‘Haiwan’ has been released in theatres. People are very excited about this crime thriller film. This is because Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan come together after almost 18 years, it is directed by Priyadarshan, Akshay in a negative role and Mohanlal has a cameo. However, the question arises whether the film lived up to the expectations. Read our review .—On paper, this combination looked like a big cinematic bang.

How do you like the pairing of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan?

Akshay Kumar’s appearance in a dark and negative character is definitely one of the most interesting things about the film. Saif Ali Khan’s blind character also evokes a different kind of hope. Seeing both the actors together after a long time is special in itself.

But the problem is that both these ideas are not used effectively in the story. The clash, tension and chemistry that one is expecting between Akshay and Saif after watching the trailer and the promo, is not visible in the film.

How is the story?

The story of the film begins with a retired judge, who has sentenced a person in his past. Now the same criminal wants to avenge his punishment from the judge. After this the story moves on the path of revenge and conflict.

The idea of ​​the story itself is not new, but it could have been made effective with the right screenplay and a strong twist. Here the ‘animal’ becomes weak. From the beginning of the film, one can guess in which direction the story is going. After this there is neither any big twist that surprises nor any suspense that keeps the audience glued to the screen continuously.

The biggest problem is the runtime of 2 hours 40 minutes

The biggest problem with the film is its long runtime of around 2 hours and 40 minutes. There is not enough time in the story to drag it out for a long time. At many places it feels like the film is trying to push the same point in different ways.

If the screenplay had been tightened and the length of the film reduced by removing unnecessary parts, the impact could have definitely been better. But in its current form, the long running time tests the audience’s patience and the pace of the story feels quite slow at times.

I don’t even have the courage to act

Despite having such a huge star cast, the characters of the actors lack the depth that this story needs. Akshay Kumar’s character is the most important part of the story, but the screenplay does not give him space to make his negative character memorable.

Saif Ali Khan’s blind character could have been an interesting experiment, but even this character does not acquire enough depth to leave a strong impression on the audience. Even for a seasoned actor like Boman Irani, the role remains quite limited.

Mohanlal’s cameo is completely pointless

Mohanlal’s presence in the film also increases the curiosity of the audience. But seeing his cameo is disappointing. Such a big artist is shown on the screen for a few seconds. This scene neither contributes much to the story, nor reinforces any twists, nor affects the further story.

No comedy, no thrill

It is natural to expect comedy from Priyadarshan’s films. But his trademark comedy is almost missing in ‘Haiwan’. Over the course of nearly 2 hours and 40 minutes, there is hardly a moment or two where there is a faint smile or laugh. The tone of the film remains flat throughout the rest of the time. On the other hand, if we look at it as an action thriller, the film doesn’t seem very strong. There is neither a suspense that keeps one engaged nor a thrill that keeps the audience wondering what will happen next.

The music and background score also faded

The songs of the film also do not leave much impact. The music does not connect with the story in such a way that a song is remembered after the film is over. Even the background music doesn’t create enough emotion or tension in the scenes where it was most needed.

The parking lot scene is a little better.

In the entire film, if any scene seems a little different, it is the face-to-face between Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in the parking lot. The presence and confrontation of the two actors in this scene gives the film that energy for some time, the lack of which is constantly felt in the rest of the film. I wish the same tension and energy could be seen in the rest of the film.

final call

Overall, ‘Hayawan’ is a film whose hype is more than its content. The return of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan after almost 18 years, Priyadarshan’s direction, Akshay’s negative character and such a huge star cast – all this raised expectations about the film. But weak and extremely simple story, loose screenplay, excessively long duration, weak comedy, weak thrills and lack of depth in the characters constantly drag the film down.

Rating: ⭐ 1.5/5

Advice: If you’re going to watch ‘Hayawan’ because of the Akshay-Saif pairing, Priyadarshan or the hype of the film, keep your expectations very low.