New Delhi, Sept. 12 -- At the start of Haiwaan, Shyam (Saif Ali Khan) boards a ferry, teases a man who owes him money, sings and plays guitar. If it weren't for the dark glasses and cane, it's difficult to tell he's blind-it's actually a running conspiracy theory through Priyadarshan's film that he's only pretending he can't see. Shyam has heightened senses of sound, touch, taste, smell, allowing him to have an uncanny mental picture of the world around him. But when his sister tearfully asks for his blessings, he responds after a few seconds and doesn't realise that she's left. He's left patting the air around him while violins play sadly on the soundtrack.

It was this scene, more than anything, that soured me on Haiwaan. The whole poin...