Had been waiting for this release ever since I watched the first trailer. It was a pleasure watching Farhan in his role as an ATS officer; he did full justice to it. Big B's performance too was mind-blowing as usual. The supporting actors too made the plot more gripping with their convincing performances. Due to my love for literature, I personally thoroughly enjoyed the chess metaphors used in the movie; unlike others, it wasn't just a pointless thriller. Despite some little flaws here and there, I absolutely loved the movie. My first movie of the year was totally worth it and I really hope Bollywood doesn't disappoint the viewers with mindless drama in the days to follow. Cheers to a new year ahead!
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shreekara-199510 January 2016When two acting experts who had marked their name by setting milestones and redefining the acting in their own way are bought together to play two pivotal roles, it just adds extra fun to the flow, when the casting is made well then the half work is done, 2016 release 'Wazir' has perfect casting and its beautifully narrated movie that keep its viewers seated till the credit flow, with strong stiffen plot along with powerful characters this movie holds back its viewers and indulge them in the flow, though the plot seems bit obvious it upholds the quality by presenting the story along with play of chess which runs like a metaphor, the brilliance of blending the symbol with the plot gains extra standard shade to the flick.
Amitab Bachchan with his acting excellence presents himself as a full fledged quality performer, his character filled with pain, brilliance, mystery and with slight touch of fun creates a mark on viewers, Farhan Akthar as an ATS officer renders his best acting, his serious and tough shaded role suits him perfectly, John Abraham cameo has good prominence in the flow, Neil Nitin Mukesh with the dark shade tremendously presents himself, Aditi Rao Hydari with her strong performance fills the intensity of the flow, Farhan and Aditi chemistry worked very well, intense BGM glorifies the suspense of the plot and tunes the scene perfectly, editing is very sharp and crispier, director Bejoy Nambiar handled the work very perfectly and his attempt of combining two good actors worked very well.
Overall 'Wazir' is a worth watch with exemplary casting and powerful plot that for sure never disappoints the thriller movie fans, not too exaggerated with perfect start and proper end film seems very well made. -
rkdaiya10 January 2016This one really got off a flying start for 2016. Wazir has its own way of doing it. It's spontaneous, catchy and the characters grow on you all the way. Bejoy has perfectly directed Chess based thriller with amazing performance by Chess Master Big B and ATS Farhan. Script was short and precise hence it make really good Climax. Cinematography was brilliant specially in Kashmir sequence. Music and background score were brilliant. Aditi Rao Hydari is decent and carries off her character effortlessly like always. Don't bat your eyelid lest you might just miss out on the intense plot that unfolds between Big B, Akhtar, and Neil Nitin Mukesh. This one's a must-watch for its intensity and stellar performances.
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JuanKaius9 January 2016Bejoy Nambiar made waves when he directed Shaitan. A refreshing thriller with an amazing soundtrack and witty dialogues.
This time he's playing with the big boys. Amitab and Farhan, two of the best brains in bolly meet together for this intriguing game of chess, which is laden with twists and turns and takes you through an overall thrilling ride. Neil Nitin Mukesh is probably at his best again after Johnny Gaddar, but remember it was prem ratan dhan paayo, that got him the role in GoT. Aditi Rao Hydari is decent and carries off her character effortlessly like always. :D
But overall I feel this is a positive step for Bollywood. Kudos! -
Reviewed by: Dare Devil Kid (DDK)
Rating: 3/5 stars
The setup of "Wazir" is not to be missed. A montage of happy moments introduces anti-terrorism officer Daanish (Farhan Akhtar), loving husband of Ruhana (Aditi Rao Hydari) and doting father of little Noorie. While running errands with his family in Delhi, Daanish spots a high-profile terrorist who was thought to be out of the country. His pursuit of the terrorist leads to devastating consequences.
Suspended from the force and guilt-stricken, Daanish befriends Noorie's chess teacher, Panditji (Amitabh Bachchan). From his motorized wheelchair, Panditji teaches chess to children, all of whom outclass Daanish. Panditji informs his new student that the point of studying chess isn't necessarily to win but to learn how to learn. Panditji also has an ulterior motive in befriending Daanish. One year earlier, Panditji's adult daughter, Nina, died under mysterious circumstances in the home of the nation's Welfare Minister, Izaad Qureshi (Manav Kaul). Qureshi says that Nina accidentally fell down a flight of stairs, but Panditji claims that he could tell from the look in Qureshi's eyes that Nina was murdered.
