The much-awaited courtroom drama ‘ Kesari Chapter 2 : The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre ’, starring Akshay Kumar , Ananya Panday , and R. Madhavan , is almost here. As fans gear up for its release on 18 April 2025, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has officially granted the film an ‘A’ certificate.
CBFC gives a clean chit

According to the CBFC website, the film was certified on 9 April 2025. The adult rating (‘A’ certificate) has likely been given because of the intense and graphic depiction of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre—one of the darkest chapters in Indian history. The film’s runtime is confirmed at 2 hours and 15 minutes (135 minutes and 6 seconds).

A courtroom battle set in the colonial era

‘Kesari Chapter 2’ focuses on the story of C. Sankaran Nair, a fearless lawyer who challenged the British Empire in court to uncover the truth about the brutal Jallianwala Bagh incident. Akshay Kumar plays the lead role, bringing Nair’s determination and courage to life. The film is directed by Karan Singh Tyagi and promises a powerful mix of history and legal drama.
Powerful trailer with a star-studded cast

The trailer offers a glimpse into the intense courtroom scenes. It opens with Akshay’s character asking a British officer if a warning was given before the troops opened fire on the peaceful crowd at Jallianwala Bagh. From there, the trailer sets the tone for a tense legal face-off. R. Madhavan steps in as the Crown’s defending lawyer, setting the stage for a fierce clash of arguments. Ananya plays a female lawyer—a rare sight at the time—who seems to be a part of Nair’s team.
Akshay Kumar’s bold avatar

As part of the film’s promotions, Akshay recently shared a striking picture of himself dressed in a traditional Kathakali costume. He captioned the post, “This is not a costume. It’s a symbol of tradition, of resistance, of truth, of my nation.” The image created quite a buzz online and served as a strong reminder of the film’s cultural depth and patriotic message.