Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Sep 11: Priyadarshan returns with the Hindi remake of his 2016 Malayalam thriller Oppam, bringing together Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar in Haiwaan. While the film is not a flawless thriller, it packs enough suspense, action and commercial elements to keep audiences engaged.
At around 164 minutes, the film feels longer than necessary. However, a strong second half, effective performances and Priyadarshan’s understanding of the story help Haiwaan overcome several of its shortcomings.
Saif Ali Khan plays Shyam Rane, a blind maintenance manager working in a Mumbai high-rise. Having developed heightened senses, Shyam relies on sound, smell and touch to understand his surroundings. He leads a relatively ordinary life and is well-liked by the residents of the building.
His life changes when he becomes caught in a dangerous situation involving Parshuram Gokhale, played by Akshay Kumar. Driven by a painful past and consumed by revenge, Parshuram has lost faith in law and justice. What follows is a battle between the two men, with Shyam forced to protect himself and those around him.
Interestingly, Shyam’s blindness, initially seen as his greatest weakness, gradually becomes his biggest advantage.
The film takes its time establishing the characters and their backgrounds, resulting in a slow opening. The songs and celebration sequences further affect the pace and could have been shortened. However, the tension begins to build as the film approaches the interval, while the second half is considerably more engaging.
Several sequences in the latter half generate genuine curiosity and keep the narrative moving. Despite its lengthy runtime, the film manages to retain its central conflict without completely losing momentum.
Priyadarshan’s experience with the original story is clearly visible. He effectively turns Shyam’s apparent vulnerability into a strength and uses camera movement, sound and suspense sequences to create tension.
The director also retains elements of comedy, which are a familiar feature of his films. Sharib Hashmi provides several entertaining moments, although the combination of humour and thriller does not always work. Some comic scenes arrive at moments when the narrative demands greater seriousness.
Saif Ali Khan delivers one of the film’s strongest performances. He plays Shyam with restraint, relying on body language, voice modulation and subtle expressions rather than unnecessary melodrama. His portrayal makes the character more than just a vulnerable blind man, highlighting his confidence, intelligence and ability to read situations through his heightened senses.
Some action sequences involving the character feel slightly awkward considering his physical limitations, but Saif provides the emotional grounding required for the role.
Akshay Kumar takes on a considerably different role as Parshuram Gokhale. Driven by anger, violence and an unstable state of mind, the character moves away from the actor’s conventional heroic image. Akshay’s strong screen presence gives Parshuram an intimidating edge, particularly in several key scenes.
At times, however, the performance becomes slightly over-the-top, reducing the menace the character is expected to create. Nevertheless, Akshay’s negative role provides the film with the conflict it needs.
The supporting cast also adds value. Sharib Hashmi, as a police officer, is consistently entertaining, while Boman Irani brings credibility to his role. Shriya Pilgaonkar and Saiyami Kher make an impact despite limited screen time. Rajpal Yadav, Rajesh Sharma and the other supporting actors contribute effectively to the narrative.
Asrani brings warmth and humour, along with a touch of nostalgia. For viewers familiar with Oppam, Mohanlal’s cameo is likely to be a particularly enjoyable moment.
Technically, the film benefits from atmospheric cinematography and effective sound design. Since Shyam relies heavily on sound to understand the world around him, the audio treatment becomes an important part of the storytelling. The background score also works well during suspense sequences.
The music, however, is less memorable, and some songs unnecessarily interrupt the flow. Editing is another area where the film could have improved considerably. A shorter runtime and tighter cuts would have made the thriller more effective.
The biggest drawback remains the 164-minute duration. Several developments take too long to unfold, while some twists and suspense elements may feel predictable, particularly for viewers who have already watched Oppam. The balance between comedy and thriller also occasionally weakens the tension.
Parshuram, despite being the central antagonist, does not consistently generate the level of fear or menace the story demands. A colder and more controlled portrayal could have made the climax more impactful.
Overall, Haiwaan has enough going for it to work as a one-time watch. Saif Ali Khan’s performance, Akshay Kumar’s departure from his usual image, Priyadarshan’s storytelling experience and a stronger second half keep the film afloat.
With tighter editing, a shorter runtime and a more menacing antagonist, Haiwaan could have been a much sharper thriller. As it stands, it remains an engaging crime thriller that should appeal particularly to viewers who have not watched the original Oppam.