A look in the eye is not much to go on. While the movie presents reasons to be suspicious of Qureshi, Panditji and Daanish don't have access to the same evidence that the audience does. All that the characters have to go on is Panditji's gut feeling.
It's hard to believe that Daanish would risk his life and career on the hunch of a man he only recently met, irrespective of how distraught he may be at the time. Even harder to accept is the participation of Daanish's ranking officer (played in a cameo by John Abraham) in a crazy scheme that should result in his and Daanish's court-martial at best, their deaths at worst. The only reason that Daanish can take such risks based on so little information is that the story refuses to impose consequences on him. After brilliantly setting up Daanish as a man struggling with the consequences of a rash action, by the film's denouement, he's free to do whatever he wants in the name of what he considers justice. Never mind that he and John Abraham could maim and possibly kill innocent people in the process.
In the course of the unsatisfying climax, the truth about Nina's death is revealed in a way that feels too convenient. It doesn't feel earned. Additionally, Panditji's ploy to motivate Danish into securing justice for his deceased daughter seems way too contrived and downright inconceivable, regardless how much one's willing to suspend disbelief.
That said, the performances in the film are generally good, particularly by Kaul and especially by Bachchan, who looks physically broken and world-weary. Akhtar is decent but his emotional range comes up excessively short before Bachchan as does Hydari's. Abraham suffices in his cameo, as does Anjum Sharma, who plays Daanish's reliable friend and coworker, Sartaj. Another selling point is "Wazir's" efficient runtime of just over one hundred minutes. The movie is exactly as long as it needs to be to sustain its intermittent tension.
While far from perfect as a whole, "Wazir's" thrilling opening action sequence, Bachchan's expectedly superlative act, and some edgy scenes make it worth meriting a trip to the theater. -
hemantkhanna978 January 2016I have waited for many days for this movie to release.. I have also been hearing about this film when it was just written on a paper by Vinod Chopra. and since the i day saw the trailer.It was so gripping with Amitabh Bachchan and Farhan Akhtar playing some serious roles in it. and yes!! Farhan Akhtar cant do anything wrong..he proved this again!! i saw the movie today with very controlled expectations because 2015 was the year of disappointments like Roy and all.. The movie started in a very first shot.. sudden characters introduced..the screenplay,bringing forward the characters and adorable performances by Akhtar and Sir Bachchan.. Amitabh is still one of the most power pack performers in India. 90 minutes of the movie never disappointed me because of the twisted twist in the end!! Surely the movie,as Vidhu Vinod Chopra said earlier that The plot revolves around the rules of the chess..sacrifices,assassinations,authorities and loyalty were its ingredients.. May be Indian audience isn't still prepared for these kind of sharp stories(and i don't expect they will be) Movies like Dilwale and Prdp are regarded as good movies.. and i see no chances Indian Audience gonna improve their perspective for the movies that deserves appreciation and by the way i also have twist in the end for you readers...i.e the title of this review is for Masala movie lovers :) thank you :)
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maggyreviews.com (Spoilerless reviews)
Looking at the movie timeline and the thrilling theme that it portrays, it feels that it's crisply made. But often this short movie feels long. You will always want it to proceed further despite it being not irritating at any point. The plot is very interesting but not gripping. It's very little that the film justifies itself but the awesome ending says it all. All the thrill, story, cinematography steals the show because of the brilliant finish.
Farhan Akhtar not really enters completely into the role but still portrays a well focused ACP. Amitabh Bachchan had a great acting success last year and is always a treat to watch. This time he's effective but nothing more than that. All other actors supported the cast well.
I'm a fan of Bejoy Nambiar's direction style. He successfully places his style in this one as well. He is brilliant in parts but also below average in many. Like his last ventures, again he goes above average but it's time for him to go beyond that.
Overall, an interesting plot that's not gripping, but the ending steals the show. -
lopamudrax7 January 2016Cut, Dry, Crisp, to the point without any loose threads. The languidness of the moment that comes in is to establish the undercurrent of the raw palpable emotions.
Will come to the portrayals later - first lets get to the technical aspects of the film. The screenplay is tightly wound like the straps of the wheelchair and it lets go off the thread at the perfect moment and doesn't falter or is never loose preventing the viewer to fall. The camera is from our view point. The background music is the pounding of our heart and we are entrenched in completely. The songs are the soul of the film. The editing is as sharp as that of sushi maestro's knife and why wouldn't it be when the story is the maestro's himself. Who better to know how to tighten the strings.
