There are remakes that successfully reinterpret the original and there are remakes that make you constantly think about the film they are based on. Unfortunately, Haiwaan belongs to the latter category. Priyadarshan’s Hindi adaptation of Oppam has impressive production values and a few strong performances, but as a remake of one of Malayalam cinema's memorable thrillers, it feels disappointingly average.
Haiwaan: A familiar premise without enough freshness
At its core, Haiwaan follows the familiar premise of Oppam. The central character is visually impaired, and the story revolves around the challenges he faces while getting caught up in a dangerous situation.
The problem is not that the film follows the original story. A remake can work even when the audience knows the plot, provided the filmmaker brings a fresh perspective or gives the characters a completely different treatment. Here, however, the film doesn't offer enough to make us forget Oppam.
And that becomes particularly problematic because Oppam was released nearly a decade ago. Cinema audiences, especially in Hindi, have evolved significantly during this period. The Hindi film industry is experimenting with different genres and newer storytelling approaches, and films such as Saiyaara and the renewed interest around projects like Awarapan 2 show that audiences are willing to embrace varied narratives.
In such a scenario, simply bringing Oppam into 2026 without adding enough freshness feels like a missed opportunity.
Akshay Kumar in Haiwaan
Akshay Kumar is the surprise package
For me, the biggest reason to watch "Haiwaan" is Akshay Kumar. That doesn't mean, I am his ardent fan. Akshay, one of the biggest stars in Hindi cinema, playing an antagonist was an unexpected choice. Considering his friendship with Priyadarshan and his long-standing association with the filmmaker, his decision to take up the role itself feels like a generous gesture from a superstar.
But more importantly, he delivers. Akshay Kumar doesn't merely appear in the film as a star playing the villain. He commits to the character and brings the required menace and screen presence. His performance is easily one of the film's strongest elements.
Saif Ali Khan, on the other hand, is much more difficult to evaluate without bringing Oppam into the discussion. Saif is undoubtedly a talented actor. His performances in films such as Omkara have already established his acting abilities. But when the role has previously been played so brilliantly by the legendary actor Mohanlal, comparisons are inevitable. And unfortunately, Saif's portrayal doesn't have the same impact.
Boman Irani who reprised the role of Nedumudi Venu was impressive.
Also read: Haiwaan Review: Saif impresses as Akshay’s subdued act struggles to elevate a possible home run
Saif Ali Khan vs Mohanlal: The biggest problem
This is where Haiwaan disappoints me. Mohanlal's performance in Oppam was not just about playing a blind character. He made us believe that he was blind. His body language, movements, expressions and the way he navigated his surroundings all contributed to the authenticity of the character.
With Saif Ali Khan, I never completely got that feeling. There are moments when I find myself thinking that the character doesn't really feel blind. That is a major problem when the protagonist's visual impairment is such an important part of the story.
Saif must have approached the character in his own way, and ideally, the performance should have been judged independently. But because Haiwaan is a remake of Oppam, the Mohanlal comparison is unavoidable. Unfortunately, Saif's interpretation doesn't have the same conviction that made Mohanlal's performance so memorable.
Action: Nowhere near Oppam
The action sequences make the comparison even tougher. Oppam had a memorable police station fight sequence towards the climax, where Mohanlal's physicality and understanding of action choreography made the scene extremely effective. The sequence worked because the character's blindness was incorporated into the action rather than treated merely as a character trait.
Haiwaan attempts something similar, but the execution didn't impress me to the same extent. Mohanlal has always had an incredible command over physical performance and action choreography, and that was particularly evident in Oppam. His movements felt natural, controlled and believable.
In Haiwaan, the fight sequences don't create the same impression. I never got the feeling that I was watching a visually impaired hero fighting his way through a dangerous situation. Instead, some of the action simply feels like a conventional hero fight. That significantly reduces the impact.
Technical aspects: Where "Haiwaan" scores
If there is one area where Haiwaan deserves credit, it is its technical execution. The production quality is impressive, the cinematography is polished and the film has the scale and visual finish expected from a major Hindi production. Priyadarshan has handled the film with technical confidence, and there is no doubt that the movie looks good on screen.
This is not a poorly made film. The problem is that the technical polish cannot compensate for the lack of emotional and dramatic impact.
I went into Haiwaan expecting much more from Priyadarshan. The idea of bringing Oppam to Hindi cinema with a fresh cast, a bigger production scale and a superstar like Akshay Kumar in an antagonist role had plenty of potential. But the final product doesn't live up to that promise.
Akshay Kumar was good, the production quality is strong and the cinematography is impressive. But Saif Ali Khan's portrayal doesn't convince me in the way Mohanlal's did, particularly when it comes to portraying the blindness and handling the action sequences.
More importantly, Haiwaan doesn't give Oppam a compelling new identity. It feels too close to the original in its core treatment while simultaneously lacking the impact of the original performances.
Oppam worked because Mohanlal made the character believable. Haiwaan looks bigger and more polished, but it doesn't capture that magic.
The cameo role of Mohanlal at the end wasn't necessary as it doesn't do anything good to the movie rather than giving goosebumps moments to the fans of the Malayalam superstar.
Haiwaan is ultimately an average remake of a much better film. It is watchable, particularly for Akshay Kumar and the technical aspects, but it is far from the exciting Hindi adaptation of Oppam which audiences were expecting.
