Kesari Chapter 2 Row: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the makers of the film Kesari Chapter 2, accusing them of “distorting” Bengal’s role in India’s freedom movement. The party has termed the portrayal of key Bengali revolutionaries as a "deliberate insult" to Bengal’s historical legacy. An FIR has been lodged against seven of the film’s producers at Bidhannagar South police station under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The controversy erupted after a scene in the film allegedly misrepresented iconic revolutionaries Khudiram Bose and Barindra Kumar Ghosh. The movie, according to TMC, refers to Bose as “Khudiram Singh” and shows Barindra Ghosh as “Birendra Kumar” from Amritsar sparking outrage over what the party called a “calculated distortion of facts.”
Calling it a serious affront to Bengal’s contribution to India’s independence, senior TMC leaders Kunal Ghosh and Arup Chakraborty addressed a press conference at the party headquarters. Ghosh remarked, “The names of Bengali revolutionaries who sacrificed their lives for India's freedom were being distorted. This is not just a mistake this is a conspiracy to erase Bengal's role in the freedom movement. How did such a film get a censor certificate?”
Recommended For You
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also weighed in, criticising what she sees as an orchestrated attempt to downplay Bengal’s historical significance. Without directly naming the film, she said, “There are attempts to undermine the role played by the Bengali revolutionaries during the independence struggle. We condemn this. The BJP has been targeting Bengal and our cultural heritage.”
ALSO READ: Khalistani Extremists Using Canada To Plan Violence In India, Says Canadian Intelligence Report
The TMC has repeatedly alleged that the BJP-led central government is attempting to erase Bengal’s historical and cultural identity. “This is not the first time. The central government has often played games with Bengal's legacy and dignity. But this time, the limit has been crossed,” Ghosh added.
Kesari Chapter 2, directed by Karan Singh Tyagi, is said to be based on the book The Case That Shook the Empire by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat. The film stars Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, and Ananya Panday. It has come under fire not only for renaming key revolutionaries but also for replacing historical figures. According to Ghosh, the film substituted revolutionary Hemchandra Kanungo who trained young revolutionaries in bomb-making with a fictional character named Kripal Singh.
The TMC has demanded strict action and accountability from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). “Why didn't the censor board flag these historical distortions? Who allowed such a film to pass certification?” they asked.
Responding to the controversy, BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya dismissed the TMC’s allegations, saying the party was blowing the issue out of proportion. “At times in feature films, we have seen the names of characters have been changed. So how is BJP related to all of this? We are all aware how much honour the TMC has shown to our freedom fighters,” he said.
Noted Bengali actor Ritwick Chakraborty also criticised the film for its lack of historical accuracy. “I don't know whether I should call it a bad research team or a poor screenplay. It is quite obvious that attempts were made to undermine the role of Bengali revolutionaries,” he said.
A section of Bengali viewers has also taken to social media to express anger and demand accountability