Now to the portrayals. What can one say of the ever evolving AB. He has not only reinvented himself but has proved Darwin's law. Every film he showcases a new facet. He is truly the pawn of the chessboard who with every step he is taking in the board of acting has retaken his position as king again and again. FA has the right amount of restraint and is a delight to see and cherish.
Yes I did get the plot midway of the film but the checkmate that I was dealt was that of the alter ego of the true Wazir. Thanks for the checkmate. Truly I have lost on the twist but I am glad that I won seeing the movie -
With its IMDb page created 14 years ago before the film finally released, the makers' attempt at checkmating their audience with their crime drama only results in a stalemate where the game is mostly declared a draw.
The story starts with a death, as dutiful and physically fit anti-terrorist operations officer Daanish (Akhtar) regrets his decision of impulsively going behind a known terrorist when he is out with his family. Seeking vengeance, he goes on a rampage and gets himself suspended, only to meet Dhar (Bachchan), a widowed and physically disabled chess enthusiast, who is fighting his own devils after his teen daughter was killed in a mysterious accident. They become friends, and so starts a game of chess as Daanish becomes a friendly yet courageous horse for Dhar to find his daughter's killer.
Slow motion and suspended audio hook effects in the initial sequences marvelously entices its audience's attention, and it stays that way through the first act. However, Hydari's character evokes a sort of necessary but terse drama into the narrative which continues to happen throughout the movie. With good dialogs and a well-written screenplay, stylistic antagonists appear and drive the story forward. Mukesh's aura is appreciably different for what he's worth, and Nambiar fancily uses his charm to herald a new type of villain into Bollywood that is away from the deadpan elements we have been seeing in celluloid these past years.
However, the story has one too many flaws. Minor ones like Dhar driving a vehicle without his limbs in place can be forgiven, but if one digs deeper into the story that lays itself out in the second act, one will realize that the game which started with 8 ferocious pawns only has one pawn left and it is up to this pawn to take the film forward to a conclusive end. Of course it does, and it does beautifully, but the speed of this transition of a humdrum crime case turning into a thriller is too fast. Flip flops between the drama and the case affects the narrative, only to create an unrest in the audience.
So, as the pawn sets out to find the mysterious wazir, queen dies, and the king is high on vodka. Since the queen is dead, the game is more or less over. The wonderful climax is all that saves the pawn from going out on a limb, and manages to salvage the whole game.
Cast is brilliant; Akhtar and Bachchan are both good, but one will find the latter more believable in his character. Hydari just mops and sobs, while Mukesh does better acting in his 60-second space than in all his rest of the filmography combined. All said and done, Nambiar's attempt thankfully does not get convoluted, and is read out clearly in its 100 minute running time, but still the story has its flaws and the gist of it is nothing new that our palettes haven't tasted before.
BOTTOM LINE: Bejoy Nambiar's Wazir is an inventive thriller whose base story may be ordinary, but watch out for the titular character, for he may impress you with his faith and power and sheer thirst for retribution.
GRADE: C+
Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES -
Nebzyl11 January 2016I'm a chess fan (not a good player however).
One day, while I was playing chess, a thought came into my mind, "What if the game I'm playing is happening for real somewhere?" Then it was obvious, I searched for the movies with similar theme but couldn't get one. The best I could find was "The Seventh Seal" by Ingmar Bergman which was nowhere near to the one in my mind.
I knew nothing about 'WAZIR' before watching, except it was a chess movie. I'm a chess fan, so, I would have never missed this movie no matter good or bad. I wasn't expecting more either. But, after watching it, my mind was completely blown away. My long wait has been fulfilled. THIS is the best chess movie I've ever seen.
At some points, I felt errors in storytelling (wished they hadn't done it this way). But those were nothing compared to the whole package. The performances were good. The whole script is excellent. Technically, it felt real, which is also a good thing. I'm sure this movie will leave a mark in Bollywood, with its significance growing over time.
This movie came as a surprise which made me experience that, if a movie comes as a surprise, that movie is going to be in your best movies list.
Thanks for the whole team of WAZIR for delivering us this movie. Much appreciated. -
ketgup838 January 2016When you have powerhouse of talents like Amitabh Bachchan and Farhan Akhtar in one film, the expectation obviously soars sky high. The trailer of Wazir was taut and crispy. Unfortunately, the film could not leverage the tension and excitement built by its teaser.
