Kesari delivers a powerful blend of emotion and adrenaline. The tale of 21 Sikh soldiers holding off a massive force in the Battle of Saragarhi is already cinematic gold, and this film seizes that promise with vigour. 7.5/10
Akshay Kumar gives one of his best – commanding, physical, and heartfelt as Havildar Ishar Singh – making it easy to invest in his men and their cause. The battle sequences are expansive, immersive, and when the carnage strikes you feel the magnitude.
What lifts Kesari is that beyond the explosions and sword-swings, it invests in brotherhood, duty, sacrifice. Scenes of everyday camaraderie, longing for home, the weight of impending doom: they hit.
If there is a flaw, it’s that the film could have been tighter. A few stretches in the middle drag the pace when the war hasn’t yet begun in earnest. A 20-minute trim would have sharpened the momentum. The supporting characters, though solid, are somewhat interchangeable and the film opts for heroism over subtlety.
Still, the emotional pay-off is real. If you like big war dramas with heart and spectacle, Kesari is well worth your time.
