Original subtitles

Translation and Modification * Ahmed Artq *

Sit down.

Please be seated everyone.

Please calm down.

Today I have a very important message to tell you...

Our revolution will not stop.

It won't stop.. It won't stop..

It won't stop.. It won't stop..

Repeal the Rowlatt Act.

Repeal the Rowlatt Act.

Repeal the Rowlatt Act.

Bhagat.

Yes, mother?

Come here.

I'm coming..

Our protest against the British rule..

Sit down for a bit, son.

You've been standing since morning.

You'll get tired.

If you get tired and stop.. if you lose your way..

You'll regret it for the rest of your life.

Your father said that, don't you remember?

Okay, forget it.

Go and get some sweets for your little sister.

How much does this little one eat?

There..

Bring it.

Wait a minute.

What happened now?

Muwaffaq.

Thank you.

Move forward in rows..

Bhagat.

Get ready.

Turn around..

Attack position..

Get ready.

They want to scare us.

But we won't back down.

Should we warn them, sir?

Hit them..

Bhagat!

- Mother.. - Bhagat!

Mother.

Mother.

Mother.. don't jump into the well.

Mother.

Mother.. don't do that.

Mother.

Mother.. don't do that.

Don't be afraid, son, I'll bring Bhagat.

Open the gate.

Bhagat!

Look, they are climbing the wall.

Bhagat!

Mother.

Shoot them.

Mother..

Mother..

Mother..

Mother..

Mother..

Oh, Great God..

The cries that erupted from Jallianwala Bagh..

were the result of a great betrayal.

In 1914..

World War I broke out.

When the British began to feel a shortage of soldiers in the war..

they made a promise to the Indians.

Join us in our fight, and we will grant you freedom.

In return, we will grant you freedom.

Indians responded to this British promise..

More than 1.5 lakh (one and a half million) joined..

the British Indian Army.

Everyone was living in the hope of liberating our country.

And one day, the war ended.

But the British broke their promises.

Punjab, the province that sent the largest number of soldiers to the war..

erupted in revolution.

Long live the revolution.

Professor Kripal Singh gathered the youth of Punjab..

and led a movement against the British government.

There is a question, sir.

Governor Kripal Singh bravely led public demonstrations.

Nevertheless, he was acquitted by the courts four times.

The government tried to use all legal means to stop Kripal Singh.

But they failed every time.

The government's reputation was at stake now.

And there was only one person who could save them from this danger.

From the great Kerala..

From the art of Kalaripayattu to Kathakali..

From mercy to law..

He was a master of everything.

The best lawyer in this country.

He had never lost a case in his entire life.

He was the only Indian member in the British Parliament at that time..

and in the Viceroy's Council.

And he was the most favored person by the British..

Shankaran Nair.

God Save the King..

Teerath Singh..

Legal advisor to Governor O'Dwyer..

I'll be frank with you, Mr. Nair..

We worked with three lawyers together.

But none of them could prove Kripal Singh guilty.

Governor, sir.

Court is not about right or wrong..

but about winning or losing.

Kripal Singh writes poetry.

Sometimes he holds rallies, is accused of treason..

and is summoned to court again and again..

which wastes the court's time..

This whole lawsuit is pointless, sir.

As Mark Twain said..

Much ado about nothing..

Shakespeare.

What?

Not Twain, but Shakespeare.

Sir.

I would like to say..

Any government..

needs someone to question it.

If the government is fair, it should thank my client.

Your witness, Mr. Nair.

Thank you, Mr. Kripal.

Order.. Order..

Sir.

The reality is that Kripal Singh is not a criminal.

But a talented poet.

The government actually made a mistake..

by accusing him of treason.

We apologize to you, Mr. Kripal..

I am a big fan of your poetry.

I have been following your work for a long time.

I went to your college.

And I participated in your rallies..

And I learned many interesting things about you.

But before you go..

May I ask you a question?

Do you know how to make a bomb?

What?

Objection, sir.

It's irrelevant to the case.

Kripal Ji.

A bomb?

You are not legally obligated to answer this question.

I was a soldier in the British Indian Army.

And I fought in the World War.

Sir.

And as part of the training of every ordinary soldier..

Mr. Kripal..

Isn't that right?

There were thousands of Indian soldiers in the British Indian Army.

And all of them received training in making bombs.

So, will you summon all of them to court now?

Stick to the point, Mr. Nair.

Yes, sir.

Who are Khudiram Singh and Barindra Kumar?

Long live the revolution..

Students from my college.

Just a few days ago, these students from your college..

threw a bomb at Magistrate Kingsford's carriage outside the Empire Theatre.

And the carriage turned to ashes.

And he was killed in the explosion.

One can fight the government not only with fire, but with ink as well.

Who wrote these great words?

I wrote them, but what are you trying to say?

Did I tell these boys to throw a bomb?

Did I tell them?

Sir, how is this relevant to the case?

Sir.

Those innocent young men who came to college to learn..

because of Kripal Singh, are now in jail, ruined.

He first filled their hearts with hatred towards the government..

then pushed them to throw a bomb at a British officer.

And perhaps even taught them how to make the bomb himself..

..or even made the bomb for them with his own hands.

Writing poetry, composing poems, holding seminars..

These are all minor offenses.

But Kripal Singh should be severely punished..

for the murder of Magistrate Kingsford.

That is all I have, sir.

The court agrees with Mr. Nair.

And orders Kripal Singh to be placed in judicial custody..

and to be charged..

under the Indian Penal Code for the murder of Kingsford.

Thank you, sir.

Nair, sir.

How easy it is to turn a revolutionary into a terrorist?

You are truly a brilliant lawyer.

But unfortunately, you are defending the wrong side.

And you are also a talented poet..

But poems don't move a country.

Keep reading.

And one day, these misconceptions will disappear.

Let's go.

Let me tell you, Parvathi...

How does it feel to be married to a lawyer?

That's what I want to know.

I have no complaints..

As long as I am the judge and jury at home..

And also, the executioner.

Absolutely right.

What if we add another topic?

Mrs. Nair.

Shankaran, the government is granting you a knighthood in recognition of your work.

This honor has been bestowed upon very few Indians so far.

Congratulations to you...

Sir Shankaran Nair.

Hail Sir Shankaran Nair..

On this occasion, we present..

Do you know him..

It's Shankaran Nair.

Who is being honored.

With a respected knighthood.

