Phantom, Kabir Khan’s second film in six weeks after the epic success of Bajrangi Bhaijaan took an aggressive what-if stand against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. It does so with a cool candour that makes for a bracing jolting wake-up call for the two nations at a proxy war rattling sabres across the barbed fence.
Phantom worked on a simple premise. You give us 26/11. We take revenge. As simple as that. In many ways the very talented Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub playing a raw RAW agent (no, I am not stammering) represents the voice of the nation. His inexperience among veterans, who plot and plan the nation’s defence and security actually becomes an asset for an organization that is seriously tempted to dodge the rules to take revenge against those who perpetrated 26/11 on us.
Many episodes in this breathy vendetta spree read like chapters from a thriller. Which they are. Kabir’s film is novel on celluloid unfolding in enrapturing episodes as a bunch of Indian intelligence officers supersede their line of duty to overthrow terrorists. The anarchy of extremism lurks in tantalizing pockets of Kabir’s film, like those James Bond girls dancing in the opening credits in shimmering seductive silhouettes.
Our man for the job of avenging 26/11 is Saif Ali Khan. A man so cool and in control, he makes his adversaries in the spy ring seem like toddlers in a tizzy.
Saif has great memories of shooting for Phantom. “Amazing locations and lots of fun too. We shot in Beirut. Not too many Indian films were shot there. We did a lot of dangerous things. We met the Hezbollah (a terrorist group). There was a statue outside the hotel that was bullet ridden,” he said.
That said, Saif enjoyed the shooting. “Beirut is a lovely city. Where else can you ski in the mountains and water ski in the warm sea the same afternoon. Amazing that way. Fantastic people. It was a big film and a great effort. I really wish I could do it again. This time I would be fab. We changed the end, and we shouldn’t have. Also, I had an incorrect look for the film,” said the actor.
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