Kesari Movie Review: Immense Nationalism, No Soul

Nationalism in film is nothing new to be appreciated or criticized. But what is lacking in discourse is the analysis of this film nationalism. Why haven't anyone as of yet attempted to trace a pattern to this sort of Indian film making? Are we afraid? Or are we really this “nationalistic”? Well we do cry when are soldiers die? That must mean something. Shouldn't it?

Kesari is the newest addition in our long list of tear jerking patriotic cinema. And I don't write this sarcastically. Kesari is patriotic. And a few other things as well. Although the plot and dialogues try everything they have to prove that 36 Sikh regiment of the British Indian army did not fight on British orders to protect British forts but to prove their valour and worth and the great sacrificing spirit of the community, the songs talk of teri mitti mein mil jaavan and the sacrifice of the soldier. Pretty much what nationalism is about in its entirety. Interestingly, the songs reflect the film’s promotion. The cast of the film is making promotional appearances with army personnels and CRPF jawans all over the place.

The film is based on an astounding tale of valour and military expertise of the 36 Sikh regiment of British Indian army comprising of 20 soldiers led by havildar Ishar Singh who held Saragarhi fort, now in Pakistan, against nearly 10,000 Afghan soldiers for more than six hours. But the film leaves no stone unturned to make you feel the battle was another Gadar like fiction. In the final showdown scene of the film, Havildar Ishar Singh(Akshay Kumar) fights fiercely with Afghan soldiers. At least that is what the makers intend to show. But honestly, it doesn't even remotely resembles a fight. Akshay Kumar flies in the air to chop limbs off of one Afghan soldier while rest of them surround him making faces and waiting for their turn to be sliced by the hero. All in ultra slow motion exposing the defects even more. And I realized why this wonderful tale wasn’t made yet. Bollywood hasn’t yet figured out action. It is still a bit circus-y.

It's not just the action that turns the experience seem fake, but the dialogues as well. Dialogues are all cliche and seem to be written just for the trailers and maybe later for Musically or Tik-tok videos. It is a film made for the modern nationalist who would cry in the end and believe s/he loves his/her motherland.  It doesn’t present to you any reason or depth to that nationalism.

The plot of the film is no different. Akshay Kumar who looks more like a Sikh guru in a painting than a Sikh soldier in an arid battlefield breaks into monologues on nationalism and Sikh pride every now and then. And maybe that is the message there. Akshay Kumar is the all knowing Guru, here. He plays a young soldier away from his family and land but somehow understands racism, compassion towards enemy and international border politics. I genuinely waited for moments when they would show what the real havildar Ishar Singh was actually great at :military tactics. But the chest thumping nationalism does not give room to professional excellence. Kind of like in the real world?

After the epic battle with cinematic villain killings, the movie finally ended and I found myself crying. Yes I was crying and wondering what was here so effective? Am I a nationalist, too? Because I know for a fact that I am not a Sikh. I cried because I could see the injustice of war. (And also the high pitch music.) We all see it. How it separates people and kills people who would never chose the fight. Finally, with lightened conscience and finding peace in still not becoming a nationalist I went with the flow and cried as much the movie made me.