Review: Haiwaan: Strong Performances and Impressive Craft, But a Faltering Screenplay!
Haiwaan is the Hindi remake of Priyadarshan’s acclaimed 2016 Malayalam thriller Oppam, which starred Mohanlal in the lead. The original was known for its gripping narrative, atmospheric treatment and the unusual premise of a visually impaired man at the centre of a dangerous cat-and-mouse game. With Priyadarshan returning to direct the Hindi adaptation and #AkshayKumar and #SaifAliKhan coming together on screen after 18 years, expectations were naturally high. Unfortunately, while Haiwaan retains the basic premise of the original, it does not quite manage to recreate the magic and impact of Oppam.
The story revolves around Shyam (Saif Ali Khan), a visually impaired yet highly perceptive and courageous man. His life takes a dangerous turn when he becomes the caretaker of the adopted daughter of a retired judge (Boman Irani), who is being targeted by Parshuram (Akshay Kumar), a ruthless man seeking revenge against those responsible for his imprisonment. Although Parshuram was wrongly convicted and insists on his innocence, he embarks on a killing spree, targeting the witnesses who testified against him and their families. His next targets are the retired judge and his adopted daughter, putting Shyam in the line of fire as he tries to protect her.
What follows is a tense cat-and-mouse game between two contrasting personalities, with Shyam’s heightened senses, intelligence and courage becoming his greatest weapons against Parshuram’s brute force and vengeance. Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Saiyami Kher, Rajpal Yadav and Sharib Hashmi add further depth to the narrative. Saif brings remarkable restraint and sensitivity to his character, while Akshay embraces the darker shades of his role with considerable intensity and commanding screen presence.
Where Haiwaan falters is primarily in its screenplay. At 165 minutes, the film feels stretched, with the narrative losing momentum at several points. The uneven pacing and loosely connected portions prevent the suspense from building consistently, while the climax fails to deliver the impact one expects from a thriller of this scale. Priyadarshan’s direction has moments of brilliance, particularly in the way he creates an atmosphere of tension and handles the central conflict, but the screenplay does not always support his vision. That said, the performances are one of the film’s strongest assets. Saif Ali Khan is splendid, bringing credibility and emotional depth to the role, while Akshay Kumar delivers the required menace, even if his dialogue delivery occasionally feels overstated. The cinematography is impressive and gives the film a suitably dark and atmospheric visual texture. The sound design is another major highlight, effectively using ambient sounds and silence to heighten the tension, particularly around Saif’s visually impaired character. Technically, Haiwaan is accomplished; it is the inconsistent writing and prolonged runtime that ultimately prevent its strengths from translating into a truly gripping thriller.
Haiwaan has the performances, atmosphere and technical finesse to make an impact.
Rating: ***
By Keerti Kadam