By order of the King..

Through the Viceroy of India.

Bhagat.

Bhagat!

Check the tunnel.

For the honor of Britain, stand once..

And for duty, stand twice..

And for courage, stand three times..

Stand in respect, Sir Shankaran Nair.

Veera, don't..

Shankaran Nair had no slight idea

that his life, written in English ink..

would turn into the color of revolution.

What do you expect the press to say about this?

They will say what we dictate to them.

They will say we did a great job today..

Go immediately to all press offices.

This news must not leak in any way.

And use your authority if necessary to stop them.

Starting tomorrow, the same news must be published in every newspaper..

There are no vacant places in cemeteries or crematoriums..

And hospitals are full of dead bodies.

Then throw the bodies in the drains.

Governor, we have succeeded in silencing the media.

But the survivors and their families are still screaming.

Pay them some compensation..

and form an investigation committee.

So that we can silence everyone.

But it's better if the committee includes..

one Indian to make it look impartial.

And who better than Shankaran Nair for this job?

No one can be better than him.

Many accusations are being directed at General Dyer..

So, the government needs all of you..

to conduct a completely fair investigation into this incident.

Because the country's trust in the British administration

and in its judicial system must remain.

Stand aside.

According to army reports, 2332 bullets were fired on April 13th.

resulting in the death of 1650 "terrorists."

So, when the bullets were fired..

how many of our soldiers were killed?

None of them were killed.

Strange.

Sir, what do you think about that?

Currently, I'm thinking..

about lunch.

Go and collect your money..

from table number 3..

Stand aside.

Take your 25 rupees.

But what is written here?

We don't have time for questions.

Soldier.. calm down.

I'll look into it.

Put your thumbprint here..

Then go and take the 25 rupees.

That's all.

But son..

What is written here?

It says here that the government is giving you..

25 rupees compensation for the damage you suffered.

And also that you waive your right to file any complaint against the government or its employees.

The death toll in the hospital reports..

is much higher than the army reports issued by General Dyer.

Why are we hiding the real number of deaths?

I'll talk to the governor.

Let's raise the compensation to satisfy the victims.

Are they victims or terrorists?

Mr. Nair, what's the difference here?

The important thing is that the government must pay their families the required compensation.

What about the hospital reports then?

Did you come here to file a complaint against General Dyer?

If you feel my question sounds like a complaint, then let it be.

Mr. Nair, I don't understand what you're trying to say..

I apologize.

Yes.

Sir, General Dyer is coming.

Good, has Jan Nisar arrived?

Let him in today.

Okay, sir.

Look, you succeeded in your mission.

General Dyer is coming here.

Now you can ask him any question you want directly.

Ask him yourself.

Welcome, good evening, General.

How are you?

Very well, and you?

I am also fine.

Sir Shankaran Nair, it's an honor to meet him.

It's an honor..

Please sit down, gentlemen.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Jan Nisar.

General, this is Jan Nisar.

He visits us often here.

And he has many complaints about you.

From the 36th Battalion, isn't that right?

Did you bring your complaints in writing?

Yes..

I came to give it to the Governor..

Jan Nisar, please..

Has your complaint disappeared now?

Are you happy now?

Did you file your complaint?

Get out of here.

Not like that, Mr. Nair..

You also have many complaints, don't you?

Sir, we don't know, just a crazy young man.

Everyone comes here to get their compensation..

But he comes every time like a walking newspaper.

He says the Viceroy's committee has at least one Indian.

And he came to tell the truth about the Jallianwala Bagh incident.

Did he lose anyone from his family?

Yes, sir.

His mother and sister together.

Hello, my son.

I know you.

Please sit down.

Here you go, sir.

Is this tomorrow's newspaper?

Yes, sir.

But tomorrow is Sunday..

And the offices are closed.

Yes, but the newspaper is published every day.

How can you take a holiday then, sir?

So, owners of Punjab Daily News..

You draw very beautifully.

You are very talented.

These protests won't achieve anything for you.

You should go to school.

I have my own school in Kerala.

- And there you can learn English too. - And what good would learning it do me, sir?

Drawings, stories, poems..

However good they are..

A country is not run by these things, is it?

My name is Bhagat Singh, sir.

Professor Tribel Singh's son.

Every year I eagerly await the arrival of Baisakhi festival.

But this year was different.

My father was in prison.

I missed him so much..

So my mother gave me this shirt.

The sky is blue.

My father always said.

My prayer..

is for you and your sister to breathe..

the air of free India.

That's all.

With this hope, I went out that day.

With my mother and sister.

To raise my voice against the British.

Because if the British injustice is wrong..

then silence about injustice by Indians is a greater wrong.

Therefore, Mr. Nair..

I don't think I'll ever go to your school of thought..

that you belong to..

General Dyer, you seem to be sleeping soundly..

Don't think he's a fool, he's our young man, Dyer..

He was determined to "cleanse Amritsar"

of Sikh leaders forever.

Not a single bullet was wasted.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to express my gratitude.

Viceroy's Committee.

Viceroy's Committee.

I just need some air.

God save the King..

Stop, sir.

Sir, you cannot enter.

I am a member of the Viceroy's Committee.

Sir, no matter who you are...

I'm just doing my job.

Sir, please..

Can you believe that, Mr. Dyer?

Well, I don't mind looking like someone heartless.

My dear friend, but..

These are the laws.

As a lawyer, you should know that..

Sir Shankaran Nair.

I apologize.

Because if injustice by the British is wrong..

then silence about injustice by Indians is a greater wrong.

The members of the Viceroy's Committee unanimously declared..

General Dyer not guilty.

No one can triumph over the government, Nair.

Keep silent.

Thank you.

Sir Shankaran Nair.

What happened to him?

That wretched man cut his own vein.

How long will you run away, Mr. Nair?

My name is Daljeet Gill..

You gave me a lot of courage, sir.

Because of you, I fought with my family and came from Jalandhar to here.

To study law.

But today my hopes are dashed.

Sir, you were part of the Viceroy's committee..

You know the truth.

The whole world must know what happened in Jallianwala Bagh.

We must fight for the truth.

Daljeet, fighting with family..

is completely different from fighting with the government.

But that thirteen-year-old child was fighting the government.

And we, with the highest legal degrees, hide our faces.

I'm sorry, I have to go.

Sir, have you ever visited Jallianwala Bagh?

Yes, I went.

