Wazir comes out with a stellar lead cast in the form of Amitabh Bachchan and Farhan Akhtar. Aditi Rao Hydari is the female lead in this emotional revenge drama where the game of chess, its strategies and different pieces play a key role. Vidhu Vinod Chopra has written the story and director Bejoy Nambiar has given several metaphorical touches with the game.
Farhan plays Danish, an ATS (Anti Terrorism Squad) officer who experiences a personal tragedy which puts his life in shambles. His wife moves away to live alone, while he struggles to recoup. This is when he befriends chess master Pandit Omkarnath (Amitabh) who himself is living under much personal grief. He is also wheelchair bound, having lost both his legs in an accident. Omkar has some scores to settle with a Union Minister and Danish stands by his side, willing to extend any manner of help.
The film plays out with heavy emotions and a grim mood for much of its run time, has some action packed moments and stumps us in the finale, making us say 'Well-Played'. This Bejoy Nambiar directorial carries a run time of just 100 odd minutes, and there are some lulls along the way before the final resolution.
Amitabh shows all his experience and doesn't need mobility in his legs, to prove his mastery over his craft. His magnetic voice charms us all over again. Farhan is fit, handsome as the cop and enacts his vulnerable character well. The interactions between Amitabh and Farhan, and their effect on Farhan, are the crux of the film.
Aditi Rao has to be serious and in a state of mourning for most of the time, and comes across as a sensual beauty. Manav Kaul gets a meaty part and impresses us with the sinister shades that he portrays. But his character is established as the antagonist without much suspense and there is a sense of inevitability and convenience in the way his role plays. John Abraham and Neil Nitin Mukesh are seen in cameo roles. Actually, kudos to Neil for having accepted this role which will surprise us in the end.
Wazir is bound to impress serious film buffs, with the calculated and crisp way in which the tale has been presented. It stands out from the masala movie template and warrants a watch. It could have had more depth, but guess the run time of 100 odd mins must have made the director and his team keep things pretty straightforward.
Watch Wazir for the lead cast and the intelligent end to its proceedings.
Farhan plays Danish, an ATS (Anti Terrorism Squad) officer who experiences a personal tragedy which puts his life in shambles. His wife moves away to live alone, while he struggles to recoup. This is when he befriends chess master Pandit Omkarnath (Amitabh) who himself is living under much personal grief. He is also wheelchair bound, having lost both his legs in an accident. Omkar has some scores to settle with a Union Minister and Danish stands by his side, willing to extend any manner of help.
The film plays out with heavy emotions and a grim mood for much of its run time, has some action packed moments and stumps us in the finale, making us say 'Well-Played'. This Bejoy Nambiar directorial carries a run time of just 100 odd minutes, and there are some lulls along the way before the final resolution.
Amitabh shows all his experience and doesn't need mobility in his legs, to prove his mastery over his craft. His magnetic voice charms us all over again. Farhan is fit, handsome as the cop and enacts his vulnerable character well. The interactions between Amitabh and Farhan, and their effect on Farhan, are the crux of the film.
Aditi Rao has to be serious and in a state of mourning for most of the time, and comes across as a sensual beauty. Manav Kaul gets a meaty part and impresses us with the sinister shades that he portrays. But his character is established as the antagonist without much suspense and there is a sense of inevitability and convenience in the way his role plays. John Abraham and Neil Nitin Mukesh are seen in cameo roles. Actually, kudos to Neil for having accepted this role which will surprise us in the end.
Wazir is bound to impress serious film buffs, with the calculated and crisp way in which the tale has been presented. It stands out from the masala movie template and warrants a watch. It could have had more depth, but guess the run time of 100 odd mins must have made the director and his team keep things pretty straightforward.
Watch Wazir for the lead cast and the intelligent end to its proceedings.
