Priyadarshan returns with 'Haiwaan', a Hindi adaptation of his 2016 Malayalam film 'Oppam', bringing Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan together in a crime thriller that mixes suspense, action and broad comedy.
The film revolves around Shyam, played by Saif, a visually-impaired man who becomes an unlikely witness to a murder. Akshay plays Parshuram, a ruthless killer who is determined to silence those who could expose him. The basic conflict between the human and the "monster" gives the film its central hook, but the execution struggles to maintain a consistent tone.
A familiar Priyadarshan mix
As is often the case with Priyadarshan's films, 'Haiwaan' moves between genres without much warning. The first half establishes Shyam's life and the circumstances that put him behind bars for a crime he did not commit. The story then shifts towards a police investigation, with humour increasingly taking over the proceedings.
Some of the action sequences also demand a generous suspension of disbelief. Shyam's physical abilities are repeatedly pushed beyond what the situation appears to allow, particularly when he takes on several policemen despite being badly beaten and restrained.
Saif gets the bigger role
The film was expected to be a reunion for Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, but their characters are given very different spaces within the story.
Saif's Shyam gets most of the material to work with. He is shown playing several musical instruments, navigating his surroundings with the help of his heightened senses and even taking on the film's villains. Akshay's Parshuram, meanwhile, remains largely in the shadows as the murderous antagonist.
Boman Irani gets an opportunity to bring some weight to the first half as a judge troubled by a secret. His character's connection with Shyam becomes an important part of the story.
Too many characters, too little payoff
The supporting cast includes Shriya Pilgaonkar as a domestic worker dealing with an abusive husband, Sharib Hashmi as a short-tempered policeman, Saiyami Kher as a sharp but underused cop and Rajpal Yadav as an ever-present autorickshaw driver. Suchitra Pillai also appears as a stern nun running a boarding school.
There are plenty of moving parts, but they rarely come together smoothly. The result is a film that attempts suspense, emotion, action and comedy without fully landing any of them.
Ultimately, 'Haiwaan' feels more chaotic than thrilling. The Akshay-Saif reunion has its appeal, but the film struggles to make the most of it.