The recently announced film Kesari 2, starring Akshay Kumar, is making headlines—not just for its star power or cinematic visuals, but for the growing controversy surrounding its depiction of Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair, a prominent figure in India’s freedom struggle. Promoted as an “untold story,” the film is being criticized by historians and political commentators for minimizing Nair’s contributions to India’s nationalist movement and presenting a fictionalized account under the guise of a biographical narrative.
🧾 Who Was C. Sankaran Nair?
Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair was one of the most distinguished legal minds of British India, known for:
Being President of the Indian National Congress in 1897
His courageous dissent against British atrocities, especially post-Jallianwala Bagh
Serving as a Madras High Court judge, and briefly as a member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council before resigning in protest after the 1919 massacre
Writing the influential book Gandhi and Anarchy in 1922, offering a nuanced view of both British policy and Gandhian methods
🎥 What Kesari 2 Portrays
According to promotional material, Kesari 2 is set during colonial India and attempts to depict the “largely forgotten heroism” of C. Sankaran Nair as he takes on the British Empire in a legal battle. However, critics say the film:
Oversimplifies his legal achievements, focusing instead on dramatized courtroom scenes
Frames the story as a one-man battle, ignoring collective resistance movements
Glosses over Nair’s nuanced stance on non-violence, reforms, and moderation
⚖️ Historian Backlash
Academics and historians are questioning the intent behind calling it an "untold story" when Nair’s contributions are well documented in legal, political, and historical literature. Prominent historian Ramachandra Guha tweeted that “fiction is fine, but not when it distorts legacies of our real-life heroes.”
Others argue that:
Reducing complex history to nationalist tropes undermines the intellect of freedom fighters like Nair
Bollywood’s commercial priorities often supersede factual integrity
The film could misinform younger generations about the real impact of legal resistance and moderate leadership during the freedom struggle
🏛️ Art vs History: Where’s the Line?
Films like Kesari 2 fall into the genre of historical fiction, but when marketed as revealing “true stories,” they risk becoming sources of mass historical misinformation. India has a growing trend of films where:
Fictionalized narratives overshadow documented facts
Characters are merged, rewritten, or dramatized to fit patriotic plots
Real events are selectively portrayed to match contemporary political sentiments
This raises ethical questions about responsibility in storytelling, especially when dealing with figures who played nuanced roles in nation-building.
🎭 The Bigger Picture: Bollywood’s Nationalist Turn
Kesari 2 joins a line of films like Sam Bahadur, The Kashmir Files, and The Accidental Prime Minister—projects that blur the lines between cinematic license and historical retelling. Critics argue this trend promotes:
Simplistic nationalism
Selective memory
Polarizing interpretations of India’s history
📝 Conclusion
While Kesari 2 may attract audiences with its patriotic undertones and courtroom drama, it must be viewed with critical awareness. Sir C. Sankaran Nair was a legal luminary, reformist, and nationalist, whose real story deserves more than a loosely fictionalized script. Audiences and filmmakers alike must ask: Is cinematic liberty worth the price of historical accuracy?
❓ FAQ: Kesari 2 & Sankaran Nair
Q1: Is Kesari 2 based on a true story?
Partially. It draws from real events involving C. Sankaran Nair but dramatizes them heavily.
Q2: Why is the film being criticized?
Historians claim it downplays Nair’s multifaceted role in the independence movement and oversimplifies his legacy.
Q3: What were Sankaran Nair’s key contributions?
He was a jurist, Congress President, a critic of British atrocities, and a strong advocate of legal and constitutional reform.
Q4: Is there a book on which the film is based?
It is loosely inspired by the book The Case That Shook the Empire by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat, Nair’s descendants.
Q5: What should viewers keep in mind?
While Kesari 2 might inspire patriotism, viewers should supplement their understanding with historical records and biographies.
published on 23rd june
Publisher : SMITA
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