Cinema VinesPriyadarshan’s latest venture, Haiwaan, arrives as a Hindi remake of his own 2016 Malayalam hit Oppam, with Saif Ali Khan stepping into the lead role originally played by Mohanlal. The film also features Akshay Kumar, Boman Irani, Saiyami Kher and Shriya Pilgaonkar. Though the premise—a visually impaired man racing to protect a young girl from a vengeful antagonist—offers plenty of intrigue, the execution falls short in many areas.
In the story, Shyam Rane (Saif Ali Khan) is a society maintenance officer who is blind. He maintains a friendship with Judge Pradhan (Boman Irani), whose daughter is kept away from his troubled past by being sent to a convent school. Years earlier, Parshuram Gokhale (Akshay Kumar) was convicted for a crime that Pradhan helped orchestrate, and he now seeks revenge. Shyam is the only one who knows the girl’s location, and Pradhan confides in him that he fears Parshuram will target him and his daughter. The plot then follows Shyam’s attempts to thwart the threat.
Priyadarshan’s strengths—building atmospheric worlds and delivering tense sequences—are evident in a few moments, especially the climax where Parshuram’s murderous intent is captured with palpable menace. However, the film’s first half is hampered by plot holes and a lack of believability. Saif Ali Khan’s portrayal of a blind man is unconvincing; his character moves through scenes as if his sight were only mildly impaired, which undermines the credibility of the disability. The narrative also suffers from a disjointed ensemble and a pacing that feels like a stage play rather than a dynamic thriller.
Akshay Kumar’s role, while fitting, feels underutilized and overly theatrical, with several scenes stretched into set pieces that defy common sense. The second half, intended to deliver a cat-and-mouse chase, instead becomes a series of contrived moments that dilute the tension. Despite moments of humor, the film’s overall structure leaves audiences wanting more coherent momentum and stronger character development.
In summary, Haiwaan promises a gripping thriller but delivers a mixed bag. While the climax salvages the film with a well-executed sequence, the rest of the movie is weighed down by unconvincing performances, plot inconsistencies, and a pacing that fails to maintain suspense. The film ultimately fizzles, offering only a brief glimpse of what could have been a compelling remake.
