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KABUL
EXPRESS
Produced by: Aditya Chopra
Directed by: Kabir Khan
Starring : Arshad Warsi, John Abraham, Salman Shahid, Humghum,
Linda Arsenio
UK Release 15 December 2006 |
Kabul
Express is set in post 9/11 (November 2001) Afghanistan where
the American bombing has destroyed the most hated Taliban regime
and the Taliban soldiers are trying to escape to Pakistan to avoid
the wrath of the Afghans. Against this turbulent backdrop, Jai
and Suhel - two Indian Television reporters have entered Afghanistan
and their aim is to somehow get a rare interview with a Talibani.
Helping them in their pursuit of a Talibani is their Afghan guide,
translator and driver - Khyber in his Toyota Jeep called Kabul
Express.
The three of them are having their share of adventure as they
go from being blindfolded and taken to secret hideouts in the
mountains to interview Taliban prisoners to nearly getting trampled
by horses while shooting a game of Buzkashi (Rugby played on horses
with a dead lamb). They are saved from getting trampled by an
American photojournalist, Jessica. Despite all their attempts
the Taliban remains elusive. But unknown to them, these hunters
are being hunted down themselves...
One
cold winter morning in Kabul, they get kidnapped at gunpoint by
a Taliban fugitive who wants to escape to the Pakistani border.
The kidnapper, Imran is a Pakistani army soldier who was part
of the Taliban. He knows that as journalists, Jai and Suhel's
movements in the country will not be questioned and posing as
their local guide, he can reach the safety of his country. Imran
knows that the Taliban were the most hated regime in the history
of Afghanistan and if caught by the Afghans, he would be torn
to pieces.
From
here on begins the two-day journey from Kabul to the volatile
Afghan-Pakistan border. Jai and Suhel's mission becomes a nightmare
as they are taken hostage aboard the Kabul Express and made to
drive across the most dangerous country in the world. Jessica
sees their car driving away from Kabul and mistakenly thinks that
they are onto a big story. She begins to chase them. Before she
knows it Jessica gets stuck in a bizarre situation and inadvertently,
also gets taken hostage by Imran.
Along
the long treacherous route they get stopped by dangerous mercenary
armed bandits, see an angry mob kill prisoners with their bare
hands, and in a hilarious situation they even get chased by a
suicidal donkey! Political and ideological boundaries not withstanding,
all five of them are forced to act as a team in life threatening
situations. As the film unfolds, a special relationship develops
between an Afghan, a Pakistani, two Indians and an American.
By
the end of the journey Jai, Suhel and Jessica actually help Imran
reach the border of Pakistan - his country that he is very proud
and patriotic about. But the turbulent political situation at
that time has a surprise in store for all of them.
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