weekend. The movie is a spiritual sequel to the 2019 film Kesari, which also starred Akshay Kumar. Kesari Part 1 is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video. Anurag Singh directed the film, which depicted the events leading up to the Battle of Saragarhi in 1897, in which 21 Sikh troops from the British Indian Army's 36th Sikh Regiment faced 10,000 Afridi and Orakzai Pashtun tribesmen. It also stars Parineeti Chopra and Akshay Kumar. First Published:
