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Curse “Jai and Veeru” of Sholay that they installed milestones for coming generation actors as far as male pairing in the films are concerned. One has to show his serious looking mannerisms while other has to be necessarily funny, no matter what the situation is.

Two Indian guys sorry Journalists sorry brave journalists are on the trip with a daring motive to do some viedo interview of some Talibanis hiding in the Afganistan. But before the film starts let us remind us what we, the general Indian people, know about Afganistan?

Afganistan has been place where tall Pathan people have been living since ages, they have been brave, great fighters. Two of the main characters of Mahabharata epic, Gandhari and her brother the villaineous Shakuni belonged to Gandhar- now Kandhar in Afganistan. So an old Hindu country converted to Islam in middle ages. Former Soviet union’s red army invaded Afganistan in 70s and as an opponent of USSR in world politics, U.S of America had to come in to the battle and they hired Pakistan to fight against Soviet Army. An Afgani named Bin Laden helped USA to fight against Soviets and he headed a group called Talibans. Even Third and last film of Rambo series was based on this subject where Sylvestor Stallon destroy a soviet base camp to release his Col. boss who is captured by Soviets. Sylvestor gets help from Talibans. Least USA was knowing at that time that a time will come when his pet Talibans will stand against her. Cold war was finished with the division of USSR but Talibans occupied the Afgansitan and destroyed everything which can be related to freedom. A large statue of Lord Budha was situated in the mountains of Bamiyan since ages and Taliban could not toterate how could a statue of Hindustani prophet, survive in newely born Islamic state which is following true path of Islam. So Budha ji’s statue was destroyed Whole world cried foul but Talibans were not there to take care of this irrelevant criyng. What is cinema, art, culture, its all bad for a state which is moving ahead on a true religious path so everything related to art and culture was destroyed and every activity was stopped. When these tall, and not so handsome Talibans are everywhere then how women can be tolerated in open? They have to remain always in burka. And what they will do by getting education, so all schools were closed for girls. After all they have to serve these strong men, who get tired after holding AK47 and 56 for many hours a day. So the land which exported dry fruits al over the world, started exporting dry and hard feelings towards every other community in the world under the Taliban regime. Mighty USA and Taliban started fighting with each other and 9/11 happened (Naseer Baba invented time machine and went back in to the past time to shoot climax of his first feature film yun hota to kya hota, when a plane was colliding with top storey of the building where one of the hero of the film, Mr Irfaan Khan was standing) and USA vouched to finish the control of Talibans from Afganistan. USA should have a project in Asia and Pakistan is ever ready to support them with all the skill and expertise this country has. So USA said that now Pakistan under the dictatorship of Gen. Musharaf will help USA in erradicating Talibans from the landscape of Afganistan. Soon Talibans were removed from the power but Enemy no 1 of USA, Dr Hidden aka Mr Laden has not been captured till today i.e-22nd January of 2007 and search for him is continued. Though time and again its said that Pakistan plays a sweet and sobre host for Laden saab and the very indian “D” bhai. Though Pakistan denies this. There is political angle also in this Asian region and its said that now fighters once trained to fight against USSR, have been headed now towards Kashmir to steal the sleep of Indian govt.

How is Afganistan now? what kind of social scene is prevailing there? Are people returning to democracy under Pashtun leader Hamid Karzai’s presidentship? Is it safe to travel there? What is equation of remaing and hiding Talibans with the local people? Do people still have fear of Talibans? Or they just capture them whenever they are seen? Is it home war kind of scene in Afganistan? We generally dont know and this film” Kabul Express” doess not enlighten us either about true condition of Afganistan.

Content and treatment of the Film is contrary to the stories attached with the shooting. Its said that Talibans gave threats to the Kbair Khan the director and the film unit if they shoot there and Afgani govt. provided tight security to the film unit and most of the time, number of soldiers were more than the members of film unit.

But nowhere in film audience gets this clue that people are living under fear. Story can be of one line that two Indian TV journalists wish to interview some talibans and go to Afganistan.

Film does not offer any deep understanding rather any kind of understanding of the present social-political-economical portfolio of present days Afghanistan. Film runs with different mood, and tries to capture different sub plots. Film tries to bring out a phiosophy that deep down one cant be judgemental at a given time because there may be some more truth hidden behind the things obviously seen on surface.

OK lets forget about politics and social structure in Afganistan and lets be open and enjoy that which this journey may provide. Though film is quite average but whenever peace will be there in Afganistan and there will be a common understanding between Pakistani and Afgani people then they can enjoy the humourous side of the film.

Imran Khan Afreedi may belong to Talibans and after years of fighting along side talibans he has become a mechanical taliban but his training is like that only. He is a Subedar in Pakistani Army and being a soldier his duty is to follow the oders and when his army bosses ordered him to support the Talibans he did that. Though for his duty he had to suffer from separation of his daughter who hates Talibans. Being a Taliban is not safe anymore in Afganistan so he wishes to go back to Pakistan and thus he make hostages of Indian journalists and their Afghani guide cum driver. Its a strange journey, a lighter one. Afghani driver hates Talibans and thinks they are responsible for ruining his Afganistan. Its a fight of ideology. Indian journalists represent “non aligned” attitude towards Afgani driver and Pakistani turned Talibani.

