Wazir
'Wazir' is a tale of two unlikely friends, a wheelchair-bound chess grandmaster and a brave ATS officer. Brought together by grief and a strange twist of fate, the two men decide to help each other win the biggest games of their lives. But there's a mysterious, dangerous opponent lurking in the shadows, who is all set to checkmate them.
Working with a small-scale budget of $5.2M, the film achieved a steady performer with $9.2M in global revenue (+77% profit margin).
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Wazir (2016) reveals strategically placed story structure, characteristic of Bejoy Nambiar's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 43 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes ATS officer Danish Ali is introduced as a dedicated anti-terrorism specialist living a normal life with his wife Ruhana and young daughter Noorie. We see him as a capable, confident professional and loving father.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Tragedy strikes: Danish's daughter Noorie is killed in a tragic accident involving a minister's car during a school event. Danish witnesses the death, unable to save her. His world completely shatters.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Danish actively chooses to help Pandit investigate his daughter Nina's death, which Pandit believes was murder, not suicide as ruled. This decision gives Danish a new purpose and pulls him from his grief into action., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat False victory: Danish and Pandit gather substantial evidence linking Minister Qureshi to Nina's murder and a larger conspiracy. They believe they're close to justice, and Danish feels alive again with purpose. The stakes are raised as they realize the conspiracy goes deeper., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 76 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Pandit is murdered—shot by the conspirators. Danish finds his friend dead, losing the one person who understood his pain and gave him purpose. This "whiff of death" devastates Danish, bringing back all his grief and guilt., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 82 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Danish discovers the final piece of evidence—Pandit had planned for this scenario and left Danish crucial information. Danish synthesizes everything he's learned: chess strategy, Pandit's wisdom about broken pieces having value, and his own ATS skills. He formulates a plan for final justice., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Wazir's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Wazir against these established plot points, we can identify how Bejoy Nambiar utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Wazir within the crime genre.
Bejoy Nambiar's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Bejoy Nambiar films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Wazir takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Bejoy Nambiar filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional crime films include The Bad Guys, Batman Forever and 12 Rounds. For more Bejoy Nambiar analyses, see Shaitan.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
ATS officer Danish Ali is introduced as a dedicated anti-terrorism specialist living a normal life with his wife Ruhana and young daughter Noorie. We see him as a capable, confident professional and loving father.
Theme
During a chess game, the concept is introduced that in chess and life, every piece has value and purpose, even those who seem broken or limited. This foreshadows the relationship between Danish and Pandit, both "damaged pieces" finding purpose.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Danish's world: his anti-terrorism work, loving family dynamics with wife Ruhana and daughter Noorie, and his commitment to protecting the city. Introduction of his team and the stakes of his dangerous profession.
Disruption
Tragedy strikes: Danish's daughter Noorie is killed in a tragic accident involving a minister's car during a school event. Danish witnesses the death, unable to save her. His world completely shatters.
Resistance
Danish spirals into depression and guilt. His marriage falls apart as Ruhana blames him and leaves. He meets Pandit Omkarnath Dhar, a wheelchair-bound chess grandmaster who has also lost his daughter Nina under mysterious circumstances. Pandit attempts to befriend Danish and pull him from despair.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Danish actively chooses to help Pandit investigate his daughter Nina's death, which Pandit believes was murder, not suicide as ruled. This decision gives Danish a new purpose and pulls him from his grief into action.
Mirror World
The friendship between Danish and Pandit deepens. Pandit becomes the thematic mirror—both men have lost daughters, but Pandit channels his grief into seeking justice while Danish was drowning in despair. Their bond becomes the emotional core.
Premise
Danish and Pandit investigate Nina's death together, uncovering a conspiracy involving the minister Yazaad Qureshi. They follow clues, interrogate suspects, and use Danish's ATS resources. The investigation brings them closer and gives Danish renewed purpose.
Midpoint
False victory: Danish and Pandit gather substantial evidence linking Minister Qureshi to Nina's murder and a larger conspiracy. They believe they're close to justice, and Danish feels alive again with purpose. The stakes are raised as they realize the conspiracy goes deeper.
Opposition
The antagonists fight back. Danish becomes a target, attempts are made on his life. Pandit is also threatened. The conspiracy proves more dangerous and far-reaching than expected, involving powerful people. Danish's superior warns him off the case.
Collapse
Pandit is murdered—shot by the conspirators. Danish finds his friend dead, losing the one person who understood his pain and gave him purpose. This "whiff of death" devastates Danish, bringing back all his grief and guilt.
Crisis
Danish mourns Pandit's death and processes his rage and sorrow. He contemplates giving up but realizes that would dishonor both his daughter and his friend. He must decide whether to continue the dangerous fight for justice.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Danish discovers the final piece of evidence—Pandit had planned for this scenario and left Danish crucial information. Danish synthesizes everything he's learned: chess strategy, Pandit's wisdom about broken pieces having value, and his own ATS skills. He formulates a plan for final justice.
Synthesis
Danish executes his plan to bring down the conspiracy. Using Pandit's chess-like strategic thinking and his own tactical abilities, he confronts the antagonists, exposes the truth, and achieves justice for both Nina and Pandit. The finale combines action with emotional resolution.
Transformation
Danish, transformed by grief into purpose, sits at a chess board. Unlike the broken, suicidal man from the Status Quo collapse, he's now someone who has channeled pain into meaning. He honors Pandit's memory and has found a way to live with his loss, understanding that even broken pieces have value and purpose.