Wazir tells the story of two men, Pandit Omkarnath Dhar (played by Amitabh Bachchan) and Daanish Ali (played by Farhan Akhtar), who have dark past but meet by fate. What follows next is interesting game of chess which unravels a mystery linked to terrorism.
From the director of well-appreciated Shaitaan and terrible David, Bejoy Nambiar does start the year 2016 with interesting film on a game of chess. The opening romantic song coupled with first few scenes where Farhan fight for his kids and rendezvous with Amitabh Bachchan will keep you glued. However, the film loses the track and plot becomes haywire and with frequent insertion of songs, you will wonder what is going on. With introduction of Neil Nitin Mukesh, who is the main character of the film Wazir, film gains pace and the cat-mouse game begins with him and Farhan. Screenplay is like a roller-coaster ride, it begins on a good note, loses the track and then gives a much deserved climax. However, you could have wished the characters of John Abraham and Neil Nitin Mukesh is well- sketched.
Editing by Vidhu Vinod Chopra ( also the producer and writer) is crispy and tight. Cinematography is good with wonderful background score. Action scenes are passable. Dialogues are worth-clapping especially by Amitabh Bachchan when he says "Agar yeh Shatranj ka Khel Hota toh yahan Ghode aur Haathi daudthe, Kutte nahi". Music by Shantonu Moitra is tuneful. "Tere Bin" is pick from the lot. Wazir stands on the shoulder of two strong performers who compliment each other in every possible way. Farhan Akhtar delivers an impeccable performance as a man trying to seek redemption. The one-liners from Amitabh Bachchan is alluring and the legendary actor gives an outstanding performance with aplomb. Aditi Rao Hydari looks gorgeous and enacts her part well. John Abraham and Neil Nitin Mukesh are wasted in undefined characters.
Overall, Wazir is watchable only for two talents Amitabh Bachchan and Farhan Akhtar who saves the film from falling into a rabbit- hole.- Ketan Gupta
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maulin58 January 2016So, 2016 has been started, and the first movie that I watched this year is Wazir, directed by Bejoy Nambiar. The original story has been written by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. And then crafted by Abhijat Joshi. Film starts with the marriage of Farhan-Aditi and the song Tere Bin. As the song ends, their daughter has been introduced, and after that she has been killed during a shootout. So, ATS officer Farhan becomes a disturbed man. His wife also leaves him. He is also get suspended from his job. He breaks down. But then Panditji (Amitabh) has been introduced, who is a paralyzed chess grand-master. Their unusual friendship starts. Panditji helps him how to live with that pain, also reunites the couple. Panditji's daughter has been murdered by a political leader. But, the government refuses the fact. It's up to Farhan, to find the truth. In between, the Wazir (Neil) has been introduced, who is too sharp and smart. Will Farhan be able to find Wazir and the truth of that murder, is the question which will be answered in the film. Bejoy is a kind of the director of Hollywood movies. His films have always something fresh which weren't shown by any other in Indian Cinema. Slow motion scenes are superb. The scene where Intermission has been displayed is one of the bravest one. No complain in direction. Even the film is very short, around 100 minutes. So the length is also a plus point. Editing is also sharp. Film reaches on the top level with the stars like Amitabh Bachchan and Farhan Akhtar. Manav Kaul is also one of the finest supporting actors. John's cameo brings cheers in the theater. Neil looks like a villain. And the one and only Aditi Rao Hydari is so so so beautiful. Her costumes, her earrings, her expressions, her eyes full of tears, her eyes full of joy, her eyes full of unspoken words - everything is so perfect that again I fell in love with her. For me, Wazir is the best movie of Aditi till date. Film narrates the story with the game, chess. So the title is perfectly suitable. Music is a major plus point. Tere Bin is soulful. Maula, Khel Khel Mein and Tere Liye Mere Kareem are good. Tu Mere Paas by Ankit Tiwari is a song which will be going to in your play list for long. Atarangi Yaari in the end, is a fun to watch with a melodious tune. Background music is of to mark. The song Aao Huzur played on the piano very beautifully. Dialogues are fabulous. Locations and sets are good. Kashmir looks stunning. Chasing of Farhan on the road of Delhi is breathtaking. On the whole, go for it. The movie will not disappoint you. It is full of emotions, so go and enjoy this first good movie of this year!
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superindrajit9 January 2016Bejoy Nambiar's WazirI2016) is crisp thriller which works well for the most part. The film has its flaws but the glitches are not big enough to call this film a letdown. In the Indian Film Industry, the thriller genre includes many films but only a few are noteworthy. Wazir is by no means a masterpiece but it is effectively crafted, superbly acted, and brilliantly edited.
