‘Kesari Chapter 2’: Who is C. Sankaran Nair?

Bollywood star Akshay Kumar is all set to bring to life one of India’s most remarkable yet lesser-known freedom fighters in his upcoming historical drama Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh. Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi, the film steps away from battlefield heroics to enter the courtroom, where one man’s courage challenged the might of the British Empire. That man was C. Sankaran Nair—a towering figure in India’s legal and political landscape, remembered for his fearless stand against colonial injustice in the wake of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

Who Was C. Sankaran Nair?

Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair was not only a formidable lawyer and judge but also a passionate nationalist who served as the president of the Indian National Congress. His most defining act came in 1919, after the horrific Jallianwala Bagh massacre, where hundreds of unarmed civilians were killed by British troops in Amritsar. In a bold and unprecedented move, Nair resigned from the Viceroy's Executive Council in protest. Refusing to be silenced, he sought legal justice for the massacre, making him a rare voice of resistance within the colonial establishment and a crucial player in India’s struggle for self-rule.

The Film’s Plot and Themes

Kesari Chapter 2 is not a direct sequel to the 2019 war drama Kesari but a spiritual successor that shifts focus from the battlefield to the courtroom. Inspired by the book The Case That Shook the Empire by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat (Nair’s descendants), the film follows Nair’s legal crusade to expose the British government’s role in the massacre and demand accountability.
Akshay Kumar steps into the role of C. Sankaran Nair, channeling the lawyer’s tenacity and moral resolve. The film also stars R. Madhavan as Advocate Neville McKinley, Ananya Panday as Dilreet Gill, and Regina Cassandra as Nair’s wife, Palat Kunhimalu Amma. It promises a gripping narrative filled with historical insights, legal drama, and the emotional weight of a nation’s awakening.

Production and Release

Backed by Dharma Productions, Cape of Good Films, and Leo Media Collective, Kesari Chapter 2 runs for 135 minutes and has been awarded an ‘A’ certificate by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) without any cuts. The film is slated to release in theaters on April 18, 2025.

Akshay Kumar’s Transformation

To authentically portray Sankaran Nair, Akshay Kumar underwent a physical transformation, which he revealed on social media through a striking black-and-white collage. The comparison of his look to the real-life photograph of Nair sparked excitement among fans and history enthusiasts alike, raising expectations for a powerful performance.

Honoring a Forgotten Legacy

With Kesari Chapter 2, Bollywood steps into a rare space of legal-political drama, exploring not just resistance through arms, but resistance through law and intellect. By spotlighting C. Sankaran Nair’s fearless pursuit of justice, the film serves as a cinematic tribute to a man who dared to challenge the empire—not with weapons, but with words and truth.
This is not just another period film. It is a timely reminder that freedom was not only fought for on the battlefield but also in the quiet but courageous corners of courtrooms and councils.