‘Toxic’ review: Yash shines in a spectacle-rich action drama
Rocking Star Yash is back on the silver screen after four long years, since the release of ‘KGF: Chapter 2.’ He joined hands with director Geetu Mohandas for ‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups’ and the film carries stellar expectations. Let’s delve into the detailed review.
Story
Set in 1947 in Goa, Toxic narrates the story of Raya (Yash) involved in the illicit trade with his sister Ganga (Nayanthara) under the protection of Salvador. Salvador decides to get his daughter Rebecca (Tara Sutaria) married to Raya. However, Raya falls in love with the circus artiste Nadia (Kiara Advani) and has a child with her. He eventually meets his son Ticket (Yash) and deals with the fallout of their relationship as the narrative unfolds.
Performances
Yash is the highlight of Toxic as he displays his varied range of acting skills brilliantly. He is simply charismatic as Raya, the lothario. As the rough diamond Ticket, he looks good and displays an equally good performance. It was fascinating to see two entirely different personas act with precision.
Kiara Advani looks decent in her role and especially in emotional scenes, she gave her best. Nayanthara has scope for a better performance as Ganga, but the script does not let her deliver her best. Tara Sutaria, Huma Qureshi, and Rukmini Vasanth managed to do what they have offered.
Technicalities
Geetu Mohandas must be commended for attempting such a amazing project. The film has an engaging premise that works on a larger-than-life scale. Toxic looks fabulous with stupendous sets and amazing action sequences. Rajeev Ravi’s camera effectively captures the grand locales, and the special effects elevate the visual appeal. Ujwal Kulkarni’s editing looks sharp, but a snappier edit would have improved the overall experience. Ravi Basrur and others have composed high-energy music that works well.
Analysis
Toxic is a grand slam of a lavish action drama that delivers style, scale, and Yash’s superstar appeal. It has heart, scope, and spectacle to keep the viewers entertained throughout the film’s running time. It delves into various themes, including family drama, romance, and father-son bonding, on an epic scale.
Toxic may have narrative issues that keep it from being the best in the business, but it delivers a stellar viewing experience for the audience. The film has everything it takes to be a superstar film in Yash’s career with its larger-than-life entertainment quotient. However, the three-and-a-half-hour runtime makes it hard to enjoy every moment on screen. A taut screenplay would have made the emotional beats connect with the audience more seamlessly. With a more focused narrative and better script, it could have been the best film in the business. In conclusion, the film’s grandeur and Yash’s performance are enough for it to entertain his fans and the general audience.