Interesting plot yet predictable

Kathmandu

Tragedy brings together chess master Pandit Omkarnath Dhar (Amitabh Bachchan) and Daanish Ali (Farhan Akhtar), Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) officer. Their daughters were killed and now they seek revenge. The one suspected is a politician Qureshi (Manav Kaul). And the game begins where there are pawns and wazir (bishop), who is who is what the film reveals gradually. An interesting plot, but predictability loses the essence.

The movie begins with a rain scene where Daanish is at his bride-to-be’s house, Ruhana Ali (Aditi Rao Hydari). This scene is brilliantly executed by the director where Ruhana is serving tea and the couple is having a chat followed by their wedding ceremony. This scene, using slow motion technique and with romantic instrumental background score, makes you feel one of the guests attending the wedding.

Nambiar has not given a chance to let stories connect, there are many stories within the story, but the connection is lost somewhere. Like how and when Daanish saves SP’s life (John Abraham), so on and so forth. While all these stories carry on, Pandit ji is attacked by Wazir (Neil Nitin Mukesh). As the allies is obvious Daanish goes on a Wazir-hunt. But then there is a suspense, which will be revealed towards the end, you give this one to the director or the script writer for an unexpected twist.

In the midst of suspense, the movie has some action treat. Road chase scene and bloodshed that are not gruesome are thrilling and you don’t want to blink.

As for background score, in some scenes the music doesn’t gel well with the situation, but the one in the beginning is a masterpiece — the instrumental piece is used to weave the story further. When it comes to songs only, Tere Bin gets your attention, rest are non existent.

There are many loopholes in the film, but when it comes to acting Bachchan, Ahktar, and Nitin Mukesh make you ignore those. As Wazir Nitin Mukesh makes a huge impression. Playing a negative character and torturing Pandit ji generates fear in you. And punk grunge look — smeared kajal on eyes, black nail polish and knife — have accentuated his performance, well 60 per cent job has been done just by his stunning looks. He is definitely one of the sought after actors of his generation. He needs good movies, somebody needs to recognise this!

Then there is Bachchan as a differently-abled man on a wheelchair, who is also a grieving father. Yet there is nothing depressing about him, he is a positive person and smart enough to console other grieving people. You will feel whatever he as a character feels.

Akhtar on the other hand naturally portrays a bold officer, father and friend. In a scene where Akhtar reaches Qureshi’s office to investigate off the record, Akhtar hesitates looking at his seniors present in the room but swallows his hesitation and does his job. Such and many other events in the movie prove Akhtar’s skill as an actor.

Rao Hydari’s presence is limited to songs and scenes here and there, but she has justified her character as a mother who lost her child and who took time to forgive her husband. Finally Abraham as cameo is not noticeable, as any actor could have portrayed the role of SP, it wouldn’t have mattered.

Wazir

Genre: Action thriller

Director: Bejoy Nambiar

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Farhan Akhtar, Aditi Rao Hydari, Manav Kaul, Anjum Sharma, Neil Nitin Mukesh and John Abraham

Being screened at QFX Cinemas