'Haiwaan': a missed opportunity for a gripping thriller
“Haiwaan” presents the near-impossible challenge of balancing darkness and humour, and while it is ambitious in execution, it ultimately disappoints.
Priyadarshan's Haiwaan, a film adapted from the Malayalam hit Oppam, fails to capitalize on its potential to deliver a gripping thriller. Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar portray a blind protagonist and a vengeful antagonist, respectively, offering a unique contrast to their previous collaborations. The first half of the film establishes its characters and atmosphere, but the second half becomes overcrowded with subplots and comic interruptions, diluting the tension.
Despite the strong performances of Saif Ali Khan and Boman Irani, the screenplay's tonal shifts and rushed editing prevent the film from achieving its full potential. The talented cast, including Shriya Pilgaonkar and Saiyami Kher, unfortunately finds themselves trapped in poorly developed characters. The film's greatest opportunity - a primal cat-and-mouse game - is left underwhelming due to inadequate camera work and editing.
Haiwaan has the makings of a brilliant thriller, but a stronger, shorter edit, better background score, and improved cinematography are needed to bring it to life.
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