Haiwaan (2026)

Haiwaan (2026) Review: A High-Stakes Thriller Anchored by Heavyweight Talent

Haiwaan arrives with a premise that reads like classic cat-and-mouse bait: a retired judge murdered, his daughter hunted by a convict he once sentenced, and a visually impaired loyalist stepping into the breach. On paper, it's a tight, high-concept thriller. In practice, the film's success will hinge entirely on whether Priyadarshan — a director synonymous with broad comedy and ensemble chaos — can sustain tension across 164 minutes without succumbing to his instinct for tonal detours.

Direction and Tone

Priyadarshan's filmography (Hera Pheri, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Virasat) proves he understands pacing, but his thriller credentials are thinner. Haiwaan demands restraint: silence over slapstick, shadows over spectacle. The runtime is a concern — 164 minutes is a long ask for a genre that thrives on lean storytelling. If the first act lingers on character setup at the expense of momentum, the central chase loses urgency. Early promotional material suggests a gritty, rain-slicked aesthetic, but whether the director commits to that palette or dilutes it with comic relief (Rajpal Yadav's presence raises that flag) remains the defining question.

Performances: The Anchor and the Wild Cards

Akshay Kumar as Parshuram, the visually impaired protector, carries the film's emotional weight. Kumar has shown range in Special 26 and Airlift, but playing blindness without veering into melodrama requires discipline — his recent output has been uneven. Saif Ali Khan as the convict Shyam is inspired casting; his ability to toggle between charm and menace (Omkara, Sacred Games) makes him a credible predator. Boman Irani's Judge Pradhan, though likely limited to flashbacks, lends gravitas. The supporting bench — Sharib Hashmi, Rajesh Sharma, Manoj Joshi — is deep with character actors who elevate procedural scenes. Shriya Pilgaonkar and Saiyami Kher, as the daughter and the inspector respectively, need more than reactive roles to justify their screen time.

Story and Stakes

The hook is solid: a protector who cannot see, hunting a predator who can. That sensory asymmetry offers rich set-piece potential — sound design as narrative engine, spatial awareness as suspense tool. But the synopsis hints at a revenge-through-proxy structure that could feel mechanical if the emotional bond between Parshuram and Naina isn't established early and viscerally. The writers (Rohan Shankar, Abhilash Nair, Priyadarshan) must avoid the trap of making the inspector (Kher) merely a plot device who arrives late to explain what the audience already knows. A thriller this long needs layers: institutional corruption, moral ambiguity, a third-act revelation that recontextualizes the judge's past. Without them, Haiwaan risks becoming a well-acted but predictable chase.

Who Should Watch

Fans of Indian neo-noir (Andhadhun, Drishyam) and actors' showcases will find the cast alone worth the ticket. Viewers allergic to overlong runtimes or tonal whiplash should temper expectations. The U/A 16+ rating suggests violence and thematic darkness, not family fare.