New Delhi [India]: Filmmaker Karan Johar and actor Akshay Kumar have expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for highlighting the unsung legacy of lawyer C. Sankaran Nair, whose brave stance against British colonial rule following the Jallianwala Bagh massacre is being showcased in the upcoming film Kesari 2.
During a public gathering in Haryana on Monday, PM Modi honored Nair’s historic role in challenging British atrocities after the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre, where British troops killed hundreds of unarmed civilians in Amritsar. In his speech, Modi praised Nair’s courage in standing up against the empire, even at the cost of losing his own comforts and position.
“He could have enjoyed all the luxuries, but inspired by Jallianwala Bagh, he raised his voice against British atrocities. Sankaran Nair ensured that the British government was brought to the court of law. He showed what unity and humanity actually mean,” PM Modi said.
Following the speech, Karan Johar shared a clip of the Prime Minister’s address on his social media, expressing gratitude for shedding light on Nair’s contributions to India’s freedom struggle. Johar, who is producing Kesari 2, a film focused on Nair’s battle for justice, wrote, “Thank you to our honourable PM Modi ji for shedding light on some of our unsung heroes of our Indian freedom, specifically C. Sankaran Nair whose story remains unheard, untold and unread by so many of our citizens.”
Akshay Kumar, who plays a pivotal role in Kesari 2, also thanked PM Modi for recognizing Nair’s heroism. “Thank you Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji for remembering the great Chettur Sankaran Nair ji and his contribution to our freedom struggle. It is so important that we as a nation, especially the younger generation, value the great women and men who fought valiantly to ensure that we breathe in a free country!”
In addition, a special screening of Kesari 2 was held in Delhi, attended by several political leaders and dignitaries, including Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra and Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Both praised the film for shedding light on an often-overlooked chapter of India’s freedom struggle.
Kapil Mishra, after attending the screening, lauded Akshay Kumar’s performance, saying, “This movie brings to light an aspect of our freedom struggle that people have heard about but do not know the whole thing. Akshay Kumar has performed exceptionally well.”
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri also commended the film, emphasizing its portrayal of a “transformational period” in India’s history. He said, “We are very privileged to have been given this opportunity to watch this film, which focuses on a transformational period in our history.”