Kesari Chapter 2, the spiritual sequel to the 2019 blockbuster Kesari, has finally dropped into theatres with a vengeance. With a heavy plot centred around the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the legal rebellion led by advocate C. Sankaran Nair, the film promised intensity, emotion, and justice¡ªbut did it actually deliver? Well, the audience is split right down the middle like it is the final round of Bigg Boss.
On one hand, cinephiles are hailing it as a must-watch, giving it the kind of praise reserved for Oscar hopefuls. The words ¡°cinematic masterpiece¡± and ¡°powerful storytelling¡± have been floating around, with some viewers getting emotional about the retelling of a ¡°genocide India must know about.¡± Dramatic? Yes. Deserved? Debatable.
On the other end of the spectrum, the trolls have their receipts ready. One viewer roasted the film calling it ¡°old wine in a new bottle,¡± taking a not-so-subtle dig at Akshay Kumar, who they claimed was ¡°totally miscast.¡± According to this camp, the production felt ¡°below average,¡± the screenplay was forgettable, and Dharma Productions has ¡°lost the plot¡ªliterally.¡±
Then comes the wildcard¡ªthe underwhelmed group. They are not angry, they are just disappointed. Words like ¡°fizzles out onscreen¡± and ¡°lacks emotional depth¡± are being thrown around like popcorn during an interval. For a film with such a serious historical backdrop, that kind of apathy might just sting more than hate.
?Here are some more reviews:
R Madhavan and Ananya Panday share the screen with Kumar, and while Madhavan¡¯s performance has been appreciated in whispers, Ananya¡¯s presence did not stir much reaction¡ªgood or bad. Vicky Kaushal, however, came through as a cheerleader, calling the film ¡°gritty and sensitive¡± and even praised the director for a ¡°stellar debut.¡±
The verdict? Kesari Chapter 2 is either going to be your next obsession or your next rant post on Instagram. There is no in-between. Bring popcorn and low expectations, and you just might survive the courtroom carnage.