Haiwaan review
Priyadarshan steps away from the familiar territory of comedy with Haiwaan, a dark thriller built around revenge, murder and a tense battle between a ruthless ex-convict and a visually impaired protector. Starring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, the film is the Hindi remake of Priyadarshan’s 2016 Malayalam crime drama Oppam.
The broad contours of Haiwaan remain faithful to Oppam, but Priyadarshan has relocated the story from Kochi to Mumbai and altered its texture to suit a Bollywood setting.
Akshay Kumar plays Parashuram Gokhale, a man who emerges from a seven-year prison sentence and begins a killing spree driven by revenge. His target is connected to a judge who sentenced him for a crime he claims he did not commit.
Standing in his way is Shyam Rane, played by Saif Ali Khan. Born blind, Shyam possesses exceptionally sharp sensory abilities and becomes a fierce protector when a schoolgirl is placed in danger.
Akshay Kumar plays against the comic persona audiences often associate with his Priyadarshan collaborations. His Parashuram is violent, emotionally damaged and consumed by revenge.
Saif Ali Khan, meanwhile, gets one of the film’s more unusual roles. Shyam may be blind, but he is far from helpless. His heightened hearing, smell and other senses allow him to anticipate danger and confront his enemies.
The comparison with Mohanlal’s performance in Oppam is inevitable, but Saif does not attempt to imitate the Malayalam star. Instead, he gives the character his own personality and makes the unusual role work on its own terms.
Priyadarshan is best known for his comic entertainers, but Haiwaan places him firmly in darker territory. The film is filled with death, fear and a persistent sense of danger.
That does not mean the director completely abandons humour. Comic relief appears at intervals, including through an ageing security guard whose failing memory creates moments of levity amid the darkness.
For viewers familiar with Oppam, the film does not offer too many major surprises. Its central mystery and broad narrative trajectory are already familiar.
Yet the film remains watchable because of the escalating tension, the threat to the schoolgirl and the confrontation between Akshay’s Parashuram and Saif’s Shyam. Priyadarshan has retained the core story while giving it a more heightened, glossy Bollywood treatment.
Boman Irani plays the judge whose past is closely tied to Parashuram’s revenge. His character provides one of the key links between the villain’s backstory and the central conflict.
Saiyami Kher plays a police officer who joins forces with Shyam, while Shriya Pilgaonkar has an important supporting role. The film also features a surprise cameo by Mohanlal, the star of the original Oppam.
Haiwaan represents a notable genre shift for both Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar. The film benefits from Saif’s unusual performance, its dark visual atmosphere and the clash between its two leading men.
However, the shadow of Oppam remains difficult to escape. The story has limited novelty for anyone familiar with the original, and the remake does not quite surpass its source material.
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