Mumbai, Sept. 11: Haiwaan brings Priyadarshan’s Malayalam crime drama Oppam into a Hindi setting with Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan.
The film shifts the story from Kochi to Mumbai. It also gives the familiar plot a darker and more polished Bollywood treatment.
Mohanlal led Oppam in 2016. The Malayalam film received strong attention for its crime drama and unusual central character.
Haiwaan keeps the core story but changes its texture and tone. The film also uses the personalities of its two lead actors to shape the experience.
Priyadarshan directs Haiwaan as a cat and mouse thriller. The film often blurs the roles of hunter and hunted.
Akshay plays Parashuram Gokhale, a man who leaves prison and begins killing people around Mumbai. His character seeks revenge against the law after serving seven years for a crime he says he did not commit.
His path crosses with Shyam Rane, a congenitally blind man played by Saif Ali Khan. Shyam becomes a fierce protector when a schoolgirl faces danger.
Haiwaan movie review: Saif brings a different hero
Saif does not try to imitate Mohanlal’s performance from Oppam. Instead, he gives Shyam his own personality and energy.
Shyam works as a facilities manager in a Mumbai skyscraper. His family also faces financial pressure in their village.
A moneylender threatens to take over the family home. Meanwhile, the family prepares for his younger sister’s wedding.
The film gives Shyam several moments that differ sharply from Mohanlal’s Jayaraman. He even breaks into song during a boat ride to Mumbai.
His sensory abilities remain central to the story. He can identify people through details that most others would miss.
The film also adds humour to the dark narrative. An ageing security guard played by Asrani provides comic moments through his failing memory and confusion over names.
Saiyami Kher plays a female police officer who joins forces with Shyam. Shriya Pilgaonkar plays a woman working at the judge’s home.
However, the women remain supporting figures in a story driven mainly by two men.
Haiwaan movie review: Akshay powers the dark side
Akshay Kumar plays Parashuram with a performance that reflects his star presence. The role takes him away from the comedy territory often associated with his Priyadarshan collaborations.
One early sequence establishes the character’s emotional collapse. Parashuram releases a loud cry after a tragedy that changes his life.
The film presents his anguish through a high angle shot. His contorted face and body language underline the character’s disturbed state.
The story gains momentum when Parashuram discovers the judge’s hidden daughter. Shyam knows about the girl and becomes responsible for protecting her.
Rohan Shankar, Abilash Nair and Priyadarshan wrote the screenplay. The film does not offer many major surprises, especially for viewers familiar with Oppam.
Still, Haiwaan remains tense enough to hold attention. Its suspense and occasional humour help maintain the pace.
The film also looks more glossy and flashy than Oppam. It uses stronger Bollywood elements while keeping the original story’s central conflict.
Mohanlal’s presence in the memory of Oppam remains difficult to escape. Yet Saif avoids imitation and makes the blind protagonist his own.
Overall, Haiwaan does not reinvent the story. Instead, Priyadarshan updates its setting, tone and characters for a wider Hindi audience.
The result is a tense and watchable thriller. Its biggest challenge remains the shadow cast by Oppam and Mohanlal’s earlier performance.
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