Film Overview
- Title: Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh
- Genre: Historical courtroom drama; spiritual sequel to Kesari (2019)
- Directed by: Karan Singh Tyagi, based on the book The Case That Shook the Empire
- Starring:
- Akshay Kumar as C. Sankaran Nair
- R. Madhavan as Neville McKinley
- Ananya Panday as Dilreet Gill
- Plot: The film dramatizes the legal battle led by Nair against the British Empire following the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre—putting truth and justice on trial in a high-stakes courtroom face-off .
Theatrical Run & Trailer
- Theatrical release date: April 18, 2025 (chosen to coincide with the 106th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy).
- Box-office: Earned approximately ₹144–145 crore worldwide, with ₹110 crore grossed in India.
- Trailer drop: March 3, 2025; teaser was earlier released on March 24 .
OTT Streaming Details
- Streaming platform:Exclusive on Jio Hotstar (aka JioCinema)
- OTT release date: June 13, 2025
- Subscription required: Standard Jio Hotstar subscription enables streaming; offline downloads are supported on the app.
How to Watch on Jio Hotstar
- Install & Authenticate – Download the Jio Hotstar (or JioCinema) app and log in or subscribe if needed.
- Search the title – Type in Kesari Chapter 2 in the search box.
- Stream – Tap and press Play to start watching.
- Download – Tap the Download icon to save it offline; select quality as per your preferences.
Why It’s Worth Watching
- Historical significance: Sheds light on the underrepresented legal battle following the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
- Stellar performances: Akshay Kumar delivers a powerful portrayal, strongly supported by Madhavan and Panday.
- Critical acclaim: The Times of India gave it 3/5 stars; Mint praises its narrative strength; India Today and Pinkvilla issued positive reviews, though some critics noted it takes creative liberties .
- Patriotic courtroom drama: Simplifying history into an emotional and moral crescendo, it appeals to both history buffs and general audiences.
Timeline Recap
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Theatrical release | April 18, 2025 |
| Trailer release | March 3, 2025 |
| OTT release | June 13, 2025 on Jio Hotstar (JioCinema) |
Final Verdict
- Release date: June 13, 2025
- Where to watch: Jio Hotstar (web and mobile app)
- How to watch: Stream or download with a subscription