Four months ago.

And the bullet marks and dried bloodstains are still visible on the walls.

And if you get too close to the walls..

You can hear their screams.

Sir, do you know..

When the walls start talking..

You become silent.

And questions start flowing within you.

And the most important question is..

Who really died?

This is his last newspaper.

He had to tell the world the truth.

Take it, sir, for you.

But do you know what the greatest truth is?

That the world will never know it.

That the thousands who died were because of Dyer.

But that child's death was because of you.

And also, I won't let his death be in vain.

What is this mess?

It seems someone is filing a lawsuit against us regarding the Jallianwala Bagh incident.

We have to stop this before it gets too big.

Sir, I will propose dismissing the case..

This case will never go to trial.

So what's the problem?

The problem is that the judge is Mikadi.

He is an honest man and sympathizes with India.

And his court conducts sessions in Hindi.

And who is this Daljeet Gill?

Whatever she is, what does it matter?

A female lawyer comes and fights a case..

against the government?

I'm afraid she might bring some evidence too.

How can she do that?

She's fighting her first case in her life.

Not only the first, but it will also be the last.

Definitely.

Whatever happens..

This case will not reach the court.

And if it doesn't, so be it.

Everyone stand.

Judge Mikadi enters the courtroom.

God Save the King..

Your Honor.

Before I begin,

I would like to apply for locus standi.

On behalf of my legal assistant..

Mr. Shankaran Nair.

Strike..

Tear down the wall and jump out.

The door is closed.

Mother.. don't jump into the well.

Send a telegram to Jalandhar.

Tell the Gill family that their daughter..

will fight the biggest case in this country.

We are suing the British Crown for mass murder.

But sir, only my name is written here, isn't it?

No one should know about me before the trial begins.

Otherwise, the British police will chase us..

and we won't be able to gather any evidence.

Without making any sound, search all nearby houses.

Knock on all doors..

Find out what happened in the city until Baisakhi day.

That day in Jallianwala Bagh..

A curfew was imposed on the thirteenth of the month, sir.

So why did you all gather in Jallianwala Bagh?

What curfew?

We were marching peacefully from Kotwali to Bagh..

We went to listen to Kanhaiya Lal's speech..

Sir, so far we don't have any direct testimony.

As if they are just vague confessions..

No real eyewitness testimony..

Any photos, or even..

Drawings?

Bhagat's drawings?

I need his notebooks.

But sir, how will we get the army reports?

The British Army is not free of corrupt officers.

Did many soldiers come that day?

Were most of them Indian or British?

Some came from Nepal, and some from Afghanistan..

Now I understand why Dyer fired.

Start.

Your Honor.

The Jallianwala Bagh incident that occurred on April 13th..

was a carefully planned conspiracy.

It was not a defensive military operation as some claim..

It was a massacre of innocent people present there.

Objection, Your Honor.

The people who were in Jallianwala Bagh were not innocent.

They were rebels, and they were carrying weapons.

I want to ask the witness: How many weapons were found among the bodies of the dead?

These were peaceful citizens..

who came out in a peaceful demonstration against the Rowlatt Act.

And if they were law-abiding citizens..

they would have complied with the curfew orders imposed by Dyer.

That curfew was a trick..

Harmandir Sahib police station is only about six minutes from Bagh.

That day, thousands demonstrated in front of the station.

But the British officer Kartar Singh did nothing.

The curfew was just an excuse to label innocent people as criminals.

And to justify shooting them.

Your Honor.. I request that Kartar Singh be summoned to testify.

You are allowed to cross-examine the witness.

Your Honor.. I request permission to call Kartar Singh to the witness stand.

You can cross-examine the witness.

Was the declaration of curfew your responsibility?

Yes, certainly.

Did General Dyer give you any specific orders?

Did he ask you not to do your duty?

No, sir, never.

Okay, what happened on April 13th?

On April 13th, I was at the police station.

I was sitting and writing a report.

And it was around 4 PM.

A heavily armed military unit departed..

from in front of the police station heading towards Jallianwala Bagh.

I rushed inside and grabbed the megaphone..

and went out shouting, "Where are you going, brothers?"

A curfew is imposed..

But no one listened to me.

No one listened at all.

Instead, they raised their swords and daggers and said..

We will water the earth with blood.. we will water the earth with blood..

Then I realized..

that they might be rebels.

So I hurried to inform the commander of the reserve force.

No more questions, Your Honor.

Your witness, Mr. Nair.

Mr. Kartar, under what legal procedure was the reserve force called?

Shouldn't the administrative governor have been informed first?

Then contact the election office, and from there request troops from military command?

Isn't this the procedure?

Yes.

But you completely ignored this process..

and requested troops directly..

from military command.

And from General Dyer specifically.

Interesting.

And also regarding the announcement..

Is it true that on April 13th, the announcement was made via megaphone?

But it wasn't you who announced.

But someone else announced..

and said that the prominent leader Kanhaiya Lal Ji..

would come this afternoon to Jallianwala Bagh.

While in reality, Kanhaiya Lal Ji was at a poetry festival in Patiala.

Isn't it fair to say that this was a conspiracy by General Dyer..

to attract more people to Jallianwala Bagh?

What do you think?

No more questions, Your Honor.

The witness is allowed to leave.

Your Honor..

Mr. Nair has no evidence or witnesses.

Just fabricated stories.

If they are just stories, then let me ask you something..

Even though General Dyer had thousands of soldiers..

from Sikh units, Gurkha soldiers, and Baloch..

Why then did he send an emergency telegram on April 10th?

And spoke with their leaders?

Did Dyer know that the Sikh battalion soldiers would not fire on their own people?

Mr. Nair, you must be more careful..

before you insult a professional military unit.

It was just a regular deployment, mentioned in the records.

And is usually sufficient.

Is usually sufficient.

Your Honor, these are the army records.

On April 13th, a plane flew over Jallianwala Bagh.

At a very low altitude.

And shortly after, it changed its course and returned to base.

This happened around 5 PM.

Half an hour before General Dyer arrived.

Why?

I think Mr. Dyer needed to know the numbers.

That plane carried an air force officer from Amritsar to Jalandhar.

Okay.

So why was this transfer not recorded in the military records..

even though military forces meticulously record everything?

Why was this flight not recorded?

Where is the report then?

Where is the report?

Because it was an illegal espionage mission..

The plane was sent for this purpose only.

