FIR Filed Against ‘Kesari Chapter 2’; TMC Slams Film for “Insulting” Bengal’s Freedom Struggle

By The Sampadak Express

Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has come down heavily on the makers of the film Kesari Chapter 2, accusing them of “deliberately distorting” Bengal’s contributions to India’s freedom movement. The controversy has led to an FIR being registered against seven of the film’s producers at Bidhannagar South police station under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

According to TMC leaders, the film misrepresents iconic freedom fighters Khudiram Bose and Barindra Kumar Ghosh referring to Bose as “Khudiram Singh” and portraying Barindra Ghosh as “Birendra Kumar” from Amritsar. The party has termed this a “deliberate distortion of historical facts” and an “insult to Bengal’s revolutionary legacy.”

At a press conference, senior TMC leaders Kunal Ghosh and Arup Chakraborty criticized the film for historical inaccuracies. “This is not just a factual error; this is a conspiracy to erase Bengal’s role in India’s freedom struggle,” said Ghosh, questioning how such a film was cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also raised concerns, stating that there are continuous attempts to undermine Bengal’s historical significance. Without naming the film directly, she said, “There are deliberate efforts to downplay the role of Bengali revolutionaries in the independence movement. We strongly condemn such acts. The BJP is constantly targeting Bengal and its cultural pride.”

Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi and produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, Kesari Chapter 2 stars Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, and Ananya Panday. The film is reportedly based on The Case That Shook the Empire by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat. However, the TMC claims that characters like Hemchandra Kanungo, a pivotal figure who trained young revolutionaries in bomb-making, have been replaced with fictional names such as “Kripal Singh.”

Despite the controversy, Kesari Chapter 2 has received a strong response at the box office, earning ₹142 crore globally since its release on April 18. The film is currently streaming on JioHotstar.

The TMC has demanded immediate accountability from the CBFC, urging the board to explain how the film passed certification despite these alleged historical distortions.