The most interesting thing about the story ‘Haiwan’ is its basic concept. There is a person who cannot see, but the person standing in front of him can become his biggest threat at any time. Shyam’s world runs on sounds, emotions and guesses, while Parashuram gives no chance to read his intentions. The conflict that starts between the two slowly turns into a chase where every little hint counts and the story can change at any moment. The film constantly leads you with the question of who has the upper hand in this game.

Akshay Kumar’s portrayal of Parashuram is quite different from the usual villainous characters of his career. Here he does not make much noise or anger. The look in his eyes, the coldness of his face and his very measured body language instill fear in the character. When he is present on screen, without doing anything, one starts to feel uneasy in the scene. Akshay has made Parashuram such a character that the more you try to understand him, the more mysterious he becomes.

Saif Ali Khan’s work as Shyam is very controlled. He does not limit the blind character to his physical weakness but brings out his mental strength. Recognizing sounds, understanding surrounding movements and perceiving danger become important weapons of his character. Saif’s performance doesn’t depend on any big drama, but the small reactions and calm demeanor make Shyam’s situation effective. This restraint reinforces Akshay’s presence in front of Parashuram.

Pehal Chowdhury’s character brings an angle to the film’s story, which can be minimized by knowing beforehand. So it is better to watch his part without any spoilers. He has captured the innocence and emotional aspects of his character very well. Sayami Kher, Shreya Pilgaonkar and Boman Irani also anchor various parts of the story. Sharib Hashmi makes his presence felt in the role of a police officer. Asrani’s presence on the screen gives the film a different emotional color.

Priyadarshan has long been known for comedy and family entertainers, but his focus in ‘Haivaan’ looks completely different. The director has not only advanced the story with the help of action sequences, but has made the setting and atmosphere an important part of the story. In many scenes dialogue works less and silence more. 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 is particularly impressive in those moments, where not much is seen happening on screen, but the danger is growing from within. ‘Mere Hero Hain’ supports the emotional part of the film, while ‘Rangiyara’ gives a different feel to some of the lighter and more travel moments of the story. The music is kept to the mood of the story rather than dominating it.

Despite being inspired by the Malayalam film ‘Oppam’, it would not be fair to see ‘Haivaan’ as a mere scene-by-scene remake. Retaining the suspense of the original story, Priyadarshan has adapted it to suit the Hindi audience and 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 attached to the original film.

‘Haiwan’ is one of those films that tries to keep the audience engaged with its story continuously. Akshay’s dark avatar, Saif’s powerful performance and the conflict setup where the audience feels the danger as well as the characters also give the film a distinct identity. If you like psychological thrillers, cat-and-mouse games and stories where the whole picture unfolds slowly, then ‘Hayawan’ is the right choice for you.

 

Director- Priyadarshan

Cast – Saif Ali Khan, Akshay Kumar, Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Sayami Kher, Mohanlal, Asrani, Sharib Hashmi

Duration – 2h44m

Rating – 3.5