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Tracking the Kabuliwala

Kabir Khan talks to MINI ANTHIKAD-CHHIBBER of his shift from documentaries to feature films and the making of "Kabul Express"

CHARTING A NEW COURSE Kabir Khan on location in Kabul

When one tells Kabir Khan about being impressed with his bio-data, he laughs and says: "That is the point of a bio, isn't it?" But Kabir's CV is seriously impressive what with big-time awards for documentaries such as The Titanic Sinks in Kabul (International SASA award), The Forgotten Army (Grand Jury Award at Film South Asia) and Two Assassinations and an Accident (National Award).

From the uber realistic world of documentary films, this graduate from Jamia Millia, Delhi, Kabir has made a spectacular leap into the glitzy world of feature films with Kabul Express for the Yash Raj banner.

"I don't look at documentaries as a stepping stone to making features," Kabir says. "I think some subjects suit the documentary mode while others are better suited to a feature film format. Documentaries give me raw material for my script. It is unfortunate that Films Division offerings have destroyed the notion of documentaries as being interesting and entertaining.

Killed by TV

"Documentaries have been killed by television in India. We are governed by the lowest common denominator and it is cheaper to produce soaps. One of the reasons to make a feature film was for feedback."

Kabul Express was born out of Kabir's experiences of shooting in Afghanistan. "I did not think that Yash Raj would want something like this. But I got a call from them. Adi (Aditya Chopra) wanted a new style and he liked the script. I am really thankful to the producers because at no point was my vision diluted." Talking about the difference between shooting a feature and documentary, Kabir says: "The difference is in scale and logistics. A documentary is all about letting things happen, while in a feature you go in like an invading army."

The film tells the story of Indian journalists who go to Afghanistan post 9/11 to interview a Taliban leader.

"The film deals with the 36-hour journey from Kabul to Pakistan. It is a road film, a thriller, a comedy and also an anti-war film, which deals with larger questions like the artificiality of boundaries. I have made a deliberate attempt not to be jingoistic; but the film is a reflection of the contemporary politics of the subcontinent."

Going international

Kabul Express is the first international film to be shot in post-Taliban Afghanistan. Kabir admits security was an issue what with death threats and landmines and the rest of it. "It was a harrowing time and we had stopped shooting but the Afghan Government was very helpful."

There was also the cold to be dealt with. "The film was set in November 2001. We shot between October and December and it was hellishly cold. "

Kabul Express has an international cast with Arshad Warsi and John Abraham. Then there is Salman Shahid from Pakistan, Hanif Hum Ghum from Afghanistan and Linda Arsenio from New York. Kabir says: "Every actor was cast according to their nationality. Casting took me two months of extensive auditions." About casting Arshad and John he says, "I know Arshad forever. Our wives (Arshad is married to former VJ Maria Goretti and Kabir himself to Mini Mathur, also a former VJ) knew each other. I wrote Jai's character with Arshad in mind. I cast John because he is the quintessential tough guy with a soft soul. The chemistry between Arshad and John is phenomenal."

The name has a long story and short story behind it.

"It is the name of the car that takes the characters from Kabul to Pakistan. The long story is that there used to be a popular route from London to India, which was called Kabul Express and stood for movement of people across these beautiful landscapes. In the film, Afghanistan is not just a backdrop but a character in its own right."

Future projects

Kabir has a three-film contract with Yash Raj and is already working on the scripts. "Whatever I do, it will always have a larger socio-political backdrop. I cannot make a film that is not anchored in time and space. I would like to do a light-hearted treatment of a serious topic because I believe humour has a profound effect."

Already there's a positive buzz at film festivals about Kabul Express. Come December 15, and we will be ready to get on board.

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