The second instalment in the Kesari series, which tells stories of unsung but key figures from Indian history, is gearing up for release on April 18, 2025. The trailer launch event was held on Thursday.
The trailer gives us a glimpse of an unabashedly cinematic portrayal of "India's biggest courtroom battle", which sees Akshay Kumar's Malayali advocate C Sankaran Nair going toe-to-toe with the man responsible for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, General Dyer, and his defense lawyer Neville Mckinley (R Madhavan).
The trailer presents Akshay and Madhavan in a fierce and confident portrayal of their respective characters. After a scene showing Sankaran Nair questioning Dyer's methods to disperse a crowd. The footage also depicts the brutal massacre and its gory aftermath. Needless to say, only those with a tough stomach should consider going to the theatres.
Both Sankaran Nair and Neville Mckinley get a sufficient buildup in the trailer. "We are suing the Crown for genocide," declares Nair. Mckinley is described as the only man who can defend the Crown who also happens to be a "little bit moody, but he's a genius" and someone who doesn't just speak, but "roars."
The makers of Kesari 2 promise an "epic standoff". It ends with a scene of Nair and Dyer in the latrine. "You're still a slave of the British Empire," says Dyer. After a brief pause, Nair replies, "The Empire is shrinking."
Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi, Kesari 2 is produced by Dharma Productions.
At the event, Akshay also announced the third chapter of Kesari, which will tell the story of Sikh General Hari Singh Nalwa.
