In an age dominated by larger-than-life fictional heroes, Bollywood is set to turn the spotlight on a real-life icon of India’s freedom struggle—Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair. Kesari Chapter 2, slated to release worldwide on April 18, 2025, will see superstar Akshay Kumar step into the shoes of one of the bravest, yet unsung, figures in India’s colonial history.
Directed by debutant Karan Singh Tyagi and produced by Karan Johar, the historical courtroom drama is based on the critically acclaimed book The Case That Shook the Empire by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat, the great-grandson and granddaughter-in-law of C. Sankaran Nair.
Born in 1857 in Kerala’s Palakkad district, C. Sankaran Nair rose to become one of India’s most influential lawyers and political reformers. From serving as Advocate-General of the Madras Presidency to being the youngest-ever President of the Indian National Congress in 1897, Nair’s life was marked by a relentless pursuit of justice and truth.
The film draws particular focus on Nair’s resignation from the Viceroy’s Executive Council in protest of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919. His bold step made global headlines and became a turning point in colonial India’s growing resistance to British oppression.
In 1922, Nair published Gandhi and Anarchy, directly implicating Michael O'Dwyer, then Punjab’s Lieutenant Governor, for the Jallianwala bloodshed. This led to a sensational defamation trial in a London court, where Nair, facing immense pressure and prejudice, refused to apologise or compromise his values.
Despite losing the case, his steadfastness sparked international outrage against British rule and earned him moral victory. As the film’s trailer promises: “When the system fails, the conscience fights.”
Akshay Kumar, known for portraying patriotic roles in Kesari, Gold, and Airlift, described Nair as “one of the bravest Indians who fought the Empire with the power of law and truth.” He added, “Portraying a real hero like Sankaran Nair is both an honour and a responsibility.”
The film’s production team, led by Dharma Productions, has recreated colonial-era London and India with meticulous attention to detail, highlighting the stark contrast between imperial arrogance and Indian resistance.
Though Sir C. Sankaran Nair passed away in 1934, his legacy continues. His family’s contributions include military and civil service, most notably his grandson Lt. Gen. Candeth, who led the liberation of Goa in 1961.
With Kesari Chapter 2, Indian cinema pays overdue homage to a man whose courage and convictions changed the course of a nation. It is not just a film—it’s a reminder that freedom was not only fought on the battlefield, but also in the courtroom.
