“Kandahar,” an action-thriller movie directed by Ric Roman Waugh and starring Gerard Butler and Navid Negahban, following two fugitives as they flee across dangerous deserts. When the identity of undercover CIA agent Tom Harris is revealed, many military agencies start to keep an eye on him and his travelling companion, Mohammad “Mo” Doud, an Afghan translator. Tom and Mo must reach an abandoned CIA base in Kandahar while being pursued by ISI, the Taliban, and the Iranian government in order to obtain their release.
The relationship between Tom and Mo is the main subject of “Kandahar,” which also emphasises the separate but related harm that the conflict did to each person. In doing so, it accurately captures the bond between the two characters as well as their participation in the conflict. Viewers will probably be interested to learn if Mo has a connection to actual life given the political relevance of the movie and the crucial role Mohammad “Mo” Doud plays in it. If so, this article will tell you everything you need to know.
Is Mohammad Doud Based on a Real Afghan Translator?
Part of Mohammad Doud is based on an actual Afghan translator. The experiences of screenwriter Mitchell LaFortune in the DIA served as a major source of inspiration for “Kandahar.” Because of this, every character in the movie is based on a real person who the author met and interacted with while serving in the military. The same holds true for Mohammad Doud, also known as Mo. However, little is known about the real-life person who served as Mo’s inspiration.
LaFortune made the decision to revise his novel and focus on Mo and Tom’s friendship after the US withdrew from Afghanistan. The author stated, “I wanted to tell the story specifically about how vulnerable you are as an American in a foreign combat zone,” when speaking about the same to We Are The Mighty. The interaction between an operator and his translator, which is something I experienced, is, in my opinion, the core of this film. You’re totally dependent on one particular person because they can speak the language.
Therefore, a big portion of Mo’s character and the main plot of the movie are informed by his position as an Afghan local who is employed as a translator by the American government. After America invaded Afghanistan as part of the former’s “War on Terror,” numerous locals worked with the U.S. troops as interpreters and translators. However, the country’s sociopolitical climate significantly changed when America left.
Atalayar claims that the Taliban have turned many of the interpreters who previously helped the US into targets. One of these translators, Reggie, revealed his uneasiness during a discussion with NPR and said, “Since these insurgents have arrived, I cannot sleep for a minute. I am unable to get even a minute of sleep. Mo and his family arrived in the United States safely, unlike Reggie and many other people. However, because of his relationship with Tom, Mo is the focus of discrimination from some groups. The movie makes an effort to depict the hazards that many translators actually experience through this component of its plot.
Additionally, actor Navid Negahban, widely known for his appearances in the 2019 film “Aladdin” and the television series “Homeland,” added some significant context to Mo’s character. We knew Navid Negahban was always going to be Mo because he just delivers so much emotion and humanity to his roles, and he actually experienced this, director Ric Roman Waugh stated in an interview with ScreenRant. He fled the Iran-Iraq War as a child refugee from Tehran, so he is familiar with the situation and is familiar with the local dialects. As a result, he has occasionally been a significant aid in locating individuals who have led to important discoveries.
‘Kandahar’ highlighted a significant consequence of the protracted conflict between the United States and Afghanistan through the character of Mo. It also illustrated the seriousness of the threat that many Afghan U.S. allies face in their own nation. Because of this, Mo’s character adds a real perspective to the story that a lot of people can identify with. Like everything else in the movie, Mohammad “Mo” Doud ultimately draws his primary inspiration from Mitchell LaFortune’s military career. However, his politically significant plotline gives his persona his actual authenticity. Additionally, the actor Negahban delivers a nuanced representation of Mo’s difficulties that is grounded in reality.
