An FIR has been registered against the producers of the film Kesari Chapter 2 at the Bidhannagar South police station in West Bengal, following allegations of misrepresenting historical facts related to the state’s freedom fighters.
The complaint, filed by Ranajit Biswas, a resident of Nabapally, accuses the film of inaccurately portraying prominent Bengali revolutionaries. According to the FIR, the film refers to Khudiram Bose as “Khudiram Singh” and identifies Barindra Kumar Ghosh as “Birendra Kumar” from Amritsar. The film is currently streaming on Jio Hotstar.
Police have registered the case under sections 352, 353(1)(c), and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, covering intentional insult, public mischief, and circulation of false information.
The film, directed by Karan Singh Tyagi and based on the book The Case That Shook the Empire by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat, has drawn criticism from political and cultural circles in West Bengal. The cast includes Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, and Ananya Panday.
Leaders of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have strongly objected to the portrayal. At a press conference, senior party leaders Kunal Ghosh and Arup Chakraborty called the film a “deliberate distortion” of Bengal’s role in the freedom movement.
“The names of Bengali revolutionaries who sacrificed their lives for India’s freedom were being distorted… this is a conspiracy to erase Bengal’s role in the freedom movement. How did such a film get a censor certificate?” said Ghosh.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also addressed the issue during a public event, without naming the film. She said there were “repeated efforts to undermine the contributions of Bengal’s freedom fighters,” and accused the BJP of politicising history.
The complaint also mentions the character of Hemchandra Kanungo, who is said to have been replaced by a fictional figure named Kripal Singh. TMC leaders have questioned how the film was approved by the censor board and demanded accountability from the Centre.
The BJP has denied any involvement, calling the controversy “unnecessary.” BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya said, “Character names are often changed in films. The TMC is using this to stir political sentiment.”
Actor Ritwick Chakraborty also criticised the film, stating that the inaccuracies reflect either poor research or lack of attention to detail.
Published – June 19, 2025 04:23 pm IST