When Toxic was announced with Yash in the lead and Geetu Mohandas as the director, there was considerable curiosity about how the collaboration would work. The two came from completely different cinematic backgrounds. Yash was coming off the massive success of KGF and KGF: Chapter 2, films that established him as one of Indian cinema’s biggest mass stars, while Geetu had never previously directed a conventional commercial entertainer.
Her earlier works, particularly Liar’s Dice and Moothon, belonged to a very different filmmaking space. Moothon, despite receiving critical attention, did not make much of an impact at the box office. Naturally, the idea of a filmmaker with such a distinctive sensibility joining hands with a star known for larger-than-life mass cinema generated plenty of intrigue.
There was also curiosity about how Toxic would eventually shape up. The project was initially perceived as a relatively smaller film, but its scale grew considerably. With Yash coming off two successful KGF films, especially the tremendous response those movies received in the Hindi-speaking markets, the bigger question was whether Geetu could bring her sensibilities into a mainstream star vehicle without compromising either side.
After watching Toxic, it becomes apparent that this is very much a film shaped by that clash of sensibilities. Unfortunately, the combination does not always work.
Yash in Toxic
A gangster story that wants to be something more
Toxic is co-written by Yash, and the film appears to have been conceived around the life and psychological conflicts of Raya, a gangster based in Goa. Set in 1947, the story also gives considerable importance to his relationship with his sister Ganga, played by Nayanthara.
There are glimpses of what Geetu might have originally found interesting in Raya's character. His upbringing, his relationship with Ganga, his womanising nature and the baggage of his past - all provide material for a potentially fascinating character study. However, the film struggles to turn these elements into a consistently engaging narrative.
The tagline, A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, also raises expectations about a distinctive storytelling approach. But the combination of fairy-tale imagery with excessive sex and violence doesn't always feel organically integrated into the story.
Yash’s introduction sets the tone
Raya and Ganga get an impressive introduction, with Yash's entry designed to immediately establish the scale of the protagonist. The scene had already attracted criticism when it was released on Yash's birthday, and its placement in the film does little to change the impression created by that sequence.
Raya is established as a powerful gangster and, more importantly, a womaniser. This trait becomes a significant part of his character in the first half. The problem is that the film eventually wants us to emotionally connect with Raya, particularly through his relationship with Nadia, played by Kiara Advani. The romantic track could have carried considerably more weight had the character's womanising nature been toned down or handled with greater sensitivity.
The first half promises a different Film
Nadia is a circus artist who becomes romantically involved with Raya. Kiara gets a substantial role and performs well, but the writing doesn't completely convince us about the emotional foundation of their relationship. Huma Qureshi plays Elizabeth, who is part of the syndicate involving Raya and Ganga. She brings the required intensity to the role and is one of the performers who manages to make an impression despite limitations in the writing.
For much of the first half, Toxic gives the impression that it is going to be a straightforward gangster-action entertainer. There are action sequences, larger-than-life moments and the kind of staging one would expect from a film featuring Yash. And this is perhaps where the film becomes most engaging. The problem is that it eventually moves away from the territory it establishes so confidently.
The second half becomes increasingly chaotic
The second half begins with more action before introducing Ticket, another character played by Yash. Revealing much about Ticket would obviously spoil a major portion of the film, so it is best not to discuss the character in detail. This is where the film makes its biggest departure from the conventional gangster narrative.
The emotional exchanges between Raya and Ticket, Raya's inner feelings and the character's psychological journey become more important. There are moments here where one can clearly see the Geetu's influence and the kind of film she perhaps wanted to make. But the problem is the execution.
The second half becomes increasingly chaotic, particularly because the film has spent its first half establishing itself as a very different kind of entertainer. The tonal and narrative shift is so drastic that it becomes difficult to remain emotionally invested in what the film is trying to say. The ideas may have potential, but the storytelling doesn't always provide the clarity needed to make them work.
Rukmini Vasanth appears as Mellisa and gets some screen presence in this portion. Unfortunately, the character doesn't have enough depth to leave a lasting impression.
Women characters deserved better writing
Nayanthara's Ganga is perhaps the exception. Among the women in the film, her character has considerably more depth and emotional importance. Her relationship with Raya gives the film some of its stronger emotional material, and Nayanthara brings the required maturity to the part. Kiara Advani performs well as Nadia and has a role that could have been much more effective with stronger writing. Huma Qureshi is also good as Elizabeth, particularly in the negative shades of the character. However, given her talent, the role feels underutilised.
Performances
Yash has some good moments as both Raya and Ticket. He is comfortable with the action and larger-than-life portions, but the more interesting aspect is his attempt to portray Raya's emotional and psychological conflicts.
However, the performance alone cannot compensate for the uneven writing.
Nayanthara is effective as Ganga and gets perhaps the most substantial female character in the film. Kiara makes an impression as Nadia, while Huma brings her usual intensity to Elizabeth. Sudev Nair gets considerable screen presence, and one wishes the character had been given more dialogues and stronger material.
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Verdict
Toxic is an interesting collaboration on paper, but the finished product doesn't completely justify the enormous curiosity surrounding Yash and Geetu Mohandas coming together.
The first half works better as a commercial gangster film, with Yash's screen presence and the action elements providing the required momentum. However, the film's transition into a more psychological and emotionally driven second half is far less convincing.
There are clearly traces of Geetu Mohandas' filmmaking sensibilities, particularly in the characterisation and the unconventional turn taken by the narrative. But these elements don't always blend smoothly with the mass-film framework built around Yash.
The result is a film that tries to be a gangster drama, a psychological thriller, an emotional character study and a larger-than-life commercial entertainer at the same time, without fully succeeding in any one space.
For Yash fans expecting another “KGF”-style mass experience, “Toxic” could be a disappointment. For those expecting Geetu Mohandas to deliver a sharply written, unconventional gangster drama, the film may also fall short.
