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Except for Ajmal Kasab, a foot soldier brainwashed into doing what he did, the masterminds are still roaming freely and have not been brought to book.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Lashkar-e-Taiba-is-a-terrorist-organisation-not-Pakistan-Kabir-Khan/articleshow/48423306.cms
Kabir Khan, through his upcoming thriller Phantom, attempts to provide a sense of catharsis and a sense of closure to Indians, even though only in a fictional world. The killing of Osama Bin Laden in
Abbottabad provided a sense of closure to the Americans after 9/11. Phantom is based on the well-researched book 'Mumbai Avengers' by S Hussain Zaidi and is a story of how a few Indian commandos become undercover agents, tracking down and killing the four masterminds behind the 26/11 attacks. While the name of the terrorist organisation, Lashkar-e-Taiba has been retained in the film, some of the names of the masterminds have been altered.
Kabir Khan, through his upcoming thriller Phantom, attempts to provide a sense of catharsis and a sense of closure to Indians, even though only in a fictional world. The killing of Osama Bin Laden in
Abbottabad provided a sense of closure to the Americans after 9/11. Phantom is based on the well-researched book 'Mumbai Avengers' by S Hussain Zaidi and is a story of how a few Indian commandos become undercover agents, tracking down and killing the four masterminds behind the 26/11 attacks. While the name of the terrorist organisation, Lashkar-e-Taiba has been retained in the film, some of the names of the masterminds have been altered.
Excerpts from a conversation with the Kabir Khan, the director of the film:
What is Phantom about?
It's an edge-of-the-seat action thriller set against the backdrop of the 26/11 attack that has been an open wound for the Indian pysche. Every time an incident happens, the Indian audience feels very helpless. Seeing Mumbai go down on its knees for those 60 hours, 26/11 was the most humiliating attack for us as a nation and yet, no one has tried bringing the masterminds of the attacks to book, except for Ajmal Kasab who was just a pawn, a Pakistani boy, a foot soldier brainwashed to do what he did. So in a sense, Hussain's book plays out in our imagination as Indians, hoping that what happens in the book and now in the film, could happen in real life, where the masterminds of the attacks (Harris Saeed modelled on Hafiz Saeed, David Headley, Sajid Mir and Sabahuddin Umavi modelled on Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi) are brought to justice by killing them.
The book is a bit cold. Is the film different?
While the film is based on the book, it's extremely emotional. The emotion comes from two characters that we have created in Pakistan (one of them being Shekhar Kapur's sister Sohaila), who form a relationship with Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif's characters and how they too join their mission and become instrumental in it. Sohaila is playing a Pakistani widow, whose son too becomes a suicide bomber by being brainwashed by Lashkar-e-Taiba. The common man in Pakistan too wants to get rid of these elements.
What is Phantom about?
It's an edge-of-the-seat action thriller set against the backdrop of the 26/11 attack that has been an open wound for the Indian pysche. Every time an incident happens, the Indian audience feels very helpless. Seeing Mumbai go down on its knees for those 60 hours, 26/11 was the most humiliating attack for us as a nation and yet, no one has tried bringing the masterminds of the attacks to book, except for Ajmal Kasab who was just a pawn, a Pakistani boy, a foot soldier brainwashed to do what he did. So in a sense, Hussain's book plays out in our imagination as Indians, hoping that what happens in the book and now in the film, could happen in real life, where the masterminds of the attacks (Harris Saeed modelled on Hafiz Saeed, David Headley, Sajid Mir and Sabahuddin Umavi modelled on Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi) are brought to justice by killing them.
The book is a bit cold. Is the film different?
While the film is based on the book, it's extremely emotional. The emotion comes from two characters that we have created in Pakistan (one of them being Shekhar Kapur's sister Sohaila), who form a relationship with Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif's characters and how they too join their mission and become instrumental in it. Sohaila is playing a Pakistani widow, whose son too becomes a suicide bomber by being brainwashed by Lashkar-e-Taiba. The common man in Pakistan too wants to get rid of these elements.
India holds the perception of being a peace-loving country. Doesn't this film go against that?
Yes, that's our country's ideology. But this is a film, that is in some way living out the fantasy of a lot of people in this country. Having said that, it is in no way saying that this is what India should do as there are many other reasons and that counterpoint is also present in the film as to why India, in reality, does not do it. We have never believed in vigilante justice. We have never gone into this cowboy kind of adventure that America does. Also, there is a certain balance of power in the sub-continent since both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers and so, any kind of adventure can create a further loss of lives.
Yes, that's our country's ideology. But this is a film, that is in some way living out the fantasy of a lot of people in this country. Having said that, it is in no way saying that this is what India should do as there are many other reasons and that counterpoint is also present in the film as to why India, in reality, does not do it. We have never believed in vigilante justice. We have never gone into this cowboy kind of adventure that America does. Also, there is a certain balance of power in the sub-continent since both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers and so, any kind of adventure can create a further loss of lives.
