Review: 'Toxic'
Yash, who delivered a massive action blockbuster like 'KGF', took considerable time before embarking on his next project. After holding discussions with numerous directors and listening to many scripts, he finally launched his new film under the direction of Geethu Mohandas.
Many were surprised by the collaboration between Yash and Geethu Mohandas. Let us see how this film—crafted as a grand action entertainer—fares in this review.
Story:
Around 1947, a gang leader named Salvador controls the drug and underworld mafia in Goa. Raya (Yash) and Ganga (Nayanthara) are key members of his team; Ganga is Raya's elder sister. Ganga harbors a dream that her younger brother will one day become the boss of the Goa drug mafia. Amidst this, Raya unexpectedly falls in love with and marries Rebecca (Tara Sutaria), Salvador's daughter.
Consequently, just as Ganga desired, Raya becomes the head of the Goa drug mafia. During this time, he falls in love with Nadia (Kiara Advani), a circus performer, and she becomes pregnant with his child. Rebecca is furious when she learns of their romance; the situation escalates to the point where she commits suicide.
The story revolves around how Salvador reacts to his daughter's suicide and how Ganga protects her younger brother, Raya, from him.
Performances:
Yash delivers a good performance as Raya. However, since the screenplay focuses almost entirely on his character, the other roles lack significance. Furthermore, his action sequences sometimes felt over-the-top. While he was passable in emotional scenes, the action sequences lacked realism, as he appeared to defeat villains with little to no effort.
Nayanthara appears in a powerful role, though she was not given substantial scenes; she still managed to impress in the few moments she had. Kiara Advani’s role seems to exist merely for glamour, offering little scope for acting; she appeared underwhelming even in the limited scenes she was in.
Tara Sutaria delivers a good performance, impressing the audience with her natural acting in certain scenes. The supporting cast performed adequately within the scope of their respective roles.
Technical:
Director Geethu Mohandas chose a powerful story but failed to present it with a compelling screenplay. Perhaps assuming that action sequences alone would draw audiences, she repeatedly inserted massive action scenes into the narrative. The care taken in crafting the protagonist's character was not extended to the other characters. Flaws in the dubbing are clearly evident; the film frequently felt like a dubbed movie.
The cinematography is good, but the background score is lackluster. Ravi Basrur failed to live up to the high expectations placed on him. The songs also failed to make an impact, partly because they didn't blend well with the romantic scenes. There are significant editing issues; many scenes, especially in the second half, feel dragged out. The production values are good.
Plus Points:
Yash, Kiara Advani
A few action sequences
Minus Points:
Story and screenplay
Excessive romance
Several action sequences
Music
Analysis:
After the massive success of 'KGF', fans and audiences naturally expect an action film of that caliber from Yash. Consequently, he aimed to deliver a similar type of action movie. It appears as though he collaborated with Geethu Mohandas to recreate the 'KGF' magic. This film proves that a narrative works best when action is complemented by emotion. 'KGF' achieved huge success because the action was backed by strong emotional depth, whereas this film lacks that emotional core.
It serves as yet another reminder that assuming audiences will watch a film regardless of such shortcomings is a major mistake. With the movie 'Toxic', Yash seems to have squandered the sky-high craze he once enjoyed. 'Toxic' is a film that family audiences would want to stay miles away from; it is not even suitable for viewing at home. The excessive use of vulgarity felt unnecessary. Instead of playing out like an action movie, 'Toxic' felt more like an adult-oriented film.
Verdict...
An attempt to recreate the magic of 'KGF', but it lacks emotional depth
Banner: KVN Productions
Producer: Venkat K. Narayana
Director: Geethu Mohandas
Music: Ravi Basrur
Cast: Yash, Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth, Sudev and others
