Shashi Tharoor praises ‘Kesari Chapter 2’, flags dialogue choice: “C. Sankaran Nair would never have used some of the words that Akshay Kumar uses” | Hindi Movie News
Shashi Tharoor recently shared his thoughts after watching Akshay Kumar‘s latest film, Kesari Chapter 2 which is currently running successfully in theatres with glowing reviews from the audiences and critics as well.
“Amazingly well-made”
As reported by IANS, praising the film for its impactful storytelling and compelling performances, Tharoor called it “amazingly well-made” and “riveting,” while also expressing concerns about certain creative liberties taken with historical accuracy.In ‘Kesari Chapter 2’, Akshay Kumar portrays the legendary lawyer C. Sankaran Nair, known for his fierce opposition to British colonial rule. Shashi Tharoor appreciated the film’s message of resistance, highlighting how it effectively showcased the use of the British court system as a tool against colonial oppression. He emphasized that despite minor deviations from historical facts—something the film clarifies upfront as fiction—the spirit and courage of Sankaran Nair were well-captured.
“He would never have used some of the words that Akshay Kumar uses”
However, Shashi Tharoor took issue with one specific dialogue choice, pointing out that a line delivered by Akshay Kumar using a strong expletive (“f**k you”) would never have been spoken by the real C. Sankaran Nair. “He would never have used some of the words that Akshay Kumar uses,” Shashi Tharoor remarked, explaining that Nair, known for his dignity and integrity, would have maintained a more restrained tone even under provocation.
Historical context of Jallianwala Bagh
Despite this, Shashi Tharoor strongly endorsed the film, praising the high production quality, gripping direction, and strong performances that made even courtroom scenes feel dynamic and engaging. He also opened up on the historical context of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. “I can tell you that for sure. But the spirit, the message, and the very clever way in which the message was allowed to come across were extremely well done. And I will say that, you know, we need films to remind people of some of the atrocities that were inflicted. Jallianwala Bagh, in particular, was in many ways emblematic of the worst sins of the British Raj. I am proud that when I wrote my book about the empire, Inglorious Empire in England in the Era of Darkness Here, and when I then did a book tour in the UK, the point I made very strongly was the need for an apology for the massacre. And I’m glad that at the end of the film, they made the point in their screenshot that the one thing the British have never done is say sorry,” said Shashi Tharoor during an interaction with the media.
Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi, ‘Kesari Chapter 2’ also features R. Madhavan, Ananya Panday, and Regina Cassandra in key roles.