So that General Dyer could assess the number of crowds.

Your Honor..

Mr. Nair is trying to divert the case with this story.

That day, thousands gathered in Jallianwala Bagh.

And they were making serious threats.

And they were armed when they made the threats.

Isn't that right?

Yes, they were armed.

Yes, they were armed.

These are their weapons.

An article written by military journalist Stewart Thorpe.

On April 9th.

During the Ram Navami celebration.

Hindu leader Satyapal Singh led..

along with Muslim leader Saifuddin Kitchlew..

a massive march against the British "divide and rule" policy.

And this was before General Dyer's eyes.

Stop these scoundrels from approaching.

Retreat, this is an order.

For the first time..

Hindus and Muslims celebrated Ram Navami together.

And their unity became a powerful weapon.

Which terrified not only General Dyer, but the entire British Crown.

And that was the real reason for the massacre.

This is a mockery, how is it justified?

I will prove it to you, Your Honor.

On April 9th, Ram Navami was celebrated.

On April 10th, he suddenly contacted battalions like the Gurkhas and Baloch.

On April 13th, he gathered people in Jallianwala Bagh.

And on the evening of that day, he monitored Jallianwala Bagh with a plane.

Then in just half an hour..

General Dyer fired on unarmed and innocent civilians.

If this isn't proof of a massacre, then what is?

Mr. Nair, this is quite enough.

Yes, I agree this is quite enough.

The death of one thousand six hundred and fifty innocent people..

This is the official number announced by the government.

But we will never know the true number.

I think we have enough evidence..

to propose referring this case to trial.

General Dyer's trial will begin next week.

Court is adjourned.

May God prove that you don't belong here.

And don't forget that you are still a slave to the British Empire.

While the empire crumbles..

Mr. Nair and a young Indian lawyer.

His legal assistant.. what a great team!

Why do you look surprised?

Don't you have queens in England?

The Amritsar court accepts Shankaran Nair's petition..

and decides to pursue the case against General Dyer and the government.

Which now raises the question..

Did General Dyer devise a deliberate conspiracy?

To commit the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

These questions..

are knocking on the doors of the English palaces.

Nair!

Do you know what's worse than ruining your relationship with your boss?

Ruining your relationship with your boss's boss.

Now the Viceroy asks..

How did things get so out of control?

Nair must be disposed of.

By any means necessary.

Are you crazy?

He's a British knight, man!

And a former member of the Viceroy's Council.

And the press is after him!

We can't touch him.

The only way out of this mess..

is to crush him in court.

We'll need the best British lawyer from London.

No, impossible!

This will make the jury think we're hiding something.

An Indian lawyer must take the case.

But most Indian lawyers are affiliated with Gandhi.

There's only one lawyer..

Half Indian, half British.

He speaks Hindi fluently.

Not only speaks it..

but shouts it.

Yes, he's a bit emotional, but very brilliant.

Neville McKinley..

But he seems lost in a bar in Colaba.

Absolutely right.

But...

I have a way..

to get him back to court again.

Divide and rule.

Whiskey, please.

Cigarette?

They say it's bad for your health.

The case of Sayaji Rao Holkar.

Bombay High Court.

You crushed the inspector and the smugglers together, didn't you?

Very impressive.

A truly insane defense, wasn't it?

And I told myself that day that this man would one day become the best lawyer in India.

I apologize for not living up to your expectations.

I wish you a good evening.

While Shankaran Nair was dragging the British Empire to court..

You must have heard the news.

He was your old friend, wasn't he?

An old friend to the point where I forgot.

This friend of yours tells great tales about himself,

that he never lost a case.

And that's true.

But he also never stood against me in court until today.

And this occasion has finally come.

Now I have no feelings for old friends.

Nor do I have any desire to make new friends.

You made a huge mistake.

Wasn't he the best lawyer in India?

And he didn't get a seat in the Viceroy's Council?

When I asked people about it, it angered me greatly.

What dirty lies did they spread about you?

They said you were the illegitimate son of an East India Company official..

and that your mother was his secret mistress!

Shut your filthy mouth!

You stinking dog.

Calm down!

Calm down, please.

The person who spread these rumors is none other than your opponent for the seat.

The person who took the seat instead of you..

Your old friend..

Shankaran Nair.

How can you forget him?

How can you forget?

I will present the honorable barrister..

Neville McKinley.

Neville.

Has the Viceroy's Council fallen to such a level?

To accept a man who lies shamelessly?

Would you like to tell us why you lied about your father?

Lord Chelmsford, what do you think about this?

Wasn't he the one who leaked the painful truth about your life to the media?

Now, whatever your opinion of me..

The Viceroy trusts me very much.

He asked me..

if I knew a brilliant lawyer.

There is another vacant seat in the Council awaiting appointment.

My God, I come closer to you..

I come closer to you.

Nair.

Do you know this song?

No?

This was the song that was played just before the Titanic sank.

O Judicial Council, I believe this is your first case.

And his case too..

He's going to lose.

Everyone stand.

The honorable Judge MacKay enters the stand.

God save the King.

Best wishes.

Alright, Shankaran Nair.

The jury is summoned to deliberate against Shankaran Nair on behalf of the government.

Nine British and three Indians, sir.

Good morning, Your Honor.

Before the trial begins, I would like to show the court something.

General Dyer is expected to be tried as a war criminal.

General Dyer, a stain on the British government.

Should General Dyer be allowed to continue his military service?

The trial hasn't even begun yet.

Nevertheless, the newspapers have already announced..

that my client is guilty.

Therefore, I request the court..

to ban media coverage of the trial while it is ongoing.

Objection, Your Honor.

The right to know in..

court proceedings is a fundamental right of the people.

This court may not restrict freedom of speech.

Your Honor..

Officers like General Dyer..

issue their orders based on trust and honor.

If doubts crept into the minds of the army through the media..

the entire military system would collapse.

An officer's reputation is all he has..

- This is highly provocative. - Are you saying it's not?

Only a few months have passed since the end of the World War.

I am just saying what I believe, Your Honor.

Regarding the security of the government.

Will anyone bear this much danger?

Nair, this court is fully committed to protecting freedom of speech.

But the threat posed by the media to this trial has increased.

And this may pose a threat to government security.

Therefore, I order security to clear the courtroom..

of all media personnel.

Thank you, Your Honor.

No one can present it better.

Your Honor, you cannot use the law to silence us.

