‘Haddi’ review: Nawazuddin Siddiqui excels in riveting revenge drama

Nawazuddin Siddiqui is an actor par excellence. Give the man a good script and the audience knows that they are awaiting a performance which will stay with them for a long time. This year, the actor has made both good and bad choices, with films like ‘Afwaah’ and ‘Tiku Weds Sheru’. When his look for ‘Haddi’ came out, it did raise expectations, as the actor was charting a space which he had not explored before. So, which category did this film fall into? Let’s find out.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui portrays a person from the transgender community, Harika, in ‘Haddi’. At the very beginning, he explains why people from the community are feared and why their revenge is the most dangerous thing ever. What follows for the next 30-40 minutes is a series of gruesome sequences that feel disjointed.

However, if you patiently watch through the first few minutes, what awaits you is a riveting revenge drama that will touch the chords of your heart. The film soon picks pace, with the flashback sequences providing clarity and helping the audience understand why Harika turned to Haddi. Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s flawless performance as Harika, along with the performances of stars like Ila Arun and Anurag Kashyap is what will keep you hooked throughout the duration of the film.

Watch the trailer here:

Make no mistake, this film is gory. There is a whole lot of bloodshed; there are murders with people being hacked to death in the blink of an eye and blood splashing everywhere. However, if you can tolerate spine-chilling sequences in ‘Haddi’, there awaits a story that is raw and riveting, something that will make you root for Harika.

Coming to the performances, Nawazuddin Siddiqui delivers yet another flawless performance with ‘Haddi’. The actor plays Harika aka Haddi, a member of the transgender community. It could have been challenging, but he lets his eyes do the talking in most portions of the film. From love to anger, he portrays every emotion with perfection.

Another good act comes from Anurag Kashyap, who plays a ruthless politician in the film. What’s great about his character is the fact that the makers do not try to justify his villainy or give a back story to it. He has no redemption to fall back on. To play such a character requires nuance and he simply nailed it. Ila Arun and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub have small but impactful roles to play.

Director Akshat Ajay Sharma also co-wrote the film, along with Admaya Bhalla. While initially, the film was a little confusing, the pieces could be put together after the first 40 minutes. After that, it not only picks pace but also turns out to be gripping. The editing could have been better, to make the storyline more engaging right from the start.

Overall, the film is a good watch. However, it is only for those who have a strong stomach to digest the blood and gore that the film has to offer.

It’s 3 out of 5 stars for ‘Haddi’.