The year 2025 seems to be a year of celebrating unsung heroes and flipping through overlooked chapters from the lost pages of history books. Just when Vicky Kaushal's Chhaava, a story about Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, had finally ended its dream run at the box office, Akshay Kumar dropped his Kesari Chapter 2, set against the backdrop of Jallianwala Bagh massacre. While both films shared an educational undertone and the intent to evoke national pride, their journeys were shaped quite differently -- Chhaava was granted a U/A certificate from the Censor Board, whereas Kesari Chapter 2 was given an A (18+) certificate. But why the discrimination?
When Chhaava released, certain sections of the audience expressed concern about its brutal and graphic portrayal of violence and gore. But the makers had justified the U/A certificate, stating that the film shows a very important and lesser-known side of India's history, the valour of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, which the younger generation must know and feel proud about. Fair enough. But doesn't the same logic apply to Kesari Chapter 2?
Is the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and barrister C Sankaran Nair's fight against the British government to punish the one responsible for the massacre not important enough for kids and youth to know?
Is it the graphic depiction of violence?
Let’s break it down. Violence is a common denominator in both films. In fact, I believe the violence and bloodshed depicted in Chhaava was way more than that in Kesari Chapter 2. The entire second-half of the Vicky Kaushal-starrer is filled with battle scenes, Maratha warriors thrusting spears, slicing enemies with swords, and later, Aurangzeb's men torturing Sambhaji Maharaj by whiplashing him, pulling his nails out, gouging his eyes out, and eventually cutting his tongue off. It's raw, relentless, and not for the faint-hearted.
In contrast, the only violence and gore that was depicted in the film is in the first 10 minutes when General Dyer open fires indiscriminately at the thousands of innocent Indians who had gathered at Jallianwala Bagh on the occasion on Baisakhi in 1919. It has the gut-wrenching portrayal of the massacre -- gunfire, bloodied limbs, women and children jumping into a well to escape death, and blood splattered on the walls and faces of those who managed to survive. While horrifying, the intensity is relatively short-lived compared to the prolonged violence shown in Chhaava. Beyond the initial 10 minutes, the film shifts focus to the courtroom drama and political tension.
Could it be the infamous F-word?
One scene in Kesari Chapter 2 sparked widespread chatter even before its release, wherein Akshay Kumar, as barrister C Sankaran Nair, is seen abusing the British judge and the Crown in a courtroom and saying, "F**k you!" It is a powerful moment, showing India's right to justice. So, is the usage of the word reason enough to declare the film unfit to be watched by those under the age of 18?
Mind you, the scene where Akshay uses the F-word was included in the film’s very first teaser that was released by the makers on YouTube -- an open platform accessible to virtually everyone, including those the CBFC deems “too young” for theatres. So these kids can be barred from entering the theatres due to the 'A' certificate, but who will stop them from hearing Akshay say "F**k you" to a British judge on free YouTube?
Akshay Kumar and his tryst with debatable adult-rated censor certificates
This is not the first time that an Akshay Kumar film has been granted an 'A' certificate. In 2023, when his Oh My God 2 (OMG 2) released in theatres, it courted several controversies, one of them being around the 'Adult' certificate that was awarded to the film.
OMG 2 highlighted the taboo around sex education in schools, and what impact the lack of it can have on the impressionable minds of today's generation, which is already over-exposed, courtesy the internet. The irony was stark: a film promoting awareness among teenagers was deemed unfit for them to watch.
Did Kesari Chapter 2 really deserve an 'A' certificate?
Absolutely not. If the story of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj is important for the kids and teenagers to know to instill valour in them from a young age, then the story of C Sankaran Nair, who stood for his country despite all odds is also important, to imbibe a sense of responsibility towards the motherland in the minds of the youth.
A U/A certificate would not only have broadened the film’s reach but also strengthened its box office performance, encouraging more filmmakers to dig out such stories and bring them to life. While Chhaava recently became the second Bollywood film ever to collect Rs 600 crore at the Indian box office, Kesari Chapter 2 has not even crossed Rs 50 crore after its first week.
As for the censorship part, when Kesari Chapter 2 releases on OTT a few weeks later, who is going to stop the 'underaged' youth from watching it on their mobile phones?
