Dec 18, 2006 03:52 PM
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Director Kabir Khan’s in-depth knowledge about post-9/11 Afghanistan helped him make several documentaries on the war-torn land but he surprises everyone by making Kabul Express- an easily passable commercial film with a story to tell.
The Taliban are being wiped out by the Americans and this process is in its 5th year when Suhail Khan (John Abraham) and Jai (Arshad Warsi), 2 Indian tv channel reporters land up in Kabul to get an interview of an elusive Talib. Together with their Afghan driver, Khyber (Hanif Hum Gum), they set out in a Toyota Jeep called ‘Kabul Express’ in search of the leftovers of the Taliban to get an exclusive interview. Arrangements are made to interview one of the captured Talibs but through an interesting turn of events, this captured Talib becomes the Kidnapper. Imran (Salman Shahid) is actually a Pakistani soldier working for Taliban. He desperately needs to get back to the Pakistani border to take refuge from the ruthless locals and American soldiers.
Some close encounters and adventures follow till they meet Jessica (Linda Arsenio), an American photojournalist. Thereafter, their journey takes them through barren lands of Afghanistan till they reach the border….. supposedly, a refuge for Imran.
This journey is metaphorical in many ways. The protagonists discover each other’s traits through arguments, quarrels and debates. They discover the reality of the current plight of Afghanistan, which is in a battered state post 9/11 after the American raids and the downfall of Taliban. Pakistan, once the supporter of the Taliban is now an allegiance of America and the sufferers are those soldiers who are on the run to get back to their homeland which, diplomatically, refuses to acknowledge them.
The Afghan people are harrowed. They want peace. They want to resume their normal lives and they blame the Taliban for their plight and therefore, they brutally beat them up whenever one is captured. This and a couple of instances along the journey through the beautiful mountainous lands reflect what Afghanistan was and now is.
Director Kabir Khan stays away from the temptation of portraying the typical aftermath of the war, atrocities, massacres, sufferings and perhaps the hunt for the elusive Osama. Kabul Express is therefore a no nonsense film with a heart warming story set in the compelling backdrop of a picturesque country which has its own story to tell as the protagonists discover it through their journey. He has also very intelligently touched upon the irony of the American hand in Afghanistan’s plight and how after all the wars led by America, whats left in the land are dilapidated structures, dead bodies, anarchy, Colas and hungry American corporates.
In such a complex environment as this, the director manages to keep going with his story line with crisp editing and a strong screenplay that just surrounds the 5 characters. Oh and thankfully no songs this time for a Yashraj Film! The intense scenes are always peppered by witty wise cracks by Arshad Warsi and thus, the movie remains an entertaining ride throughout.
The cinematography superbly captures the spectacular scenery along with the scenes in the car that take most of the screen time. Editing is crisp with strict adherence to the screenplay. As a result, the movie is among the shortest ones in a long time and yet impactful. The background score, much lounge music like is very apt and leaves the right mood for the film.
All the performances are subtle yet brilliant in their roles. Pakistani actor Salman Shahid is intense, while Hanif and Linda add their realistic performances in this international star cast. John Abraham doesn’t need to do much. It is a very composed performance for a very calm role of a journalist who quickly understands circumstances. Arshad Warsi steals the show here with his outstanding comic timing and versatility when he is made to offer his precious few cigarettes when he doesn’t want to, when he is pointed a gun at, when he is standing on the ground before charging wild horses, when he is humming along an old Mohd. Rafi song and when he is having a heated debate over Kapil Dev or Imran Khan being the best all-rounder in the world.
After a touching climax to the Talib’s story, the movie ends with yet another donkey on the middle of their path waiting to be run over by their Kabul Express so the locals can claim a fortune for the donkey’s worth. Lol.
Few films will give you an insight into a culture so aloof, a land so deserted, a war so prolonged, a hope so dim and yet leave you entertained after touching upon all the above aspects.
Great work by Kabir Khan.
- 9.001 on a scale of 1-10.
