After 18 years of not sharing screen space, Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar finally reunite in “Haiwaan” — but does the wait pay off? the review suggests the film’s clever premise gets weighed down by sluggish pacing and a screenplay that struggles to stay unpredictable.
Table of Contents
The Premise: A Blind Hero vs a Ruthless Villain
“Haiwaan” is a Hindi remake of Priyadarshan’s 2016 Malayalam thriller “Oppam,” which originally starred Mohanlal. Saif Ali Khan plays Shyam, a blind maintenance manager in a Mumbai housing society who becomes the sole protector of a young girl named Nandini after her father is murdered. Standing in his way is Akshay Kumar’s Parshuram, a convict systematically eliminating everyone he blames for his imprisonment.
What makes Shyam interesting on paper is that he’s no ordinary blind protagonist — he’s a trained wrestler and singer whose heightened hearing and smell compensate for his lost sight.
Haiwaan: Rating Breakdown
| Category | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 2.5/5 |
| Direction | Priyadarshan |
| Genre | Crime thriller |
| Based On | Oppam (2016, Malayalam) |
| Strongest Element | Akshay Kumar’s antagonist performance |
| Weakest Element | Predictable, slow-paced screenplay |
What Actually Works forn Haiwaan?
The film’s core concept — a blind man navigating danger purely through instinct and sound — offers genuine potential, and there are moments where this tension pays off, especially when Shyam’s blindness becomes both his weakness and his unexpected advantage. Akshay Kumar’s second-half menace, conveyed largely through his eyes and expressions, stands out as the film’s strongest asset, even with limited screen time. Late actor Asrani also injects welcome comic relief whenever the plot threatens to sag.
Where It Falls Short
The bigger issue lies in pacing and plotting. The film spends far too long establishing Shyam’s backstory, which makes his abilities feel over-explained rather than organically revealed. As the story progresses, investigative logic takes a back seat to convenience, with several plot developments existing purely to manufacture danger rather than serve a coherent narrative. A particularly jarring moment — Shyam surviving a multi-car pileup — stretches believability past its breaking point.
Saif Ali Khan’s casting, while committed, works against the character. His muscular build and brisk physicality make him look more like an action hero performing blindness rather than someone whose entire movement pattern has adapted around the absence of sight — a challenge that method-driven physical performances often grapple with when portraying disability convincingly.
Supporting Cast Verdict
Boman Irani brings gravitas to his brief role as the retired judge, while Saiyami Kher’s police officer character doesn’t get much room to breathe beyond genre conventions. Shriya Pilgaonkar’s character feels more obligatory than essential to the plot.
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Conclusion
“Haiwaan” holds curiosity value purely for reuniting two major stars after nearly two decades, but as a standalone thriller, it telegraphs its destination long before figuring out how to get there in style.
FAQs
Q1: Is Haiwaan based on another film?
Yes, it’s a Hindi remake of the 2016 Malayalam thriller “Oppam,” starring Mohanlal.