One of the greatest things about Wazir is the fact that it wastes no time in setting up its characters. The introductions are kept short and the main story kicks in fast. It is good that the music is left to the background with no time wasted having the actors lip syncing any song. The film's editing is one of its main strengths. The editor has ensured that the film is not distracted by any unnecessary subplots. There are many well handled scenes like Daanish's meetings with Panditji, Daanish's scenes with his cop friend Sartaj, the final scenes of the film which properly reveal the shocking twist of the film.
Bejoy Nambier's direction is good because he has successfully made a thriller which has edge of the seat moments. He has made a thriller which includes good action sequences. He has done justice to the good script written by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Abhijat Joshi.
The music has been well composed. It includes hummable tracks like Tere Bin. However, the best track is Atrangi Yari which comes at the end of the film. It is superbly sung by Amitabh Bachchan.
The performances are a major pillar of strength for Wazir. Almost everyone does a good job. Amitabh Bachchan is a legendary actor for a solid reason. The veteran can slip into any character and do an extraordinary job. In Wazir, he slips into Panditji with ease and does really well. He also successfully gives the film some light moments through his scenes. It is very difficult to be so consistent in Bollywood but the Shehenshah of Bollywood, Amitabh Bachchan, has done it. Farhan Akhtar gives a brilliant performance in this film. He expresses the pain superbly. He does not overact even when he has to shout. Aditi Rao Hydari looks beautiful but has very little to do. However, she does best of what little she is required to do. Manav Kaul is adequate as the welfare minister. John Abraham has a few scenes and he supports well. Neil Nitin Mukesh tries hard but is not very effective.
On the whole, Wazir is a good thriller which is a much better watch than ridiculous Bollywood films like Singh is Bling(2015). It has been a while since Bollywood has created a good thriller. For Bollywood, 2016 has started on a good note and I hope that Airlift(2016) will be a good follow up. -
kaustubh-rajnish27 February 2016Wazir is the perfect example of how poor direction, editing can spoil a great script and waste legendary talents.
Eight things that went wrong with Wazir
Better Direction – the jump cuts between people talking. Long shots and then suddenly these jump cuts between a conversation. It was as if Bijoy Nambiar was shooting a music video. When the film was more a talky noir where simple quiet shots would have helped higher impact.
Editing – the at least 10+ scenes of Farhan Akhtar and wife were completely cutting the pace down. The makers thought it would divert our minds to other things but it only made a hotch potch out of the film. There was no chemistry, the background song was bad, no dialogs. Just two people staring at each other every 10 mins of the film. Fail.
Wazir – The character of Wazir made no sense. Why would a terrorist try to kill Panditji with a theatric character called the Wazir. Why was Wazir hamming so much? Why should they be not clear attempts to kill Panditji rather than spew filmy dialogs? Could have been more believable right. This is the line which Indian cinema needs to cross – either go completely serious or be completely commercial. A middle tone will always alienate everyone.
Plot points- what was the need to showcase the plot point that Qureshi is a terrorist. They could have easily kept that in the dark adding to an amazing twist in the end. And then the wazir twist would have been even better.
Dumbing it down – Bollywood still needs to learn that dumbing down cinema to a single idea is not conducive. I mean the masses are not going to see this movie. Its going to be the multiplex audience, who by the way are exposed to better cinema.
Pace – Why make this for 100 minutes, it's as if the production house was like, lets aim this at 100 minutes and let everything else go for a toss. No sense
Side Characters – The film was pretty much about AB and FA . The side characters could have played a better role. For example John Abraham could have played the role of putting in some thought into Farhan Akhtar's character. "Panditji might be paranoid, why are you doing this?" The sardar character could have also played the role of a voice of reason. Thus, making the twist stronger but no they just came spoke some blabber and went.
Poor action sequences – the action sequences were bad. Period.
Overall, a great script wasted away due to poor direction, editing and a need to dumb it down. -
After hearing "Tere Bin" Song of both my favorite Singers (Sonu Nigam & Shreya Ghoshal combo) for long 4 years, I suddenly thought about let's Check Wazir's reviews over various online platforms and surprisingly I got the result of very decent ratings of this movie and some friends over social media also recommended me to watch it.Then I considered it in my watchlist during this Lockdown time and here I have just watched it NOW!
