Controversy Erupts Over ‘Kesari Chapter 2’; TMC Alleges Historical Distortion, Files FIR

TMC Files FIR Against ‘Kesari Chapter 2’ Makers Over Alleged Historical Distortion.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Wednesday accused the makers of Kesari Chapter 2 of distorting Bengal’s role in India’s freedom struggle and insulting revered Bengali revolutionaries. An FIR has been filed against seven producers under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Bidhannagar South police station.

The film, directed by Karan Singh Tyagi and based on the book The Case That Shook the Empire, allegedly misrepresents figures like Khudiram Bose, referring to him as Khudiram Singh, and Barindra Kumar Ghosh, renamed Birendra Kumar from Amritsar. The TMC said these changes were not accidental but an attempt to erase Bengal’s legacy.

“This is not a factual mistake; it is a deliberate distortion of history,” said TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh, calling the film an insult to freedom fighters. Ghosh and fellow leader Arup Chakraborty questioned how the film received a censor certificate despite these inaccuracies.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also condemned what she called attempts to undermine Bengal’s cultural and historical identity, suggesting political motives behind the portrayal. “The BJP has consistently tried to erase Bengal’s contribution to India’s freedom,” she said.

The film stars Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, and Ananya Panday, and has also been criticised for replacing Hemchandra Kanungo with a fictional character named Kripal Singh.

The BJP dismissed the allegations, calling them an overreaction. “Character names are often altered in fictionalised narratives. The TMC is politicising this unnecessarily,” said BJP leader Samik Bhattacharya.

Prominent Bengali actor Ritwick Chakraborty joined the chorus of criticism, citing poor research and a lack of respect for historical facts.

Online, many Bengali viewers expressed anger, with hashtags calling for accountability trending on social media.