'Kabul Express' director Kabir Khan is definitely good news for Bollywood. Why? Well, thankfully he breaks the monotony of cinema and brings in a refreshing change in spite of retaining good humour-n-drama. He is a documentary filmmaker but while watching 'Kabul Express' for most part you don't feel as if you are being given a lecture on the ravages of war. Instead, Arshad Warsi's comic timing makes it a fun ride.
Arshad's bantering with Salman Shahid (the guy who plays a Taliban militant) is extremely funny and at times poignant. Like when Salman reminds the Pakistani promise: 'Madhuri de do Kashmir le lo.' Or when the duo fight as to who's a better all rounder'Imran Khan or Kapil Dev. The balance that Kabir strikes in humorous and poignant moments (For e.g. when Salman Shahid's character meets his daughter and doesn't say a word except handing over a few hundred dollars hits you like a bullet fired from short distance) has been brought forth exceptionally well.
Moreover he doesn't compromise in terms of making a song-less film in spite of working with a production house like Yashraj Films famous for their musical acumen. His selection of cinematographer in Anshuman Mahaley was another master stroke. The visuals of the film are some of the most brilliant that one has seen in cinema this year. The closest that can come will be Tasadduq Hussain in 'Omkara' and Ravi K Chandran in 'Fanaa'.
Kabir Khan seems to be clear that he can't present his point of view by being pedantic. The marriage of entertainment and sense makes for a deadly combo. His next step in Bollywood will be eagerly looked forward to'