I will definitely do my Hats off for both Actors Acting performance. Both (Amitabh Bacchan ji and Farhaan Akhtar Sir) did a Fine job in this entire movie. They just justified their characters here and I really likes the movies of Farhaan Akhtar, whether he's Acting, Producing or even directing a Movie. He's just a Gem of Talent.
The Length of the Movie is quite restricted around 90to100minutes which is definitely a Plus point for this movie to entertain it's viewers. And for this reason I will surely applause for Movie editor here. And Finally the Story! OMG! Vidhu Vinod Chopra, you're such a great story writer for sure because of your connection between Chess Game and Movies Characters! Story is definitely watchable with Family in fact this movie is for every age group people because here in this movie non PG required to watch.
I will go for 7 Out of 10 Stars because it's really Entertained me A lot especially at it's ending when Plot Twisted and Something amazing happened which was beyond our imagination. -
I have been looking forward to this movie since I saw its trailer. The music of a movie is extremely important to me and with wonderful numbers like Tere Bin, Tu Mere Pass and Atrangi Yaari, I was completely captivated by the beautiful cinematography of them all. I will not ramble on go on and on about every different aspect of the movie. Because, there is a lot of talent in the movie, from the great Big B, to Farhan and even John Abram did a good job. Although, I was particularly, impressed by Neil Nitin Mukesh. He proved to be a worthy adversary. Instead, I will just say, that the movie surpassed a lot of my expectations and is a must watch. A great start to the year 2016.
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kamalbeeee4 July 2021Two men decided to kill a home minister for killing their daughters..one of the man was (amitha bachan) lost his both legs in accident so he plans intellectually by using his revenge friend....climax is soo good by revealing in a drama theatre.. Story is good but not impressive screenplay... Can watch for timepass..!
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It is not very often that a Hindi movie script leaves you in awe and amaze at the very end. I read few reviews and was aware that the ending has a 'twist'. However, I could not guess it throughout the movie. Watch it for the end if for nothing else.
The movie revolves around the friendship of an intelligence officer (Farhan) who lost his daughter trapped in a gun fire with terrorists and a Chess enthusiast (Amitabh) who has lost his legs and family to some ill fortunes. The plot is gripping and movie is in general fast paced. Movie boasts of a power packed performance by Amitabh who makes his character come to life. Farhan did a decent enough job and was convincing in his act. Aditi seemed unnecessary and was silent through almost all scenes.
I would give it a solid 8. -
chemingineer17 January 2016Omkarnath Dhar (Bachchan) has lost both his legs in a car accident and is confined to an electrically operated wheelchair. Yet he gets into his customized car on his own, drives, gets down and parks himself right in the middle of Rajpath to hurl a shoe at a minister's convoy. Despite such forays into high-tech imagination, Wazir is a decently strung plot of revenge. By Bollywood standard, it is short, yet could have been shorter. Mauldin songs break out on the soundtrack once too often, slowing down the energy of the film. Also for its stark and sordid tale, the ambiance is a bit too glamorous. The lavishly mounted sets make for pretty visuals but rob the film of its values. The soundtrack is also too loud. There are a couple of unforgettable pithy lines. Sample this – Aajkal tho love ka spelling be luv ho gaya hai.
The script employs chess as a metaphor but ends up contradicting itself. "Life does not give a second chance, chess does", says Dhar early on in the film. But Dhar himself facilitates the "second chance" to Daanish Ali (Farhan Akhtar), more than once. The camera loves Bachchan and caresses his face; it is good to see him in such fine flow. Farhan tries hard not to be emotionless, in his etching of the maverick officer of the anti-terrorist squad. All others are strictly furniture in the thriller, which is essentially a mental game between the two.
There is one brilliant sequence in which the two main protagonists play chess with pieces immersed in vodka shots. The denouement is surprising, though appears contrived on hindsight. Despite many flaws, Wazir is hard to be disliked. The oldie melody from the 60s, Aao Huzoor Tumko, is a delightful recurring motif in the film. But I couldn't spot an acknowledgement to Nayyar Saab.
Wazir is a laboriously constructed tale of revenge. -
shwethagupta9 January 2016Awesome movie.Must watch. I must say Farhan & Big B played very well role. I really amazed to watch this movie. I would say this the best movie of the 2016.