Nair, don't come to court to argue what you can or cannot do.

My order is final.

Mr. McKinley.

Begin your opening statement.

According to Nair..

what happened in Jallianwalabagh on April 13th..

is a planned massacre.

Is this your point of view?

In reality..

General Dyer and his soldiers only did their duty.

And to prove that..

I would like to call Ms. Martha Stevenson to testify.

Objection.

How can a British witness..

who was not present in Bagh, be relevant to this case?

Let me explain.

Go ahead.

The Field Forces spread terror in Amritsar.

Since the evening of April 10th, General Dyer...

Your Honor, we are talking about the events of April 13th.

It is related to the events of April 10th, Nair.

And Dyer's intentions cannot be understood without knowing what happened.

Understood.

Without knowing that, we won't know General Dyer's motives.

Let the second defense witness take the stand.

Excellent.

Well, it was a good argument.. but I agree with it.

I swear.

to tell the truth.

and nothing but the truth.

And the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

State your name and profession for the record, please.

Martha Stevenson.

I teach music at the Sikh Missionary College.

Miss Martha, is it true that you went on the night of April 11th..

to the Sadar Bazar police station?

Did you go to file an FIR?

Yes.

What was that report about?

On the evening of the 10th.

Stay as you are.

Please.

Take your time.

Here it is.

Are you alright?

Martha, say when you're ready.

Evening of the 10th?

On April 10th at 5:30 PM,

I finished my work and left the staff room.

Suddenly, a man grabbed me in the hallway,

and pulled me.

Before I could do anything..

He pulled me into the storage room.

Then he brutally assaulted me.

Your Honor,

What does this have to do with what happened in Jallianwalabagh?

It's relevant, Nair.

Please be patient.

Is this the man?

Ladies and gentlemen, Your Honor..

Tanvir Choudhry,

leader of the Field Forces students.

And although Tanvir Choudhry admitted his crime,

he shamelessly..

according to Tanvir and the Field Forces..

this assault was not a crime, but a revolutionary act.

A revolutionary act.

On the night of the 12th, Tanvir Choudhry was arrested.

And when the news of their leader's arrest spread..

the Field Forces soldiers armed themselves.

And on the 13th, before anything started in Jallianwalabagh,

thousands of people gathered.

And protested against the Rowlatt Act.

In fact, it was a violent demonstration.

And members of the Field Forces infiltrated the crowds..

to incite emotions.

They wanted to incite a bloody rebellion.

Against the British Empire.

They wanted to burn Amritsar.

These people..

were planning a new bloody revolution against the British, just like in 1857.

What Tanvir did to Martha..

they wanted to do to all British women in Punjab.

That's why, my client General Dyer,

and for everyone's protection..

for everyone's safety..

this action was taken.

That's all.

Your Honor.

Martha..

Thank you very much.

For your courage.

Your witness, Nair.

Your Honor, I request a short recess.

Before we begin the cross-examination.

I think you need more than a break, Nair.

Court is adjourned until Friday.

Sir, despite Martha's good testimony..

firing at thousands of innocent people is still wrong, isn't it sir?

Daljeet, in court there is no right or wrong.

There is only winning or losing.

In the end, the governor will be able to sleep peacefully.

I didn't quit whiskey to help the governor sleep peacefully.

Shankaran Nair is defending a rapist.

From today onwards, on everyone's lips..

Only this will be said.

Justice for Martha.

Let's go home..

Some things are better forgotten, Shankaran.

Don't care about yourself, nor about me, I understand that.

But what about our children?

What about them?

Thousands died in Jallianwalabagh.

But that child's death was because of me.

What about that child, Parvathi?

I will definitely fight this case.

And I will expose the truth about Jallianwalabagh..

before the whole world.

I teach music at the Sikh Missionary College.

Why did you do that?

Everyone stand.

Judge MacKay enters the courtroom.

God save the King.

Don't get confused..

Nair, please begin.

Your Honor,

I request that you allow Daljeet Gill..

to proceed with the cross-examination.

Objection.

She is a member of the Bar Council..

and has also been my assistant since the beginning of the trial.

Your Honor, this is very clear.

An attempt to influence the female jury.

- Your Honor.. - Her appointment is not a trick.

This is called sensitivity, McKinley.

The request is granted.

Proceed, Miss Gill.

Miss Stevens.

I know something terrible happened to you,

but may I ask you a few questions?

You told the court that

Tanvir Choudhry dragged you into the storage room, didn't he?

Yes.

Did you scream for help?

Yes, I screamed.

Did anyone come to your rescue?

No, the school was closed.

So, at 5:35 PM

there was no one in the building.

But the church at the school was open.

And when you screamed at 5:35

for help,

the church was full of people!

Are you alright?

We asked everyone there,

and strangely, no one heard your screams.

Perhaps her voice couldn't be heard from the church..

Possible?

Possible.

The witness said that Tanvir dragged her into the storage room,

hit her,

and then brutally assaulted her.

Did you defend yourself?

No.

Why?

I was scared.

I was frozen.

So while he was hitting you,

you never tried to escape?

Objection!

Improper influence, Your Honor.

This method is unacceptable.

Victims often panic.

to the point where their bodies and minds are completely paralyzed.

You said you were severely beaten.

To which hospital were you admitted?

Do you know the answer?

So, were you treated by a private doctor?

No?

Miss Stevens, you didn't go to any hospital?

I find that truly strange.

Have you read the book "The Nine Symphonies"?

Your Honor, what does this have to do with the case?

McKinley, you'll know in a moment.

This is the most important point related to the case.

Miss Stevens, please answer the question.

I know every chapter of that book by heart.

Really?

Who is its author?

George Grove, 1876.

Wonderful!

You even remember the year?

How many times did you read it?

I listened to it three times.

Three times?

You listened to it, you didn't read it?

So tell the court, who read it to you?

Tell me, who read it?

Let me tell them.

You heard it in that room..

from Tanvir Choudhry's mouth and hands.

Objection!

Accepted.

There is no actual evidence to support this claim, Your Honor.

Mr. Nair found that book in Tanvir Choudhry's room.

And it was written on it..

To dear Tanvir, with love, M.S.

Do you dedicate such books to all your students?

Your Honor, these are her feelings.

Tanvir Choudhry has already confessed to his crime.

He could have defended himself,

he could have testified against her.

But instead..

he admitted his mistake.

