Each war has many stories to tell. Of the martyrs, of the survivors, of the wounded, and of the hounded. If wars were only documented, the lines become meager numbers on paper. When a movie like Kesari is made on a lesser known but bravest of battles fought under British India, heart swells with pride for their bravado.
North Western Frontier Province, part of Pakistan in today's world map had witnessed a constant friction and confrontation between Afghans and British. Many of us may know that 21 Sikhs belonging to 36 Sikh regiment killed over 600 Afghans in the battle of Saragarhi. The level of motivation it took not to run away from overwhelming 10000 Afghans and the power of commitment they got in them at that crisis is a question of creative liberty for screenplay and direction. Director Anurag Singh has tapped the right chords to create a slow and touchy movie that says about the turn of events and glorifies the brave battle, ever so rightly.
The movie keeps you in splits at times, touches the raw nerve of British ruled India, flares the viewer's patriotism and polishes our religious beliefs, all at right times during the movie. Songs compliment the pace of the movie. It is a slow paced movie, but deliberately been made so. First 30 minutes is just an under-structure for the story that is to be unveiled.
Akshay Kumar as Hawaldar Ishar Singh is not the only glorified hero but one among the heroes who fought and were martyred that day. Screenplay has given a rightful space and justice for each hero among the 21+1. The brutality of force and strategies of the then group of Afghans makes us mull over the story and events that we have read about Afghanistan, Lashqar and Taliban in recent times.
None of us moved even when the movie had completed its show. We were shun to silence. It took a moment more to realize that we had to leave the movie hall.