Danish is chasing Wazir, an assassin linked to politician Qureshi who's threatening elderly chess master Pandit Dhar - in this game of life and death, who's playing whom as a pawn? which could have been way smarter. Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officer Daanish Ali (Farhan) loses his daughter while chasing terrorists. His anguished wife Roohana (Aditi) blames Daanish, who's about to kill himself in guilt-laden grief. Suddenly, he meets wheelchair-bound Pandit Omkar Nath Dhar (Amitabh), who teaches Daanish about chess, life, love - and revenge. Panditji's own tragic tale leads Daanish to investigate Welfare Minister Qureishi (Manav) - and then chase him furiously when brutal assassin Wazir (Neil) attacks Pandit Dhar. -
silvan-desouza10 January 2016There are some films which require to be watched carefully unlike DILWALE and other so called blockbusters like Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo.etc Wazir is a good thriller with focus on mindgames.etc The film is well narrated by Bejoy Nambiar who gave us the dud David last year. Such directors are unique, they don't follow commercial norms Their films don't appeal to critics like Taran Adarsh who gives Dilwale 4.5 stars Anywayz back to the film The film was supposedly thought about in 2000 when VVC wanted to make it in international cinema, however finally it's made here in India when out of the box concepts also get a fare chance. The film starts off well, Tere Bin introduces us to all characters and then a jolt shakes us, Amitabh's character is well handled, The scenes of Farhan and Amitabh are brilliant no doubt There are several superb scenes, also the twist in the end is well thought out, however a few flaws surface like though being suspended, Farhan still is shown to be powerful to call for a nakabandi.etc But yet the film deserves a watch
Direction is good Music is apt and suits the theme of the film
Amitabh Bachchan is splendid as ever, giving the character the right edge and making it look so easy Farhan Akhtar gets into the character and again proves his versatility, he is simply terrific Aditi Rao Hyderi is good too in a brief role Neil Nitin Mukesh has just 2 scenes and he does superbly John Abraham who is billed as a guest appearance is wasted in a role anyone could do others are all good -
Fella_shibby24 April 2016Directed by Bejoy Nambiar (David, Pizza, Shaitan). Screenplay n editing by Abhijat Joshi (Lage Raho Munna Bhai, 3 Idiots, PK, Broken horses). Cinematography by Sanu Varghese (Karthik Calling Karthik, Elektra). Good action thriller. One time watch. Farhaan acted very good. Aditi dint got chance to show her skills but she is a real beauty. Bachan, well the name is enuff. Awesome screen presence by Mr bachan. Editing was a lil bad at times. The first gun fight sequence was very good. Almost on par with Hollywood movies. It was as if I was playing my P.S. Twist was predictable but the movie kept me engaged. Neil was good for a brief role. John shud b applauded. As he courageously took a small role which many wud hav declined. Farhan looked like a real ATS officer. Hats off to the entire team for making a small but good thriller.
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jmoneyjohal8 January 2016My first film watching experience of 2016 is Wazir, and sadly 2016 didn't start with a bang, it started with a meow. With names like Vidhu Vinod Chopra,Abhijat Joshi, and Bejoy Nambiar associated with Wazir,the expectations are sky high for the film,these are the same people behind Indian classics like Munna Bhai, 3 Idiots, PK, and Shaitan. Wazir was supposed to be a thriller,at least thats what we where lead to believe from the sleek trailer, is more of a drama with a thrillerish ending. Why the film failed at being a thriller was because of the predictability, and lazy writing. Why the film works is because of great acting by Amitabh Bachchan and Farhan Akhtar. Also because the film had some good emotional depth. But more in depth analysis later.
Wazir story wise is about the coming together of two wounded men, very different in age and temperament, for a mutual purpose. Both have suffered the death of there daughter.Danish Ali is recovering, with excruciating slowness, from a deeply personal tragedy his wife Ruhana is suffering too, in her own solitary corner. He meets up with the wheelchair-bound Pandit Omkarnath Dhar,and gets sucked into the latter's world, which is full of light and darkness, the contradictions arising from a painful past loss, and a present trying to come to terms with it. What happens in there game of chess forms the rest of the story.
Acting wise Farhan Akhtar gives a mature, and very well done restrained performance. Nothing felt fake in his act, you could see the emotional depth in his act. His action scenes are superb. Amitabh Bachchan steals the show like always as Panditji, he moves from the friendly chess player to the grieving,revenge stricken father like how a snake changes its skin. In the climax he becomes the true Wazir. Aditi Rao Hydari looks beautiful but doesn't get much scope to act. Manav Kaul, does well, and shows some good grey nuances in his act.
