Well, just returned after watching Kabul Express...
These days I can’t trust professional critics as I feel sometime they are biased so I was little reluctant to watch this one but thankfully, this time they turned out good.
KA is a very short film but very gripping with its share of darker, lighter n of course thought provoking moments...
The movie tells about condition of Afghanistan Post-Taliban, Post 9/11. We have two indians, one afghani, one pakistani n one american together.
Two indian and an american (not together) want to interview some Talibanis. Two Indians have one afghani as a guide. The guide correctly represents mindset of average Afghani against Talibani n wohoever supports them (read Pakistan). Then come the Talibani cum Pakistani Military Personnal in picture who just did his job by following official orders. Pakistani kidnaps these four guys to reach his country safely via Afghan-Pak border. Movie shows their journey together with untrust, trust among them n ofcourse human side of the talib.
Kabir khan is a debuntant director but he did perfect research n comeout with a well written script.
There are so many things which can make u think about like...
A scene with a handicap boy (He has only single leg, afghanistan has turned into mine-field after their war with Russia n now America...) or a scene between Pakistani n his daughter or when he asked John (Suhail Khan) to offer Namaz n the way John respond...
How low rank Pakistani Millitary personals do their duty by killing their own country man just because Mr President want to be in goodbook of America...
How Pakistan (even America during their anti Russian phase) helped Taliban to grow initially n how things turn around post 9/11.
Afghanistan before, during n after Taliban era....
Arshad provide lighter moments (mostly dark humor) in the film n it never harm film’s pace.
The pakistani is terrific whether it’s about expression, diction. He n Arshad toghether stole the shaw. John is also not bad but in some scenes he may be better. The Afghan is also impressive.
All n all this movie has quite authentic look, without regular masala. It has generous usage of Engish, Afghani language. n let me tell you Afghanistan is more beautiful than Switzerland.
If you want to see some intelligent, mature cinema, don’t miss this one.
This is the most realistic movie from Chopra camp, I wish them very best n request them to keep it up.
God bless all.
Nayan