Renowned film director Priyadarshan is known for creating remakes of his own films, adapting hits from Malayalam cinema for the Indian market. These translations, whether comedies or thrillers, have consistently shown good box office success. He has now presented a new Hindi remake titled 'Haiwaan,' featuring major Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan.
'Haiwaan' is an adaptation of the popular Malayalam film 'Oppam,' released in 2016, starring Malayalam cinema superstar Mohanlal. The original version was a tense thriller that received high praise from audiences. When the film was adapted to Hindi, Priyadarshan made several changes compared to the source material. In this version, Saif Ali Khan plays the protagonist, collaborating with Priyadarshan for the first time, while Akshay Kumar takes on the role of the villain. Audiences are invited to witness this confrontation filled with brutality.
The protagonist, Shyam Rane (Saif Ali Khan), is a blind man working in an elite residential complex in Mumbai. This complex houses pensioner-judge Pradan (Boman Irani), who frequently visits Shyam's home. Naina (Shriya Pilgaonkar), a maid, works at Pradan's house and cares for him. Judge Pradan is searching for the criminal Parshuram Gokhale (Akshay Kumar), but Parshuram himself seeks access to the judge. He is not just a man, but a monster, as he was punished for a crime he did not commit. In a fit of hatred, Parshuram destroyed everyone who ever dared to criticize him.
This incident also affects Judge Pradan. His death is suspected to be linked to Shyam. Shyam, being the closest person to the judge, is also responsible for the judge's daughter, Nandni (Pahal Chaudhary). Parshuram haunts Shyam like a shadow because he knows about the judge's daughter, whom he intends to kill to achieve his revenge. Numerous challenges face Shyam: first, saving the judge's daughter; second, proving his innocence to the police; and finally, finding and killing Parshuram. The main plot revolves around the question of whether one Shyam can defeat such a cunning and psychopathic Parshuram.
For those who have seen the original Malayalam version of 'Oppam,' this film may offer a different experience. However, for those watching this story for the first time, 'Haiwaan' proved to be fresh and engaging. Since the author had not seen the original, he considers it a correct decision. The strongest element of the film is its story, which keeps the viewer engaged until the very end. The narrative presents a man who cannot see, and his struggles when confronting a cunning and terrifying individual are portrayed very convincingly on screen.
A cat-and-mouse game unfolds between the two main characters and the villain, evoking a sense of unease regarding the future development of events. Suspense and thriller elements are masterfully utilized in the film. The plot requires time to build, gradually introducing the characters and their associated stories to the viewer. It also incorporates comedy elements in the Priyadarshan style, which is pleasantly felt in a serious film.
The screenplay was written by Rohan Shankar in collaboration with Priyadarshan. The film's story constantly challenges the viewer's mind. 'Haiwaan' runs for 2 hours and 42 minutes; however, this time is not felt in the first half. The film slightly weakens in the second part. The chase sequence between Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan is good, but it could be improved. There are only three songs in the film, and one of them is successful. The film's soundtrack is quite high quality and genuinely enhances the feeling of anxiety, which was necessary. Actors Akshay and Saif returned to the big screen after 18 years. In 'Haiwaan,' the roles of both actors are completely different, and both performers handled them well. Regarding acting, Akshay's portrayal of the psychopath is impressive; he successfully frightens the audience on screen. It was pleasant to see him in a serious role after a long break. Akshay has proven that he is capable of brilliant acting when given a well-written role.
Saif Ali Khan also played a blind character for the first time, in which he achieved some success. Perhaps this is the most challenging role of his career, and he succeeded. Saif breathed life into every scene and left his mark. Boman Irani, Saiyam Kher, and Shriya Pilgaonkar, despite their limited roles, performed them excellently. The late actor Asrani and Priyadarshan were also mentioned.
