Kesari Chapter 2: TMC Slams Makers Of Akshay's Film For 'Distorting' Bengal's Freedom Movement

West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has criticised the Bollywood film "Kesari Chapter 2" for allegedly distorting the state's historical role in India's freedom struggle. The party accused the filmmakers of insulting Bengali revolutionaries by misrepresenting their contributions. An FIR has been lodged against seven producers of the film at Bidhannagar South police station under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The controversy centres around a scene that allegedly misrepresents key figures from Bengal's freedom movement. The film reportedly refers to Khudiram Bose as "Khudiram Singh" and Barindra Kumar Ghosh as "Birendra Kumar" from Amritsar. TMC leaders Kunal Ghosh and Arup Chakraborty condemned these portrayals, calling them a deliberate distortion of history and an insult to Bengal.

TMC's Outrage Over Historical Distortion

Senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh expressed outrage, stating, "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?" West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also criticised the filmmakers, accusing them of undermining the contributions of Bengali freedom fighters in collaboration with the BJP.

The TMC alleged that this incident is part of a broader pattern by the BJP-led central government to undermine Bengal's history and cultural identity. Ghosh claimed, "This is not the first time. The central government has often played games with Bengal's legacy and dignity. But this time, the limit has been crossed." The film, directed by Karan Singh Tyagi and based on Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat's book 'The Case That Shook the Empire', allegedly altered multiple historical identities.

Misrepresentation of Revolutionary Figures

Besides Khudiram Bose and Barindra Kumar Ghosh, Hemchandra Kanungo, known for training young men in bomb-making, was also misrepresented. His character was replaced with a fictional figure named Kripal Singh, according to Ghosh. TMC leaders have demanded immediate action from the Centre and questioned why the censor board approved such historical distortions.

The BJP responded by dismissing TMC's allegations as an attempt to create controversy over a non-issue. BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya remarked, "At times in feature films, we have seen the names of characters have been changed. So how is BJP related to all of this? We are all aware how much honour the TMC has shown to our freedom fighters."

Public Reaction and Criticism

Noted Bengali actor Ritwick Chakraborty also criticised the filmmakers for neglecting factual accuracy. He commented, "I don't know whether I should call it a bad research team or a poor screenplay. It is quite obvious that attempts were made to undermine the role of Bengali revolutionaries." A section of Bengali viewers expressed their anger on social media, demanding accountability from those responsible for these inaccuracies.

The ongoing debate highlights tensions between political parties over cultural representation in media. As discussions continue, many await further developments regarding potential actions against those involved in producing "Kesari Chapter 2".