‘Kesari 2’ to ‘The Waking of a Nation’: Titles echoing Jallianwala Bagh massacre’s tragic aftermath
One of the bloodiest chapters in Indian history is that of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre which continues to haunt the nation even today. On April 13, 1919, British troops opened fire on unarmed citizens in Amritsar who had gathered to celebrate Baisakhi at the Jallianwala Bagh, killing hundreds and injuring thousands, including women and children. The tragedy sparked widespread outrage and galvanized India's freedom struggle. Over the years, filmmakers and storytellers have sought to capture the emotional resonance and historical significance of this pivotal event. Here are some notable films and web series that explore the aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, offering a glimpse into the trauma, resilience, and courage of the Indian people during a tumultuous period in their history.
Kesari 2
Days after ‘Kesari’ completed six years since its release, the makers of the film announced its stand-alone sequel, ‘Kesari 2’. Starring Akshay Kumar in the lead, ‘Kesari 2’ is based on the lesser-known story of lawyer C Sankaran Nair who challenged the British empire to reveal the truth behind the bloody Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. Unlike its prequel, ‘Kesari 2’ isn’t a war drama but a courtroom where Sankaran held the British responsible for the horrific massacre. The upcoming film will be released in cinema halls on April 18.
The Waking of a Nation
Early this month, acclaimed filmmaker Ram Madhvani’s directorial web series, ‘The Waking of a Nation’ premiered on Sony LIV. Starring Taaruk Raina in the lead, who plays the role of lawyer Kantilal Sharma, the series is also based on the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre and shows a fictionalized story of four friends while focusing on the aftermath of the massacre. The series also features Nikita Dutta, Sahil Mehta, and Bhawsheel Singh Sahni in key roles.
Sardar Udham
Starring Vicky Kaushal in the titular role, ‘Sardar Udham’ is a biopic based on the life of Udham Singh, who assassinated Michael O’Dwyer to avenge the massacre. Directed by Shoojit Sircar, the film showed how Udham went all the way to London for the assassination. Vicky’s performance was hugely appreciated by the critics, and the film also won five National Film Awards including one under the category of Best Feature Film. Released directly on the OTT, ‘Sardar Udham’ is considered one of the best films of 2021 and one of the best performances of Vicky.
Jallian Wala Bagh
Released in the year 1977, ‘Jallian Wala Bagh’ is a film written, directed, and produced by Balraj Tah. Starring Vinod Khanna, Shabana Azmi, Parikshat Sahni, Om Shivpuri, and Deepti Naval, among others, it shows how Colonel Reginald Dyer gave the orders to open fire at an unarmed public at the Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar. The film, whose screenplay is written by Gulzar, is also a part-biopic of Sardar Udham (played by Parikshat).