Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has strongly condemned two films, Kesari Chapter 2 and The Bengal Files, for allegedly insulting Bengali freedom fighters and distorting historical facts. The controversy erupted after Akshay Kumar’s Kesari Chapter 2, released in April and now streaming on Netflix, featured scenes where key revolutionaries’ names were reportedly changed.
In a widely shared clip, Kumar’s character refers to Khudiram Bose as “Khudiram Singh.” Similarly, Barin Ghosh is named “Barin Kumar.” The TMC has called this a direct insult to Bengal’s contribution to India’s freedom struggle.
Spokesperson Kunal Ghosh accused the filmmakers of misrepresenting facts and demanded an apology from the actor and the production team. He added that legal action is being considered, with an FIR already lodged at Bidhannagar South Police Station.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also addressed the issue, saying there’s a deliberate attempt to undermine Bengali revolutionaries and heritage, accusing the BJP of cultural erasure. However, BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya dismissed the outrage, calling it “unnecessary” and politically driven.
Simultaneously, the TMC Youth Wing has lodged a separate complaint against filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri’s The Bengal Files, set to release on September 5. They allege the film intends to incite communal unrest in the state.
Neither Akshay Kumar nor the filmmakers have responded to the backlash.
