“Khud ke dam pe jo banate hai vo hoti hai legacy.” Yes, that’s Yash aka Rocky Bhai, for you in Geetu Mohandas’s mass-action thriller Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups. The film isn’t just a typical gangster drama; it has emotions, romance, power-packed action, and family twists that will leave you stunned as you follow this massy, ambitious saga to the end.
Yash is the heart and soul of Toxic. He plays dual roles in the film- Raya and his son, Ticket. The two interesting characters bring an intriguing arc to the narrative, with Raya strictly focused on the mafia world while Ticket adds more emotional twists to the story. The story is dead-set on owning power, establishing control, and taking over the empire that Raya and his sister Ganga’s (Nayanthara) father curated, earning a place at every rung of the ladder.
Kiara Advani as Nadia adds a warm energy to the story. Her chemistry and character brings vulnerability to the gangster boy’s life, while Nayanthara heightens the emotional stakes of the family drama. Tara Sutaria as Rebecca makes a strong mark, while Huma Qureshi’s Elizabeth surprises with her explosive personality. Also, Rukmini Vasanth’s Mellisa, Akshay Oberoi’s Tony, Darrell D’Silva’s Salvador also add depth to the high-octane action drama.
What works for Toxic
Toxic is absolutely one of Yash’s finest performances. He has in no way held back, delivering his absolute best with powerful dialogue delivery, a captivating aura and intense screen presence. The film carries strong mass appeal and features a wide variety of action sequences that are engaging and will hold your attention. Geetu Mohandas has done an amazing job of creating an aesthetically rich period setting and making her female characters stand out impressively. Nayanthara’s role stood out for me, as she indeed gives tough competition to Yash’s character with high-octane screen presence- something we fail to see in certain Bollywood films these days, where female characters are often not given the same power and impact as their male counterparts, especially in the hero-centric films.
Also, the climax will leave you gobsmacked. The story picks up pace after the interval and keeps you wondering what will happen next, scene after scene. Lastly, a big shoutout to Geetu Mohandas, Yash, and Raaghav Vinay Shivagange for their collaboration on the dialogues, which will, at times, make you giggle and leave you amazed.
Yash’s Toxic has these big misses
In an attempt to make it loud, bold and experimental, the Yash-starrer at times feels stretched. At many moments, the film fails to go beyond its action-centric world, making the experience somewhat ‘toxic’ for viewers. Also, Yash’s character Raya gives off extreme Alpha vibes, once again glorifying a trope that many films these days seem eager to carry forward. The portrayal of female characters who try to help male characters overcome their trauma while enduring their abuse feels quite saturated at this point and has honestly become boring and repetitive for us as viewers.
Overall, Yash-starrer Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups delivers a massive big-screen experience, with a climax that may feel stretched but is ultimately worth the wait.
Toxic movie review: Sorry, but Yash-starrer is 'toxic' for viewing
