An Afghan adventure through Indian eyes. Review on Kabul Express

The awe-inspiring scenes of a country with majestic backdrops devasted by war, cultural ideas and behavior very different from India's, and Arshad Warsi's humor are the highlights of this worthwhile attempt by Kabir Khan.Set in Afghanistan in the days following 9/11, when the US decided to end the Taliban regime in Afghanistan as the first step in their War on Terror, and Pakistan, erstwhile supporters and only international recognizers of the regime are caught between defying the US and abandoning their pet "strategic depth" project, the movie brings this Afghanistan to life through the eyes of two Indian journalists, as they make their way through the country, with anecdotal scenes and expository political comments along the narrative serving as not entirely coherent devices to depict Kabir's view of the currents in the country: the Afghans' anger about Pakistan's role in the Taliban episode and subsequent betrayal, the Americans' activities and motivations in the country and around the globe, the genuine warmth and goodwill Indians enjoy among Afghans, a journalist's role and motivations in covering gory wars.

Arshad Warsi is the star of the movie. Playing the goofy cameraman, he is the Indian everyman, characterizing through inimitable humor the bewildered Indian perspective to the adventures. John Abraham is acceptable as the straight to Arshad's not-entirely-PC but honest and really funny comments. The others, Hanif Hum Ghum as the Afghan driver and Salman Shahid as the Talib play their roles well. Linda Arsenio is passable.

You will come out awed by the cinematography, happy with Arshad's comic relief and with some perspective on what war and a military culture can do to a country. I didn't know whether to characterize this movie as a serious or a comedy movie, but I went with 'serious' with humor providing some light relief to make it bearable.While the direction is weak, the story is somewhat forced, and the political commentary is a bit amateurishly handled, this movie is worth one watch in the theater for the travelogue aspect and Arshad.

All the brutality of people killing each other at the drop of a hat didn't bother me as much as the grape scene, where Khyber mentions that one of the valleys they are passing through, a vast sheer expanse of sable-hued desert, used to be verdant grape valley. I'm not sure why it affected me the most, but it just brought into sharp relief the extent of Afghanistan's tragedy. Entire valleys, filled with greenery and trees, turned into desert. And I think it made it possible to believe that such an incredible thing could really happen, and anywhere, in hitherto happy and fertile countries, and that's what was horrifying.

The one-legged boy scene was another one that brought the ravages of war into relief for the viewer, as well as to show Afghanistan's spirit: the boy was smiling all through. In fact, I really enjoyed all the happy scenes amid the brutality: everyone seemed very jolly amid all the killing, and that actually makes sense to me. I have read somewhere that since death is so commonplace and imminent, Afghans live more vividly savoring each moment.I didn't like the Buzkashi scenes, stringing around a dead animal is icky.

I was very satisfied with all the wide-angle shots of Afghanistan and its people, but I wished Kabir Khan had added some more happy and joyful scenes, some singing and actual dancing (although I'm not sure if Afghan culture loves that).

By the way, I have had one experience where an Afghan taxi driver in LA sang Hindi songs, bitched about the Pakistanis' actions and spoke of his admiration for India and told me how much goodwill India had among common Afghans for its refuge and aid all throughout the wars. Needless to say, I told him I was very happy about it, and hoped all three countries could one day work for common economic good, and that I could drive from Delhi to Kabul like it was New York and Montreal.