South superstar Yash, who is tasting blockbuster success after ‘KGF’ Chapter 2, is finally hitting the big screen with his multi-part film ‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups’. Directed by director Geetu Mohandas and promoted as a unique gangster drama presented from the female perspective, the film had high expectations from the audience and the cinema world. However, despite being full of grandeur, great action and swag, ‘Toxic’ falls short of being a great experience due to its muddled screenplay and sloppy direction.
The detailed story of ‘Poisonous’
The entire story of ‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups’ is a complex story of crime, revenge, the fabric of relationships and the dark shadows hidden within the individual. The focal point of the story is Raya (Yash), a fearsome yet extremely stylish gangster. Raya aspires to be the uncrowned king of an underworld where only the powerful dictate the rules.
The story begins with Raya’s dominance and her grip on the crime syndicate. Raya’s greatest strength and shield in this dark world is his elder sister Ganga (Nayantara). Ganga is not only an equal partner in his crime empire, but also acts as a protective shield and strategist for Roy at every step.
Roy’s life takes another turn when he gets engaged to Rebecca (Tara Sutaria) in his desire for a normal and peaceful life. Rebecca is not part of that dark world, and Raya dreams of breaking away from her violent tendencies to get her. However, Raya’s past and his roots in crime prevent him from ever breaking free.
The story takes a turn when Nadia (Kiara Advani) and Elizabeth (Huma Qureshi) enter. Elizabeth is a highly intelligent and vengeful woman who conspires against Raya with her enemies in the underworld to bring down her empire. Nadia, who leads a tumultuous circus life, enters into a relationship with Raya that blurs the lines between love and violence.
The turning point of the film comes when Raya has to deal not only with external enemies but also with ‘Ticket’ (Yash’s second character), an uncontrollable and insane version of his own mind. ‘Ticket’ is none other than Raya’s aggressive and destructive version of herself, who tries to dominate her.
Midway through the story, Elizabeth and the rival gang stage a deadly circus attack on Raya at Nadia’s circus. In this terrifying attack, Raya uses all his training and weapons to destroy the enemies, but in this bloodbath, his own personal life begins to fall apart.
In the finale, between Ganga’s efforts and a growing circle of enemies, Raya comes face to face with the ‘ticket’ hidden within her. It turns into a mental and emotional conflict, where Raya must decide whether she can save herself in the mire of her crime or be consumed by the fire of this ‘toxic’ empire of her own.
Story and Characters: The world revolves around ‘Raya’
The film is entirely built around ‘Raya’ (Yash) – he is the hero, the villain and the focal point of the story. All the other main characters make their presence felt around Roy:
Ganga (Nayanthara): Raya’s elder sister and his protector in the world of crime.
Rebecca (Tara Sutaria): Raya’s fiancée and longing for a normal life.
Nadia (Kiara Advani): A complex character full of love and mental turmoil.
Elizabeth (Huma Qureshi): A cunning and cunning woman bent on revenge.
Rukmini Vasant: Introduced as Raya’s ‘permanent’ companion.
‘Ticket’ (Yash’s second character): An uncontrollable and crazy person who dominates Raya’s mind.
Acting and Action: Where fame shines
Yash’s multidimensional performance: As an actor, Yash carries the film with full force. Not only is his style and swag strong, but the emotional and mental conflict between Roy and ‘Ticket’ in the second half is the best part of the film.
Circus Attack Action Scene: Directed by international choreographer JJ Perry, the 10-minute action sequence involving Nadia’s attack on Raya in the circus is full of innovation and thrills. Yash’s specialized weapons training pays off in full here.
Co-stars Performance: Nayanthara impresses with her poker-faced and serious acting, though her role is underutilized. Kiara Advani captures the colors of her character very well, while Tara Sutaria and Huma Qureshi get limited scope due to weak writing.
Strong and weak aspects of the film
The strongest aspect of ‘Toxic’ is its stunning visual treatment and superstar Yash’s exceptional performance. Rajeev Ravi’s cinematography and TP Abid’s art direction make every frame world-class and watchable. As an actor, Yash not only captivates the audience with his signature style and swag, but his dual, emotional and mental conflict as ‘Raya’ and ‘Ticket’ in the second half of the film proves his acting chops. Additionally, a 10-minute circus attack scene choreographed by international choreographer JJ Perry and gritty acting by Nayanthara and Kiara Advani bring the film to life.
On the other hand, the biggest weakness of the film is its loose script and directionless direction. Director Geetu Mohandas fails to strike a balance between commercial mass cinema and the experimental ‘Fight Club’ genre, due to which the film does not stick to either genre. The ‘female gaze’ and strong female characters that were promised also remain unfulfilled as great actresses like Nayanthara, Tara Sutaria and Huma Qureshi get limited scope due to weak writing. Additionally, Ujjwal Kulkarni’s editing’s abrupt cuts, awkward transitions, and the chaotic pace of the first 15 minutes hinder the audience’s engagement with the story.
Is ‘Toxic’ worth watching?
Every frame of ‘Toxic’ exudes ambition, visual beauty and Yash’s brilliant acting. But style and beautiful frames alone do not make a film immortal. Had the script been a bit tighter and the editing smoother, it could have become a landmark experiment in Indian cinema. At this point, it comes across as a film that disappoints despite coming very close to many things.