Director Kabir Khan has been war corresspondent but he does not offer much hope in war films rather he can make light comedies, humourous films. One thing certainly goes in favour of the film that film does not offer any judgement about events happened in Afganistan in last 30-35 years. Rather through the end of Imran Khan Afreedi, film shows that how humanbeings are used as puppet for political benefits by politicians. Thats the single political message of the film otherwise film attacks on extremism in subtle tone. In a scene, while all are travelling in the Car “kabul express” Imran Khan Afreedi listens hindi song ” Mein Jindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya, har fikra ko dhuyen mein uraata chala gaya” . All of a sudden, with the song, scene inside the car becomes very light and tension is removed from the scene. Every character is enjoying the song and Arshad Warsi had given his best moments in the film when he praises the song. [Those who detest the idea of having songs in films should understand through this scene what music does in our life, people dont go in cinema hall to spend few hundred Rs to buy more tension, they go to release their tension and to buy some entertainment]. Well to enjoy the song more Imran demands a cigerrette and strike it the seat thre times as Dev Anand in the song has done before firing the lighter. Arshad Warsi asks him, do you like hindi songs? he replies” hindi song to hum bachpan se sunta aa raha hun”. Arshad comments,” Par apke Taliban ne to in sab par ban laga diya tha”.

Film suggest that how an individual is unable to keep his own ideas alive in the time when big political ideologies are under action and single individual has to become part of that big movement no matter he likes it or not. It is very easy for John to say to Imran that “aisa bhee kya farz Imran saab, jisne apko apnee beti se dur kar diya”.

Often Pakistan tries to give illusion to world that Muslims are second class citizen in India and when Imran Khan is doing his Namaz he comments on John” aap namaz nahin parhoge, are tum to Hindustani muslaman ho, tumhe kya pata islam ke bare mein”. Though John gives befiting reply,” haan islam to aap samjahte hain. AK 47 saath mein rakhkar namaz parhte hain”.

But when same Imran Khan is not passing through emotions because John asks him why he did not talk with his daughter he repents about his life and praises life in India. Keeping undertone, Director has shown Imraan Khan saying,” aap logon kee duniya aur hai, jindagi aur hai, aap nahin samjh payenge”.

Again film is not about troubled time but its about the hope that humanity may live even when time is worst. We as humanbeing are conditioned and if we are ready to leave that dogmatism then we can enjoy company of any person belonging to any race of world, person of any country. Its our extremist views which produce hurdles in free flowing life.

Cinematography is good, and landscape suggests that before ruining Afganstan must have been a beautiful country. Camera works in nice ways and cameraman could not resist to show the image of running car in the water of a lake. That was good shot.

Once we understand Kabul Express as a humourous film then Arshad Warsi outshines everyone present in the film. If we consider it as emotional film which depicts sad ending of a confused Talibani then Imraan Khan impresses with his performance.

John’s character is half baked and even Kabir Khan was not knowing what to do with John. If only Arshad Warsi’s character was there perhaps film could have been nicer. But as Anurag Kashyap has mentioned few times that John Abraham gave his support to the Kabir Khan so that he could get producer so it seems that Director just used name of John and if John did not have any defined shade in his character then its director’s fault and on a lighter note why John did not (or could not ?) act can be justified. John was sulky because he was not having defined understanding of his character. Sometimes he is so serious as wood and at some unexpected moments he delivers double meaning sexual dialogues. There is a danger if someone has suggested him that serious looking guys work longer in films Ala Amitabh Bachchan. RGV has almost ruined Mohit Ahlawat with his praising and doing similarities with AB’s screen presence and Mohit took it seriously and he is alwas very serious on screen. Same is happening with John. He has fan following and with films like Jism and Dhoom he earned fame also but he has to select his kind of films.

He is totally miscast in this role. Camera captures everything. One fine morning in Afganistan, He is doing push ups(afterall he is machoman) on rocks and he sees a young boy staring at him and John smiles and shows his dimple sided cheeks and asks him” tu bhee karega”. Boy comes before him and lo behold, boy has only one leg. That boy perhaps might not have acted before and he delivers his 30 seconds scene very well but our John is almost like a monk in that scene who has achieved something in life and now nothing can touch him. Neither happines nor sorrow. So neutral!!!!!!

A Saif AliKhan or Ajay Devgan was needed for such roles. Curse Arshad Warsi who thought that he was working with Saif or Sanjay Datt and he tried to bring that instant humour in the scenes which he did in Salam Namste and Munna Bhai, but least he was knowing that he has John in front of him from whom his humourous glances will not be able to return back with equal response. This actor Arshad Warsi needs fast responding actor opposite to him as far as humour is concerned else its like one side love.

Imraan Khan Afreedi’s daughter lives in a small village and cover her body and face all the time inside a burka but man what a nicely shaped eye brows are done for her by Kabir Khan’s crew’s make up man. He should be awarded for this art.

If anyone finds Kabir Khan claiming anywhere that he made a sensitive film on a sensitive subject then please hold him. He should be reminded again and again that he made a humourous film and he may have great career in light comedies.

Hope to see some good humourous film in future from Kabir Khan.

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