Akshay and Saif’s Haiwaan sends audiences rushing to Priyadarshan’s original Oppam

Priyadarshan’s latest thriller ‘Haiwaan’, headlined by Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, has sparked fresh interest in the filmmaker’s Malayalam original ‘Oppam’. The 2016 Mohanlal starrer, also directed by Priyadarshan, served as the source material for the Hindi remake, and its Hindi-dubbed version on YouTube is now reportedly witnessing a surge in views.Titled ‘Prime Witnesses’, the Hindi-dubbed version of ‘Oppam’ has been available on YouTube for around four years. According to a report by Mid-Day, it has garnered more than 4.5 lakh views in just the last three days, coinciding with the theatrical release of ‘Haiwaan’.

‘Haiwaan’ viewers turn to the original ‘Oppam’

The renewed interest in ‘Oppam’ appears to be driven by viewers keen to compare Priyadarshan’s Hindi remake with the original Malayalam thriller.

As the YouTube link to the Hindi-dubbed version is being circulated across platforms such as X and Instagram, the film is reportedly attracting viewers who want to see how the original story was handled. A trade source cited by Mid-Day noted that audiences are not merely interested in watching a remake but are also curious about the source material and the differences between the two films.

In that sense, the release of ‘Haiwaan’ appears to have introduced a fresh set of viewers to ‘Oppam’.

Why the Hindi-dubbed version of ‘Oppam’ is gaining attention

The renewed interest in the original has also highlighted an accessibility gap. ‘Oppam’ is available for streaming on JioHotstar, but the platform reportedly does not offer a Hindi-dubbed or Hindi-subtitled option for the film. For Hindi-speaking viewers who want to watch the original, the YouTube version therefore offers a more accessible way to experience the Malayalam thriller. The release of ‘Haiwaan’ has seemingly helped direct those viewers towards the dubbed version.

‘Haiwaan’ reimagines Mohanlal’s role from ‘Oppam’

Released in 2016, ‘Oppam’ featured Mohanlal as a visually impaired lift operator who becomes embroiled in a murder conspiracy. The thriller was directed by Priyadarshan and went on to receive considerable attention for its suspense-driven narrative and Mohanlal’s performance. ‘Haiwaan’ reimagines the same basic premise for Hindi audiences, with Saif Ali Khan stepping into the role played by Mohanlal in the original.

Akshay Kumar takes on the antagonist’s role in the Hindi adaptation.