Do you know why?

Because he still loves you.

Are you speaking as if you're not guilty?

How can you lie so brazenly?

Is there a question here?

Are you ashamed because he's Indian?

Are your dignity and pride more important

than an innocent life?

Is this what you are willing to forget?

Contempt of court, Your Honor.

He was willing to sacrifice his life for you.

Enough!

I can't take this anymore.

I'm sorry.

I truly love him.

Tanvir is innocent.

That day, the principal caught us in the storage room.

I was with another student.

And that was a huge scandal for the college.

They took us to the police station.

The next day, the police offered me a deal.

To falsely accuse Tanvir of assault.

Otherwise, they would kill him.

They would destroy my family, my school..

Everything.. my honor too.

I'm sorry, I had no other choice.

That's all, Your Honor.

What was proven today during the trial is one thing.

That Tanvir Choudhry was illegally arrested.

Therefore, the court orders his immediate release.

It also orders an investigation against the concerned police officers,

and against the principal of the Sikh Missionary School,

and against Martha Stevens as well.

And this incident overthrows all the foundations of your case.

What is your comment on that, Mr. McKinley?

Your Honor,

Like the rest of the audience here..

I am extremely stunned.

By Martha Stevens' confession,

as well as by this failed police investigation.

But..

Let me clarify something for this court.

Assault cases are investigated by the police, not the army.

Never the army.

So, to say that my client is involved in some cover-up..

is entirely wrong and pure nonsense.

All my client's military decisions..

were based on the reports he received.

This is a lie.

A blatant lie.

Mr. Nair,

Watch your language, this is a court of law.

I apologize, Your Honor.

But General Dyer orchestrated a deliberate conspiracy..

and used the police and army to commit a massacre.

This is just your theory, Mr. Nair.

Where is the evidence?

Don't forget..

We are only here to decide one thing.

Is my client, General Dyer,

guilty of committing a massacre?

When this question is asked,

Mr. Nair has no evidence to prove it.

No photos.

No confession, no eyewitnesses.

Mr. Nair,

All you have are circumstantial theories.

That's all, Your Honor.

Mr. Nair...

You have no evidence to accuse anyone of a serious crime like massacre.

Especially a respected army officer like General Dyer.

The court gives you only two days.

If you don't find a witness...

your case will be dismissed permanently.

Sir..

All reports of Gurkha and Baloch units have been erased.

As if they never existed.

Dyer's senior officers aren't opening their mouths.

The court banned the media even before they spoke.

We have no other way.

We have no witnesses.

No legal basis.

Everything is over.

What happened after that?

In the end, they made me sign a paper.

And buried my complaint inside Dyer's military service files.

Can you get those files?

Sir, they don't even let me into the office now.

But there is one person who can help us.

Someone who can help you.

Who is it?

Major Briggs.

Why would he help us?

Because he's not like the other British officers.

And you don't even know what he did on the day of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

Do you have a rifle?

Then use it, man.

This is a military order, Major..

Fire.

I told you: fire.

What kind of man are you?

Counsel, speak with your witness.

We are talking about General Reginald Dyer.

Objection, Your Honor.

The witness is not listed in the prosecutor's list.

He has no right to call a witness without prior notice.

But he is on your witness list.

So why does he need notice?

Mr. Nair has a point.

Let's hear the witness.

Thank you, Your Honor.

I swear.

to tell the truth..

and the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Mr. Nair, please proceed.

Order.

Order.

Maintain order in the court.

Order.

Mr. Nair, please begin.

General,

Can you tell the court what happened on April 13th in Jallianwala Bagh,

and how you were involved in the military operations there?

Kartar Singh informed me,

that Indian army soldiers had gathered in Jallianwala Bagh.

I heard that..

My forces and I left Jallianwala Bagh.

Did you fire tear gas?

No.

Did you fire in the air?

No.

So, how did you warn the crowds to disperse?

They weren't just crowds, they were terrorists.

But they were human beings.

How did you warn them?

I was informed..

I forgot the question.

How did you warn the crowds, that's what I asked.

I didn't give any warning.

So, you didn't follow military regulations.

I didn't give any warning and started firing at the crowd.

I based my actions on my 18 years of military experience.

There was no time to give warnings.

Again, I didn't have time for that.

They were carrying weapons in their hands.

Eight... nine...

months and children as young as 11 years old.

They had gunshot wounds in their bellies.

What kind of weapons were in their hands?

They just had sticks.

Or maybe broken sticks?

Objection, Your Honor.

To protect the country, sometimes innocent lives must be sacrificed.

Accept the protest.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Mr. Nair... please continue.

General...

Do you know this man?

No.

His name is Jan Nisar Akhtar.

Perhaps your memory is weak..

But he was a soldier under your command.

Two months ago..

General Dyer beat him 25 times..

with his iron boot in a brutal manner.

How can an army general beat a soldier like that?

- Go back to base. - You have 15 minutes to justify it..

Because you were fifteen minutes late returning to base?

Three of his vertebrae were broken along with some ribs.

That little scoundrel didn't follow official protocol.

I request permission to approach the witness.

Your Honor.

You are allowed.

Thank you very much.

I almost lost all this effort,

because of your stupidity.

- Where did you get this audacity? - He's trying to provoke you.

Stay calm.

Speak like a military man.

Tell me why you hit him.

Two years ago, during the World War,

I was transferred to Burma.

I was a minute late in delivering a message from an officer.

And in just one second,

I lost half my leg due to a landmine.

Because of the landmine.

Fifteen minutes is ten times a minute.

Mr. Shankaran Nair.

Your Honor,

General Dyer's mathematical calculations are very poor.

Twenty-five soldiers went for entertainment in the city, Your Honor.

And all of them were fifteen minutes late returning to the barracks.

Nevertheless, only one soldier was flogged twenty-five times.

Jan Nisar Akhtar.

And he is the only Indian soldier in the squad.

According to General Dyer's calculations,

flogging one Indian soldier twenty-five times is equivalent to punishing twenty-four British soldiers.

Am I right, General?

Your Honor,

Your Honor,

General Dyer's military service report...

These reports are evidence in this case.

General Dyer is mentally ill.

His illness is called "intermittent explosive disorder."

He suffers from anger management issues.

And some incidents in his childhood...

Objection, Your Honor.

My client's private life has no bearing on this case.

It has a great bearing on General Dyer's conduct in this trial.