What is your personal view on this matter?
I sometimes do feel I wish I could see such a scenario being played out, but I also understand the larger ramifications, so also understand that this kind of adventure can only be carried out in cinema and not in real life.We have already seen reports of Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed asking for the film to be banned in Pakistan. Do you see this film arousing more emotions? It's an anti terrorism film, not anti any country film. I firmly believe that terrorism is badly affecting both countries. Pakistanis are suffering as much as we are. It hurts the common man on both sides of the border equally. For the 5,000 people that we have lost, they have lost 50,000. And yes, 26/11 is a huge scar on our psyche, but can you imagine what Peshawar attacks must be for them, where many children have been shot by these terrorists? And people who say that this can be an anti-Pakistan film means that they feel that Lashkar-e-Taiba represents Pakistan. Lashkar-e-Taiba is a terrorist organisation and not Pakistan. So people of Pakistan cannot be held responsible for the actions of a terrorist organisation.
I sometimes do feel I wish I could see such a scenario being played out, but I also understand the larger ramifications, so also understand that this kind of adventure can only be carried out in cinema and not in real life.We have already seen reports of Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed asking for the film to be banned in Pakistan. Do you see this film arousing more emotions? It's an anti terrorism film, not anti any country film. I firmly believe that terrorism is badly affecting both countries. Pakistanis are suffering as much as we are. It hurts the common man on both sides of the border equally. For the 5,000 people that we have lost, they have lost 50,000. And yes, 26/11 is a huge scar on our psyche, but can you imagine what Peshawar attacks must be for them, where many children have been shot by these terrorists? And people who say that this can be an anti-Pakistan film means that they feel that Lashkar-e-Taiba represents Pakistan. Lashkar-e-Taiba is a terrorist organisation and not Pakistan. So people of Pakistan cannot be held responsible for the actions of a terrorist organisation.
Talk about working with Saif Ali Khan?
Saif is an actor who I have wanted to work with for a long time. I find in him the optimum blend of a star and an actor. I really admire him as an actor and this film needed that, as this film could not be weighed down by the personality of a huge star. He plays an Indian court-martialled ex-commando, who a certain part of the establishment reaches out to due to his existing training required for this mission. Personally, Saif and I got along really well. He reads a lot and is thus very aware of the world around him. He is in that sense not at all insular. He loves engaging in long conversations about an issue and a good evening for him is about having long conversations on an issue. I too like that. Also, we both love travelling so we would exchange notes. He was overall just a very pleasant presence on the set.
Bajrangi Bhaijaan has crossed '300 crores. Does the result of Phantom at the box office worry you?
I don't think we can carry the burden of numbers on every film as then, there would be only one kind of film that we all should be making. The point is that if you want to make different kinds of films, you have to let go of that burden. There are always some kinds of films that will appeal to a wider audience and there are certain kinds of films that will appeal to a more restricted audience. Phantom will appeal to this restricted audience in a big way. We have been true to the story and the story has dictated its treatment. It's a thriller with a new age treatment made for an audience that is exposed to international cinema, but dealing with an extremely evocative issue that will touch a chord with every Indian. Every film need not entertain you with just song and dance, it can entertain you by engaging you and Phantom does just that. I would say that Phantom has the edginess of a Zero Dark Thirty with a larger-than-life story of a Blood Diamond. It's a good blend of the two.
Saif is an actor who I have wanted to work with for a long time. I find in him the optimum blend of a star and an actor. I really admire him as an actor and this film needed that, as this film could not be weighed down by the personality of a huge star. He plays an Indian court-martialled ex-commando, who a certain part of the establishment reaches out to due to his existing training required for this mission. Personally, Saif and I got along really well. He reads a lot and is thus very aware of the world around him. He is in that sense not at all insular. He loves engaging in long conversations about an issue and a good evening for him is about having long conversations on an issue. I too like that. Also, we both love travelling so we would exchange notes. He was overall just a very pleasant presence on the set.
Bajrangi Bhaijaan has crossed '300 crores. Does the result of Phantom at the box office worry you?
I don't think we can carry the burden of numbers on every film as then, there would be only one kind of film that we all should be making. The point is that if you want to make different kinds of films, you have to let go of that burden. There are always some kinds of films that will appeal to a wider audience and there are certain kinds of films that will appeal to a more restricted audience. Phantom will appeal to this restricted audience in a big way. We have been true to the story and the story has dictated its treatment. It's a thriller with a new age treatment made for an audience that is exposed to international cinema, but dealing with an extremely evocative issue that will touch a chord with every Indian. Every film need not entertain you with just song and dance, it can entertain you by engaging you and Phantom does just that. I would say that Phantom has the edginess of a Zero Dark Thirty with a larger-than-life story of a Blood Diamond. It's a good blend of the two.
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