Film: Kesari
Date: 22. 03. 2019
Director: Anurag Singh
Writer: Anurag Singh, Girish Kohli
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra
Stars: 2.5
War drama is the most difficult genre of cinema because you are revisiting history and calls for a special skill to execute what happened many years ago. In subjects like these, the filmmaker cannot take any creative liberties and therefore the challenge is daunting.
Over the years we have watched many war films but the ones we remember are the films that touched our hearts. Anurag Singh’s Kesari recounts the bravery of 21 Sikh soldiers who fought an army of 10,000 Afghans during the 1897 Battle of Saragarhi. Their plan was to get control of Saragarhi and go for other forts Gulistan and Lockhart in Northern India, then under the British rule. The Afghans were confident that they would capture Sargarhi in thirty minutes and unprepared for the tough battle that lasted an entire day. This battle is regarded as the second bravest battle ever in world history.
I don’t expect to be entertained by a war film but I expect to be engaged and Kesari fails to do that. The first half of the film is dreadfully slow, the pace picks up comparatively post interval but the narrative is still exceedingly dry and shines only towards the end in the climax when Akshay Kumar wears the orange turban.
The main problem with the film is the screenplay, writers Girish Kohli and Anurag Singh are so focused on not misinterpreting history and religious conflicts that they fail to adequately flesh out the characters or provide any new insights or humor to the story. The emotional moments are few and far too predictable and superficial.
The plus is the cinematography/ Anshul Chobey, the production design/ Subrata-Amit recreate the North West province now in Pakistan, the amazing action, some dialogues, and music.
Kesari could have been a celebration of ensemble performances from supporting cast but that does not happen. Akshay Kumar’s Havildar Ishar Singh who has a habit of adjusting his turban every time he is about to do something special is convincing but it is the suntanned Parineeti Chopra in a cameo who brings a smile on Akshay’s and the audience’s face.
Watch Kesari to connect with your history and be prepared that it is soaked in blood.
For the intention and the message of the film, I rate Kesari with 2.5 stars.
Bhawana Somaaya/ @bhawanasomaaya
Awesome review. Couldn’t agree more.