Trinamool Congress slams ‘Kesari Chapter 2’ and ‘The Bengal Files’ for misrepresentation
text_fields
Two recent films have sparked political and cultural outrage in West Bengal, with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) accusing them of distorting the state's contribution to India’s freedom movement and attempting to incite unrest.
Akshay Kumar’s Kesari Chapter 2, released in April and now streaming on Netflix, has come under fire for allegedly misnaming iconic freedom fighter Khudiram Bose as “Khudiram Singh” in a scene that has gone viral on social media. The film, a historical drama based on India's resistance against British colonial rule, is being criticised for factual inaccuracies.
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh voiced strong disapproval, accusing the filmmakers of insulting Bengali revolutionaries. “Khudiram Bose has been changed to Khudiram Singh… Bengal’s role in the freedom struggle is being deliberately undermined. We demand an apology from Akshay Kumar and the film’s team,” Ghosh told the media, adding that legal action was also being considered.
An FIR has already been filed at Bidhannagar South Police Station for "distorting historical facts."
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee echoed the criticism during a press briefing, accusing certain groups of trying to erase Bengal’s contribution to India’s independence. She said, “There are attempts to undermine the role played by Bengali revolutionaries during the independence struggle. We condemn this.”
However, the BJP dismissed the allegations as politically motivated. BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya downplayed the issue, stating, “Character names are often changed in films. The TMC is using this to stir political sentiments.”
In a separate controversy, TMC’s youth wing has lodged a police complaint against The Bengal Files, an upcoming film by director Vivek Agnihotri, scheduled for release on September 5. The complaint claims the movie aims to provoke communal unrest in the state.
As the row intensifies, neither Akshay Kumar nor the makers of Kesari Chapter 2 have issued a statement addressing the backlash.
