Kabul Express
Kabul Express | |
---|---|
Cinematography | Anshuman Mahaley |
Edited by | Amitabh Shukla |
Music by | Songs: Raghav Sachar Background Score: Julius Packiam |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Yash Raj Films |
Release dates | |
Running time | 106 minutes |
Country | India |
Languages | Hindi English Persian |
Kabul Express is a 2006 Indian
Plot
Suhel Khan and Jai Kapoor are Indian journalists working for
On the way, they stop in the village of Ishtar along with the taxi driver Khyber (Hanif Humghum), who has watched his country fall apart over the decades. They stop in a small cafe selling kebabs where they meet American journalist Jessica Beckham who is working for Reuters in reporting on the US side of the Afghan war. Suhel and Jai then invite Jessica to join them on their tour of the country, which she does. However, shortly after leaving Ishtar, they are caught by Taliban official Imran Khan who has hitched a ride at the back of the taxi in disguise as an Afghan woman. Imran demands they listen to him and travel straight to the Afghan border with Pakistan or he promises they will be killed. Imran is attempting to cross the border, get past Pakistani troops and negotiate with his Taliban associates in Pakistan.
The four travel through various villages where they see horrific sights of poverty before reaching the southern city of
Cast
- John Abraham as Suhel Khan, an Indian TV journalist and director.[4]
- Arshad Warsi as Jai Kapoor, an Indian TV journalist and cinematographer
- Salman Shahid as Imran Khan Afridi / Subedar Major Jaan Mohammad, a Pakistani and Taliban soldier
- Hanif Humgaam as Khyber, an Afghan driver and guide
- Linda Arsenio as Jessica Beckham, a journalist from New York.[5]
- Roshan Seth as Narrator (voice)
Production
Kabul Express was the first international film to be shot in the country following the fall of the Taliban regime and the first Hindi film since 1992's Khuda Gawah.[3] The film was shot over 45 days in and around Kabul beginning in September 2005, around the time of a surge in Taliban insurgent violence. The insurgents also sent death threats to the film crew; the Afghan government protected the shootings by providing armed commandos and vehicles.[3]
Reception
Box office
The film opened to a good response. According to Box Office India, Kabul Express grossed ₹12.25 crore (US$1.5 million) in India.[6]
Critical response
India
International
It was screened as a "Special Presentation" at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival where it got mixed reviews.[9] Phelim O'Neill of The Guardian gave the film 3 out of 5 writing "The messages this muddled film puts forward are handled in a trite manner but fortunately (and quite depressingly) the striking, bombed-out landscape speaks far louder and clearer than the script."[10] Robert Koehler of Variety wrote "Treating the ongoing struggles in Afghanistan with crude indecision and larky silliness, 'Kabul Express' at once lamely revives buddy road pics and trivializes global politics. Commercially shrewd casting of hunky Bollywood action star John Abraham will position pic well for international play."[11] Anil Sinanan of Time Out wrote "Opening with sombre footage of the planes crashing into the Twin Towers, Khan switches to a generally light-hearted approach, with predictable jokes such as female journalist Jessica Beckham being asked if she plays football. The acting is laughably earnest and current hunk Abraham actually keeps his shirt on. Only the cinematography of a stunningly beautiful landscape ravaged by war comes close to making this unroadworthy vehicle a mildly memorable journey."[12]
Awards
- Asian Festival of First Films:[14][15]
- Best Director – Kabir Khan
- Critics Award for Best Film – Foreign Correspondents Association Purple Orchid Award
Controversy
On 6 January 2007 the government of Afghanistan, who had fully supported the shooting of the film in the country, banned the film despite it not having been officially released there.
Soundtrack
Kabul Express | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Film soundtrack | ||||
Length | 34:19 | |||
Label | YRF Music | |||
Producer | Aditya Chopra | |||
Raghav Sachar chronology | ||||
|
The album featuring 9 tracks including three remix and two instrumental. All tracks were composed by Raghav Sachar, one instrumental was composed by Julius Packiam. Lyrics were penned by Aditya Dhar.[18]
The film score was composed by Julius Packiam.
No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Kabul Fiza" | KK | 4:17 |
8. | "Kabul Express Theme" (Composed By: Julius Packiam) | Instrumental | 4:29 |
9. | "Kabul Fiza Theme" | Instrumental | 2:08 |
Total length: | 34:19 |
See also
References
- ^ Hernandez, Eugene (22 August 2006). "TORONTO '06: The Complete Lineup – 352 Films". IndieWire. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ "Kabir Khan recalls shooting Kabul Express in Afghanistan amid death threats: '60 armed commandos landed up on our doorstep'". The Indian Express. 14 May 2022. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
- ^ a b c Ramesh, Randeep (18 December 2006). "Death threats fail to halt Bollywood's Kabul road movie". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ Abraham, John (18 December 2006). "I like doing films that are on the edge and crazy - Interviews" (Interview). Interviewed by The Asian Today. Midlands: The Asian Today. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- Rediff. Archivedfrom the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ "Box Office 2006". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ Adarsh, Taran (15 December 2006). "Kabul Express Review 2.5/5 | Kabul Express Movie Review | Kabul Express 2006 Public Review | Film Review". Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ Mohamed, Khalid (15 December 2006). "Khalid Mohamed reviews Kabul Express". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ Pais, Arthur J. (20 December 2006). "Kabul Express limps in US, UK". Rediff. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ O'Neill, Phelim (15 December 2006). "Kabul Express". Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023 – via The Guardian.
- ^ Koehler, Robert (12 September 2006). "Kabul Express". Variety. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ Sinanan, Anil (12 December 2006). "Kabul Express". Time Out Worldwide. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ "54th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
- ^ "Asian Festival of 1st Films 2007 & 2009". Asian Festival of First Films. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
- ^ "Kabul Express continues to gather accolades around the world". Yash Raj Films. 3 December 2006. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ Syed Firdaus Ashraf (9 January 2007). "Kabul Express director shocked by ban". Rediff. Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ Agence France Presse (8 January 2007). "Kabul Express banned in Afghanistan". The Indian Express. Kabul. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ "Kabul Express - Haunting, lilting and enchanting". Yash Raj Films. 17 November 2006. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.