Your Honor, I request some time.

Continue.

Thank you very much.

At Bishop Cotton School in Shimla,

General Dyer's psychological condition began there.

He went to learn at that school,

but because of his stammering,

some Indian students used to mock him.

They used to call him "the stammerer."

Oh, stammerer.. oh, stammerer.

He had a disease of hatred inside him.

And he inherited it from his family.

General Dyer's father considered his hatred for Indians a part of his job duty.

Do you know what he said about the birth of an Indian child?

Oh no, we're contaminated.

He inherited this hatred to General Dyer as a family legacy.

And with time, its power increased.

And his extremism increased.

And that hatred against Indians turned into a mental illness inside him.

Rather very quickly,

he began to see only with his bloodshot eyes.

To the extent that he could only see blood in front of him.

And when he was told that tanks couldn't enter the garden...

What did he answer?

He only saw blood.

Mercilessly.

He wanted to deal with Indians only with bullets.

To blow them up with tanks.

To tear their bodies to pieces.

Objection.

Mr. Nair is insulting a national hero.

You are not a hero,

you are a mass murderer.

Objection.

All our Indian people hate you, and our whole nation.

Your grandfather was a racist, and you are a racist too.

Your Honor, the lawyer has lost his temper.

When you ordered the shooting in Jallianwalabagh,

you were effectively shooting at the Bishop Cotton children as well,

those who were mocking you saying "stammerer."

Mr. Nair,

You also made unarmed women and children jump into wells.

Because you, in spirit, mind, and body, were a stammerer.

Stop, you despicable Indian!

I should have killed you too, as I killed the others!

And what's the need for a confession now?

What's the benefit of this confession?

That's all, Your Honor.

I told you, but you didn't listen.

We needed the best lawyer in London.

You're right, General.

But the problem is,

no one wants to dirty their hands,

by defending someone accused of genocide.

And I don't blame them for that.

Enough of this.

This is no time for us to fight amongst ourselves.

Mr. McKinley,

it's time to take an illegal step to stop Shankaran.

Never.

This is the beauty of the law.

Everyone violates the law in one way or another.

All we need to know now..

is which law Shankaran Nair violated.

Where is Mr. Nair?

Good morning, Your Honor.

I regret to inform the court..

that Mr. Nair was arrested last night.

Based on serious accusations.

On charges of violating national security.

Come forward.

Search him.

Excuse me.. hello?

Mr. Kartar, do you have an arrest warrant?

We received information, Mr. Nair,

that you are in possession of secret army files.

Yes, we used these files in court against General Dyer.

Who gave you these files?

That's none of your business.

We are not obligated to disclose our sources.

Alright then,

I will have to arrest you and your assistant for interrogation.

What? Is this a joke?

On what charge?

There are several reasons.

Perhaps your husband is a spy too?

When Mr. Nair had no evidence or witnesses left,

he sank to the bottom.

And used secret files.

To defame a distinguished army officer.

He used my client's childhood traumas to provoke him.

To make him explode.

And words of anger cannot be considered a confession.

Nor can they be considered evidence of a crime like genocide.

Therefore, Your Honor,

this confession is completely invalid.

And this entire trial was nothing but a scheme to defame the government.

Therefore, I request the jury...

that this court rule...

General Dyer, my client, not guilty,

and absolve him and the government..

from all charges brought against them.

That's all, Your Honor.

Thank you, Mr. McKinley.

The jury will now go into deliberation.

Has the jury reached a verdict?

Yes, Your Honor, we have reached a verdict.

Marshal, please read the verdict.

In the case brought by the government against Shankaran Nair...

This court, and the government...

rules that General Dyer and his involved officers are acquitted.

That they are not guilty.

Anyway, thank you.

Now you are free to leave.

But you said something important...

that some Indian boys caused me a lot of trouble.

Especially that little Sardar boy,

that wretched scoundrel.

He bothered me a lot.

But, that's okay.

I have apologized to many Sardar boys.

Let's go.

Enough, let's leave now.

Let's go home.

The world needs more people like you, Daljeet.

Take care of yourself.

Leave the legal profession.

And listen to what we say.

We received many letters from Punjab.

I thought you would like this.

This is a letter from Kripal Singh.

My friend Shankaran,

He is a very special person.

Just like my son...

He said in his last letter that he came home to visit you.

But before I could reply to his letter...

I received news of his suicide by cutting his throat.

Believe me, my friend,

I admit my son was a fool,

but he was a skilled kabaddi player.

It takes at least three men to cut his throat.

Two would hold his hands and feet.

And the third would cut his throat.

After they cut his throat,

they sat beside him holding the blade.

And watched him die.

Until the light faded from his eyes.

But Bhagat was a true revolutionary.

He always knew.

That something like this might happen one day.. so he was preparing for it in complete peace and silence.

Before he left, he gave you his light.

I hope, my dear friend,

that you will never let Bhagat's light fade.

Listen, I really admire you.

But my mother is scared.

Because you studied law,

and she thinks you'll argue a lot at home.

I want you to dispel my mother's fear somehow.

How?

Did you argue?

We will file an appeal and object to the court's decision.

I need an official copy of the ruling immediately.

Let's go.

Come on.

What copy, what decision, who are you?

Excuse me?

We are talking about something important.

Boys, I'll tell you something important too.

Take your mother to court, so she can learn to argue too.

She might need it.

What?

Let's go.

We'll be late, come on.

Is this a complete copy of the judgment?

Yes, sir.

Are you sure?

One hundred percent, sir.

We got it from the court.

So where are the details of the jury's verdict?

Search for all the jury's details.

Daljeet.

Thank you.

Sir, this is...

This.

Then this.

Their bank records.

There is no way to reject our appeal.

The appeal was rejected.

Excellent, thank you very much.

Good news.

In cases filed against military officers...

there is a very slim chance of appeal.

But, sir, we have new evidence.

We just need one chance.

Mr. Nair.

The court has already given you many chances.

Please, just give me one minute to present my case.

The appeal is rejected, thank you.

This court is bound to administer justice.

We have made our decision, counsel.

Rejected.

Everyone stand.

What kind of loser is this?

I think they paid you well.

Excuse me?

What did you say now?

I said, did you get money or a promotion?

I'm warning you.

If I were you, I would apologize immediately.

I apologize.

I only meant to say...

Enough chatter.

You are unconscious.

