FIR against Kesari Chapter 2, Trinamool says film insults Bengal's freedom struggle
On June 18, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) strongly condemned the makers of 'Kesari Chapter 2', accusing them of 'distorting' Bengal's contribution to India's freedom struggle. The party described the depiction of prominent Bengali revolutionaries as a 'deliberate insult' to the state's rich historical legacy.An FIR has been filed against seven of the film's producers at Bidhannagar South police station under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).advertisementThe controversy flared up after a scene in the film allegedly misrepresented iconic freedom fighters Khudiram Bose and Barindra Kumar Ghosh. According to the TMC, the film refers to Bose as 'Khudiram Singh' and portrays Barindra Ghosh as 'Birendra Kumar' from Amritsar, a move the party has slammed as a 'deliberate distortion of historical facts.'
In a recent press conference, senior TMC leaders Kunal Ghosh and Arup Chakraborty spoke about Bengal's contribution to freedom. '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?' Ghosh said.Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also weighed in on the same and said that there are several attempts to downplay Bengal's historical significance.advertisementWithout 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.'Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi, 'Kesari Chapter 2' is reportedly inspired by the book The Case That Shook the Empire by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat. Starring Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, and Ananya Panday, the film has drawn criticism for altering historical facts, most notably for renaming and replacing key revolutionaries. As per Ghosh, the film replaces Hemchandra Kanungo, who trained young revolutionaries in bomb-making, with a fictional character named Kripal Singh.The party 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.Produced by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions, 'Kesari Chapter 2' earned strong audience approval, translating into a robust box-office run. Since its April 18 release, the film has amassed Rs 142 crore worldwide. It is currently streaming on JioHotstar.Must Watch
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