Directed by Priyadarshan, Haiwaan is a remake of the filmmaker’s 2016 Malayalam thriller Oppam, which starred Mohanlal in the pivotal role.
Haiwaan Plot
Haiwaan follows the story of Shyam (Saif Ali Khan), a visually impaired man who, after the murder of a judge (Boman Irani), takes responsibility of protecting his daughter Nandini, whose life is in danger as a deadly killer, Parshuram (Akshay Kumar), is after her.
Haiwaan Review: A Chaotic Start To A Disappointing Thriller
The original Oppam didn’t make much of an impact at the box office, and perhaps that should have been a cue for Priyadarshan to leave the story alone. Haiwaan puts you off almost from the beginning.The film opens with a blind man finalising his sister’s marriage while being firmly in the ‘Jo ladke wale chahte hain, sab hoga’ mindset. From there,
the narrative takes you on a frantic ride, with something new happening almost every minute, leaving little room for the audience to actually settle into the world or connect with its characters.
There is also a love angle between Shriya Pilgaonkar and Saif Ali Khan, but even after watching the film, one is left wondering how and why this track found its way into what is otherwise supposed to be a thriller. Haiwaan feels like a half-cooked meal, something that looks exciting on the surface but falls apart the moment you actually experience it.
Rajpal Yadav And Asrani Bring Some Freshness
Rajpal Yadav and late actor Asrani are perhaps the only two actors who bring some freshness to the proceedings. Yet even their performances are held back by the writing, leaving the audience with only a handful of moments to genuinely laugh.
The much-anticipated Akshay Kumar-Saif Ali Khan face-off should have been one of the film’s biggest selling points. Instead, it becomes one of its weakest links. With two stars of their stature sharing the screen after 17 years, the audience naturally expects fireworks. What they get, however, is a confrontation that is so tonally misplaced that the most serious moments end up drawing giggles from the audience.
And that perfectly sums up Haiwaan: it is less about creating thrills and more about creating convenience. Instead of building genuine tension or suspense, the narrative repeatedly relies on convenient coincidences and easy resolutions. Characters get what they need precisely when the story requires it.
Performances In Haiwaan
Performance-wise, while Saif Ali Khan tries hard to put in a decent act, the story and script requirements seemingly bind him, while Akshay Kumar looks quite possessed. His performance often feels exaggerated and oddly mannered. It almost seems as though his repeated association with horror comedies has influenced the way he approaches serious scenes: with random laughs, raised voices, and exaggerated expressions used to create anticipation. Unfortunately, the approach doesn’t work here.
In short, Akshay’s performance leaves a rather underwhelming impact. Meanwhile, Saiyami Kher’s role looks like a mere extended cameo; there would have been no harm if the director had just skipped her role altogether. While you would have thought that Mohanlal’s cameo in the film would be its selling point, it doesn’t land at all.
Background Music
The background music of the film does try to do justice, but the random song placements, one after the other, become a barrier between the story and the viewers.
Haiwaan Review: News18 Final Verdict
What makes Haiwaan particularly disappointing is the fact that it brings together Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan after 17 years. Two stars of their stature and talent should have had far better material to work with. Instead, they spend much of the film trying to carry a sloppy screenplay on their shoulders, and even their combined presence isn’t enough to rescue it.
Haiwaan might just leave you hairaan and pareshan. You’re better off waiting for its OTT release, because you might need a few breaks to make it through this one.
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