Film Review

 Nothing beyond the chess board and everything within

From plotless, item number filled movies to a conceptual action thriller, i.e. enthralling and song free. Wazir, not only Bollywood but Director Bejoy Nambiar has made a comeback.

Taking up the theme of chess Nambiar, whose last film as a director was the action-thriller DAVID, hit the silver screens again with WAZIR.

Written by producer Vinod Chopra, along with Abhijat Joshi the movie revolves around the lives of, ATS officer Danish Ali (Farhan Akhtar), his wife Ruhaana (Aditi Rao Hydari) and their only child Noorie, Panditji aka Omkar Nath Dhar (Amitabh Bachchan) and Yazaad Qureshi (Manav Kaul).

In a well managed time frame of1 hour 50 minutes the movie is an emotional thriller which has a simple start, a gripping flow and a clever plot twist.

The start introduces you to Danish Ali and his family, how a loving family is hit by a self-inflicted tragedy. The couple is suffering through the tragedy apart from each other. Danish who blames himself for the unfortunate ends up meeting Panditji.

It is the meeting of these two men, who differ in age and mannerism, but their tragedies are almost the same and they find a mutual ground soon. Their friendship develops around the game of chess, Panditji being a chess instructor, he teaches Danish about how life isn’t as black and white as chess.

The game changer in the movie is definitely the introduction of “Wazir” the alarming character, it is through him that the movie takes swift turns that make you hold your breath. Wazir converts a grieving father into a grieving friend and into a saviour by the simple efforts of a handicapped pawn.

Abhijeet Deshpande, the dialogue writer, brilliantly made the audience understand the game of chess with his play of words. Pandiji’s dialogues play around the chess board, the most important being “we are all pawns at the mercy of the crafty Wazir.”

The first half is defiantly more riveting than the second. The second part is slower paced, yet not a drag. The end, on the other hand, might seem like a drag but the last minutes are bearable upon the background of the past hour.

Amitabh Bachan, performance is phenomenal, his handicapped character plays a lightly tongued fun-loving old man with a very heavy burden. His perspective to life revolves around the chess board. His act of a grieving handicapped father is helpless and strong. The power of the game that he loves and sharpness of his composer is brilliant.

Farhan Akhtar, at the same time, does not let Big B steal the show, his acting and performance are as satisfying as the formers. He too justifies the grief of a father; he fights with a commitment for his country yet doesn’t let the pressure come in the way of his commitment to justice.

Manav Kaul plays the main negative character in the film, a grey politician whose roots are as vague as his intentions.

Aditi’s and John Abraham’s character’s combo are sufficient.

Neil Nitin Mukesh has represented his short important negative role beautifully; he is a perfect mean and scary sociopath.

Though the plot is simply the destruction of terrorism, it is through these new human angles, Danish and Pandiji, the theme of chess and the final twist that comes because of the friendship between the pawn and bishop that you will remain hooked.

Big B’s voice over’s gives the scenes strength. The background scores are adequate and the story love story is enough to drive the movie with littler romantic tones.

The pivot of the movie is chess and this bold game is a treat to watch.