Kabul Express

(Long post warning!)

The diversity in the audience was something I really did not expect. It should probably have set the tone of the movie but nonetheless. It was extremely endearing to see so much diversity at that small theatre.

The row in front of me was completely occupied by about 10 americans, something I sincerely have not seen in all the years here. So many americans for an indian movie is not a common sight.

The row behind me was occupied by a pakistani family (yes, I can make out, thanks to the impeccable urdu-ish hindi or hindi-ish urdu that they speak).

A little further out what I could only guess was a family from Iran or thereabouts. The only reason i even venture a guess is because their spoken language reminded me of what this friend of mine used to speak with her mum(they used to speak in persian, were from Iran you see). But even if I am wrong , definitely from a middle eastern country.

Apart from the diverse crowd that turned up to watch Kabul Express, the movie is special for a lot of reasons.

In my opinion, its the emergence of the new hybrid generation of movie makers who venture into the un-tapped and un-chartered. Yes, I call them hybrid because there is a unmistakable external influence no matter what, not that its a bad thing. External influences are not a bad thing at all as long as they remain just that, an influence. A lot of times the film makers exploit the very term influence by totally ripping reel by reel of another movie or adding too much of what they absorb directly into the movie.

But Kabir khan, I am happy to say is not one of them. He comes across as a very talented director who knows exactly what he wants to see in his actors and where he wants to take the story. Preppy and modern nonetheless and it shows in every reel of the movie.

The protagonists are not idealistic, un-flawed or holier than thou. They are modern, guys next door with their share of prejudices and sentiments. I am so glad there is no so called heroine in this movie. thumbs up to the director just for that bold move. :)

There is a palpable excitement from the first scene. Cut back and forth it tells the story of two Indian journalists stranded in afghanistan searching for a story in the post 9/11 era. The prelude by Roshan Seth helps set the precedent for the movie.

I do not want to make this into a spoiler but I get carried away, so venture at your own risk.

What the movie has going for itself more than anything is the inbuilt satire track through out, very very expertly churned out by Arshad Warsi. That guy really cracks me up. He is so bloody talented its not even funny (pun intended!). But very very under-used in indian cinema. Hopefully this movie will help him in terms of making him more bankable for solo hero projects.

John Abraham is understated and that really works for the movie coz according to me he still has a whole lot to improve as an actor. In this movie he has a lot of unspoken to present and I think he does a good job of that. There are a few one liners that his cynical character has and that makes the scenes! I think it was a very intelligent screenplay to make him an indian muslim in the movie.

And truly only after a certain scene in this movie have i come to truly appreciate the meaning of Indian muslims in this world of today which has an anti muslim bias after 9/11.

This movie takes us through a country we have never really seen in its true form. It is heart wrenching to see a country so ravaged by war and nobody cares to do anything about. Ok, I take that back, there are red cross and other charitable institutions that are 'trying' to do something about it now. But think about it. 10 years (oops, corrected to 27 by a good friend) of ravage either by outsiders or civil war and no one cared to interfere to make the situation better.

No matter how much we see on news or TV channels, nothing drives the truth home like building a story out of it and presented on celluloid. Which is why movies like RDB and Yuva have such an impact. Movies, especially in the Indian sub context, have that power to influence and affect people in more way than one.

In this case, I think creates an awareness more than anything else. There is a certain sense of gloom, desolation and helplessness that runs like blood thru the veins in this movie. Whether its the bonfire scene where they discuss what they can do as journalists to help the cause or whether its the wise crack by Arshad where he say - yeh karo mar jaoge, woh karo mar jaoge.

The movies gives you a first hand look of Afghanistan post taliban era. Indian cinema has seen glimpses of kabul either from the old Khuda Gawah or the even older Kabuliwala (which doesn't show the country but somehow gives you the feel for it). But this something we were probably not prepared for.

The story packs a punch to begin with, 2 Indians, an American , an afghan and a Pakistani stuck together for 2 days in a jeep. I think that itself is such a powerful setting for anything.

The American journalist and that too a female journalist is a very sharp move by the story teller. When it comes to America and all it stands for, as far as Indians are concerned, they are all stereotypes, some good and some not so much. This movie makes you appreciate the good ones and completely cracks you up on the silly ones. E.g. Linda saying - I am an American, of course I can drive :)))

But like I said, there are other stereotypes as well, of a bolder woman who ventures out for reasons of her own, of a certain sense of arrogance and display of money :) Not really bad but you appreciate it nonetheless.

The actor who plays the pakistani in the movie is outstanding, he really is! I have very little clue about him but Boy can he act! In fact you come out of the theatre feeling really sorry for him inspite fo him being a talib. Which i think is a huge achievment for any director, if he can turn the whole character of a terrorist enough to evoke pity from the audience.

There are a lot of moments in this movie, which make you sit up and take notice or crack up completely. Like the incessant gun shots through out the movie, the gun fires are almost like background scores here. Arshad has you in splits continuously to lighten up the strong effect of the controversial subject. This movie would have a huge huge void if not for him. I think he is the sole thread which saves the movie from being discarded as a documentary or a movie with an extremely serious overtone.

A lot of people claim that the movie is aimed towards an intelligent and urban crowd and not the masses. And I think I agree. But I believe any movie should be made out of conviction and not for a certain audience demographic.

Now... yes we have to talk about some negatives as well right, nobody's that perfect :))

There is a serious undertone of paki bashing in the movie, you may justify it by giving a sentimental twist of father daughter or even patriotic overtures but you cannot escape from it. I am as patriotic as anybody but I am a little skeptical about controversial tones like this. I think I feel bad for the people who are in fact not even in the country but are subjected to bashing one after the other by indian movies. Anyways, not that I want to start a debate of anything but its something that is apparent in the movie.

I also think the ending is a little skewed. As long as the director refrains from making a personal comment of a global issue, things are ok. But you find that towards wee end, he cannot contain himself. And he ends the movie by tying up the lose ends with a sentimental dialogue for talibs. But get this, its a generic statement drawn completely from the incidents in the movie. To say anybody is blameless or that just because you empathize or make friends with somebody, they stop being phantoms. I think thats completely skewed observation to end the movie. I appreciate the humane touch to the story, the bondage between the hostages and the terrorist is a classic Stockholm syndrome. Even if we disregard that, we forget that we indians have a certain capability for tolerance and forgiveness no matter what.

Its an emotional statement no doubt and something the director wants to evoke thoughts with but ending a movie with that almost makes you wonder if its really that trivial or small an issue to be commented upon.

It is not, its a global issue with too many affected parties.. Can you really argue about humane talibs with parents of that girl who lost her life in 9/11 or the London blasts or the Mumbai blasts ?? You cannot! Nothing you can/show or argue will ever ever justify anything.

Which is why such subjects are sensitive and require to be treated with respect and no personal bias.

There are 2 train of thoughts I left the theater with:

1. Indian Muslims and their sentiments in the throes of this political agenda and bias the world seems to have in the post 9/11 times. The scene where Imran khan in the movie asks John's character whether he is a practicing Muslim resonates with cynicism for indian muslims and their liberal attitude, at least the so called modern ones. John retorts saying - Haan islam ka thekha to tum logon ne le rakha hai, siliye to AK-56 paas mein raklh kar namaaz padh rahe ho. (Translation - Sure, its you guys who have taken the reins of Islam, is that why you have an AK-56 by your side when you pray?) Its something I find extremely interesting and somehow, just somehow is linked with the second.

2. Indians and the so called indian mentality and value we have- This is so interesting, I spent almost half a day trying to read more and more thoughts ,so articulately penned by people around the world. Without further ado, I will only point you to some of those here and here.