Haiwaan Movie Review
Director – Priyadarshan
Cast – Saif Ali Khan, Akshay Kumar, Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Saiyami Kher, Mohanlal, Asrani, Sharib Hashmi
Duration – 2h44m
Rating – 3.5
'Haiwaan' can prove to be a game changer for the careers of both Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, because it is not just a film that brings back together two big stars, but brings a different and fresh story of its own. The concept of the film, while being interesting, is one that has not been explored many times in Hindi cinema. On one side is blind Shyam, whose world is run by voice, feeling and instinct instead of eyes, while on the other side is Parashuram, whose mystery and fear gives a new direction to the story every moment. The contest between the two is not just a clash between heroes and villains, but a game of brains, courage and survival, where even a small mistake can prove costly. Priyadarshan has brought this unique idea on screen with a completely new avatar of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan and this is the reason why 'Haivaan' turns out to be a film for both the actors, which has the power to change their image till now.
The most interesting thing about the story of 'Haivaan' is its basic concept. Here is a person who cannot see, but the person standing in front of him can become the biggest threat to him at any time. Shyam's world runs on sounds, feelings and guesses, whereas Parashuram does not give any chance to read his intentions. The conflict that starts between the two gradually turns into a chase where every small gesture matters and the course of the story can change at any moment. The film constantly takes you forward with the question who has the edge in this game.
The way Akshay Kumar has played Parashuram, it looks quite different from the common villain characters of his career. Here he does not get excessively angry or noisy. The look in his eyes, the coldness of his face and his extremely measured body language create fear in the character. When he is present on the screen, even without doing anything, one starts feeling uneasy in the scene. Akshay has made Parashuram such a character that the more you try to understand, the more mysterious he becomes.
Saif Ali Khan's work as Shyam is quite controlled. He does not limit the blind character to just his physical weakness, but brings out his mental strength. Recognizing sounds, understanding the surrounding movements and sensing danger become important weapons of his character. Saif's performance doesn't depend on any big drama, but small reactions and calm attitude makes Shyam's situation effective. This restraint further strengthens Akshay's presence in front of Parashuram.
Pahal Choudhary's character brings such an angle to the film's story, knowing it in advance can reduce its impact. So it is better to watch his part without any spoiler. He has captured the innocence and emotional aspects of his character well. Saiyami Kher, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Boman Irani also strengthen different parts of the story. Sharib Hashmi makes his presence felt in the role of a police officer. Asrani's screen presence gives a different emotional color to the film.
Priyadarshan has long been known for comedy and family entertainment, but in 'Haivaan' his focus appears to be completely different. The director did not take the story forward only with the help of action sequences, but made the situation and atmosphere an important part of the story. In many scenes, less dialogue and more silence works. This method maintains the tension of the film.
The use of sound design and background music of the film plays an important role in creating its mood. Pritam's BGM makes an impact especially in those moments, where not much is seen happening on the screen, but the danger is increasing inside. 'Mere Hero Hain' supports the emotional part of the film, while 'Rangiyara' gives a different feel to some of the lighter and travel moments of the story. The music has been kept according to the mood of the story instead of dominating it.
Despite being inspired by the Malayalam film 'Oppam', it would not be right to see 'Haivaan' as just a scene-by-scene remake. While maintaining the suspense of the original story, Priyadarshan has adapted it according to the Hindi audience and the screen image of the star cast. Emotion, action and commercial entertainment have been given their place in it. Mohanlal's special appearance also becomes a special surprise for the audience associated with the original film.
'Haivaan' is one of those films which tries to keep the audience continuously engaged with its story. Akshay's dark avatar, Saif's intense performance and the setup of a conflict where the viewer also feels the danger along with the characters, give the film a distinct identity. If you like psychological thrillers, cat-and-mouse games and stories where the whole picture is slowly revealed, then 'Haivaan' is the right choice for you.