I am fining you fifty thousand rupees.

Enough chatter from you and your court too.

If you don't stop now,

I will dismiss you from service.

And you will never be able to practice law again.

Get out immediately.

An investigation into Shankaran Nair's dismissal will be held next Friday.

Marshal, get him out of my courtroom.

He dug his own grave.

Chatterbox.

He had the audacity to tell me...

that he couldn't control his anger.

Oh my God.

Game over.

Thank you, Mr. McKinley.

Welcome to the Viceroy's Council.

Until now, we've only defeated him.

What remains is to finish him off completely.

The defeat we inflicted on him will not receive wide coverage in Delhi newspapers.

What I want...

is to humiliate him in front of the whole world.

To disgrace him in front of all media and newspapers.

Everyone must know his story.

Talk to everyone.

Only then...

the game will be over.

I like that.

I like that very much.

That will be a message to all Indians.

That it's better not to raise their voices against the government.

Let's celebrate, gentlemen.

Let's destroy him completely.

Mr. Nair.

You face charges of filing a false lawsuit against the government.

And defaming the British Army.

And revealing military secrets.

As well as insulting the court with improper conduct.

In front of a high-ranking judge.

Based on all that,

you cannot be considered qualified to practice law.

But...

If you accept these charges,

and ask for forgiveness from the government,

we can consider reducing your sentence.

Mr. Nair, do you understand what is being said here?

Mr. Nair?

I have one request from you.

Can I speak in Hindi?

Go ahead, Mr. Nair.

But without any direct quotation.

I clasp my hands together,

and bow my head,

and kneel on my knees,

and ask for forgiveness.

But not from this government,

but I ask for forgiveness from my entire nation.

Because for years,

I committed a lot of injustice against my countrymen in their courts.

Mr. Nair, what is this nonsense?

Sir, my biggest mistake was that I always thought that courts

only separated victory and defeat.

But it must also distinguish between right and wrong.

But that will never happen in your courts.

Because telling the truth here...

means being under the threat of arms.

If you don't stop this show now,

the court officers will drag you out.

Do you hear me?

If you try to tell the truth,

you will face guns again.

As happened in Jallianwala Bagh.

This is a session for your trial and dismissal.

No other issues can be discussed.

In fact, sir, I can.

Under Article 7-C of the Bar Council rules,

although it is a simple article,

it is very powerful.

What is this fool babbling about?

Let's get back to the point, Mr. Dyer.

Let's get back to the point.

This article gives me the right

if I have any evidence,

to present it before you.

To prove that these dismissal charges are invalid.

And to defend myself here before you.

In this session.

If you don't stop now,

I will dismiss you from service immediately.

Get out of here, chatterbox.

Bhagwan, take him outside.

An investigation into Shankaran Nair's dismissal will be held next Friday.

Is that true?

Neville, is that true?

That devil was playing with us.

Stop the media.

- Stop the media. - The opportunity is lost now (it can't be done now).

Stop bothering me.

Two months ago,

Judge McKenzie acquitted General Dyer in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre case.

That he is not guilty.

In any case,

before declaring any defendant innocent,

the decision must be unanimous among all jurors.

Everyone must agree.

This means that...

In the Jallianwala Bagh case, all twelve jurors

declared General Dyer not guilty.

Am I right?

With the court's permission,

I would like to call the seventh juror,

Harold Laski.

Speak, Mr. Nair.

Now you can only save yourself by telling the truth.

Yes, Mr. Laski...

What was your decision that day?

Guilty.

Can you speak a little louder, Mr. Laski?

The world wants to hear you.

What is your decision?

General Dyer is guilty.

Thank you, Mr. Laski.

Also, jurors number 5 and 9 declared General Dyer guilty.

And these are their written statements.

And it was written in them that the government threatened these jurors,

and asked them to remain silent and even bribed them.

And not only that,

but the government offered Judge McKenzie a transfer to London as a reward,

to stand against the Indians.

And for this reason,

the official jury verdict was struck off.

The only certain thing in the Jallianwala Bagh case

that the whole world should know..

is that General Dyer and the British government

are responsible for the massacre.

They are responsible for the massacre.

Dyer didn't just kill Indians with bullets,

but left the wounded to bleed to death for long hours inside the Bagh.

Until the crows and vultures ate them.

While they were still alive.

And that night, Mr. Chairman,

while dining at the European Club with General Dyer

he said: "I only stopped firing when I ran out of ammunition."

I always thought...

How can a human being do that to another human being?

But over the past two years, I've understood something.

They don't see us Indians as human beings.

We are animals to them.

We are animals.

That's why they hang a sign outside their clubs saying:

No dogs or Indians allowed.

And that's why, in the World War,

they sent our soldiers like cattle to be slaughtered.

More than 74,000 Indians were killed in that war.

For a battle that was not ours.

And it didn't stop there.

Mr. Dyer invented a new method of punishment.

The belly crawl order..

He forced us to crawl in our streets like snakes.

He made us starve for our food.

And when we were about to eat...

they laughed and mocked us, and said:

Even animals know how to eat better than these.

Yes, we are indeed animals.

We are animals.

We can only scream.

But without a sound.

We bow before the law.

But without justice.

We gather.

But without becoming a nation.

Now these animals will unite across the country.

They will not just scream.

They will roar.

And tomorrow morning, the light..

will not come from the sun.

But from your newspapers.

And tomorrow..

When the light is published in the newspapers..

their guns will start firing.

Now...

you can fire me,

hang me, or even kill me.

But listen carefully to what I'm about to say.

Get out of my country.

Get out of my country.

Get out of here.

Leave.

Long live the revolutionary struggle.

Long live the revolutionary struggle.

Long live Shankaran Nair.

Shankaran Nair not only proved Dyer's guilt,

but also proved the guilt of the entire British Empire.

Mr. McKinley...

Really?

Don't you worry about your future?

My future is watching me from inside a whiskey bottle.

I worry about it as much as I worry about the future.

As the Governor General of Punjab, I hereby order the immediate implementation...

Long live Teerath Singh.

I was wrong about you.

I thought you would sink like the Titanic...

but you were an iceberg.

Amazing.

Get down, Sergeant.

General.

You have been relieved of field duty.

Effective immediately.

My lord always spoke about light.

The light of our identity, the light of our freedom.

The light of our dreams and ambitions.

This is my prayer for you, Waheguru.

May this light always remain lit.