Wazir as a thriller didn't work for me the film was completely predictable, every twist I could see miles away. This is because of the lazy writing and very passé direction.The script and screenplay doesn't has too many loopholes, things are a bit to far fetched. For example how Panditji meets Danish at the funeral home, how they become friends so easily its all too convenient. Wazir however does boast of some good drama, and emotional depth. You feel for the characters, and the sadness they go through after there daughters death. The revenge seems justified and sweet. The films acting as stated before is also a big ace for the film. Coupled with some good action scenes, and some genuinely good music, and Wazir is an good watch. The film is also technically sound, with some good camera work, and nice frames to look at. Moreover with a runtime of 1hr 44 min one will not be left bored, as the films very fast moving. If only Wazir was as gripping, sleek, stylish, and taunt as shown in the films trailer.
Overall if you want to watch a passable thriller which really works because of the films drama, and great acting than watch Wazir. Its a one time watch for sure to see the amazing chemistry of Farhan and Mr. Bachchan, but I excepted more from Wazir.
3/5* or 6/10 -
vinodemails12 January 2016Chess is an intriguing game, where the player plans ahead anticipating the opponent's moves. Strrategies are umpteen. It's been played across the world for centuries, recently starting to lose popularity against modern visually appealing strategy video based games. Also Bollywood has been stuck with formulaé for considerable part of first decade, Mr. SRK continuing to stick to it. So, at this stage, i must compliment Vidhu Vinod Chopra for attempting a story based on the waning game, winning a dream cast and getting it directed as a fast paced thriller with original action sequences.
The story where people with similar tragedy come together to forge a friendship and fight against the past while plotting revenge on the backdrop of Kashmir, terrorism, politics and ATS is a broader way of reaching out to the audience while under lies the chess play, with a twist towards the end. I use my limited chess knowledge to dissect the characters below:
Wazir - although means minister, is the queen of the chess board. The all powerful character is the main weapon against the rival kingdom. In the movie, wazir portrayed as the ultimate ace of the evil badshaah, brings vital energy to the proceedings. He threatens, taunts, stabs and bombs the major adversary of the evil king. Played feverishly by Neil Nitin Mukesh, albeit for a short span, in a style reminiscent of classic villains makes you wonder where Bollywood lost all its villains.
Pawn is the foot soldier moving one-step forward, helpless on is own, if viewed in relation to other characters on the chess board. With only one step at a time, the pawn has to do the most planning, especially if his kingdom has already lost its wazir and needs a support. Played by Amitabh Bacchan with a handlebar staché combined with french beard speaking heart melting Hindi mixed with urdu, steals every screen he's in with his voice and energy. For a decapitated man, he's very independent and the audience would wish every person facing such odds physically and emotionally to fight back so well.
The Elephant lies in wait at the corner of the chessboard, to be unleashed madly when the king is threatened is his own courtroom. It can move only through a straight path, but destroys everything in it's path. Farhan, strangely sober, plays the elephant buried in guilt, befriended by a pawn, finds a new direction which he pursues until the kingdom is won. He's physically fit, awkward may be consciously as an ATS sharp shooter and surprisingly gets all his spy work done, even after being suspended.
Where the plot goes wrong is, when the pawn acts as a king, the elephant acts as a pawn guided and blindly following the path shown, and all the while, the rival king is busy playing another game without a care for the pawn or the elephant.
Performance wise, Amitabh is brilliant while Farhan deserves praise for choosing a role way out of his comfort zone. Aditi looks pretty and the child actors ooze with confidence. Watch wazir if you like chess, are not into much of romantic sing and dance routines and want to promote those rare Bollywood thrillers -
'Wazir' showcases a beautiful analogy between the life of a chess player and the game of chess.
A wheelchair-bound chess grandmaster/Panditji (Amitabh Bachchan) befriends a traumatized ATS officer Daanish (Farhan Akhtar). Daanish's life is falling apart after the death of his daughter and the subsequent separation from his wife. Panditji is himself grieving the loss of his daughter who died in a mysterious accident. Panditji believes the Welfare Minister has murdered his daughter. As Wazir enters the game to eliminate Panditji, Daanish fights to protect him.
The plot's central focus is on the battle of the weak pawn, Panditji, with the mighty king, the Welfare Minister. The pawn seeks the help of the rook to defeat the king. The story takes twists and turns as the battle for justice transforms into the hunt of Wazir.
The friendship between the Panditji and Daanish, and the emotional state of a grieving father are the highlights of this movie.
Watch this movie for the climax.