A remake of the Malayalam hit 'Oppam', Haiwaan attempts to blend thriller and comedy but falls flat due to a disjointed script and illogical action sequences.
- Saif Ali Khan plays a blind man, while Akshay Kumar portrays the menacing antagonist.
- The film is a remake of the 2016 Malayalam success 'Oppam'.
- The movie receives a disappointing rating of 2 out of 5 stars.
In Haiwaan, director Priyadarshan attempts to revive the classic conflict of monster vs. human. The film brings together the powerhouse duo of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, with the latter playing Shyam, a blind man with an acute sense of smell and musical talent, and the former playing Parshuram, a cold-blooded killer.
The narrative is split into two distinct halves. The first establishes the premise of an innocent man wrongfully imprisoned, while the second devolves into an unintentional comic police procedural. This jarring shift in tone is a hallmark of Priyadarshan's style, but in this instance, it disrupts the tension required for a psychological thriller.
BozokMedia analysis shows that the film suffers from a severe lack of internal logic. For instance, the scene where a blind man effortlessly defeats four trained police officers in a closed room pushes the 'suspension of disbelief' to its breaking point. When a film asks the audience to ignore basic reality without providing a compelling emotional hook, it loses its grip on the viewers.
'Haiwaan is a textbook example of how a strong original concept can be diluted by unnecessary additions and a lack of narrative discipline.'
Regarding performances, Saif Ali Khan carries the bulk of the film. His portrayal of Shyam—playing multiple instruments and acting as a father figure to a young girl—is detailed, yet lacks the conviction to make the character truly believable. Akshay Kumar is relegated to the shadows, appearing mostly to skulk and commit murders, leaving little room for his usual charisma.
The supporting cast, including Boman Irani as a guilt-ridden judge, provides some much-needed stability. However, the subplots involving characters played by Shriya Pilgaonkar and Rajpal Yadav feel like filler, adding to the 'harum-scarum' nature of the script where elements are thrown in without a cohesive purpose.
| Feature | Original (Oppam) | Haiwaan |
|---|---|---|
| Script | Tight and Suspenseful | Loose and Disjointed |
| Tone | Consistent Thriller | Mixed Genre Confusion |
| Reception | Critically Acclaimed | Poorly Received |
Q1: Is Haiwaan based on a true story?
No, it is a fictional thriller and a remake of the 2016 Malayalam movie 'Oppam'.
Q2: What is the main criticism of the film?
The primary criticism is the illogical action sequences and the inconsistent tonal shifts between serious drama and accidental comedy.
