Kabir Khan is one of the few filmmakers in India who has worked extensively in Afghanistan and has first-hand knowledge of the Taliban and what they can do. Now, that Taliban has gained control of Afghanistan and US-backed president Asraf Ghani has fled the country, the world is aghast and petrified at what will befall the citizens of the country. Kabir, apart from his debut film Kabul Express (2006) has also shot several documentaries in the country, including one post 9/11, which narrated the impact of 5 years of Taliban rule over the country.
Now, in a recent interview with an online portal, Kabir spoke about his fears regarding the ban on cinema and photography and the exodus of artists to other countries. Talking about what the Taliban rule means for the creative community in the country, Kabir said, “We all know what the Taliban did to the arts and culture, films and photography the last time they were here, so I don't think anyone would expect anything different now. I would really be surprised if they let the actors, the artistes and the entire film industry to survive over there. I don't think that they will let it survive. The last time they didn't allow photography, forget cinema.”
He further added, “I would say there is going to be an exodus of all the artistes, they would have to run away, which happened last time also. I know a lot of them who were my friends, who worked with me in Kabul Express, they used to narrate their stories to me about how they ran away to Iran because that's the only place they could easily get work, because Dari which is spoken in Kabul is basically a dialect of Farsi, so for them it's easier to get work in Iran. Some came away to India, some would go to Pakistan, so I think it's going to be tough for people in the sphere of arts and culture to survive over there.”
Talking about his friends and contacts from the years of shooting in Afghanistan, the filmmaker said, “We have so many friends there, not just because of Kabul Express but also because I have shot several documentaries there before Kabul Express. A lot of them had already relocated because even though the Taliban is in possession of Kabul today, but the Taliban resurgence started in 2006 itself. Siddiq Barmak, a very dear friend of mine who made the film Osama, which was nominated for an Oscar, he relocated a few years back, he's in France. So, a lot of them have gone away. But yes, even then there are people we know - there is an actor who was a part of Kabul Express, who's very vocal, he's an anti-Taliban critic, he has very openly expressed his love for cinema and especially Bollywood and India, he's in Kabul. He reached out to us, day before yesterday they ransacked his house and he's underground now. He's been reaching out to us and saying can we help him get a visa and reach India.”
He added, “But one feels heartbroken and helpless really because we don't know what to do - of course we are reaching out to authorities, we are reaching out to people and seeing if we can send guarantees, send some letter or whatever we can do to help them get a visa and come here but I don't think there is much one can do right now. Most of the time their phones are off, they are scared, they are underground.”
(Source: The Quint)
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