Yash’s much-hyped Toxic arrives with enormous expectations, lavish production values, multiple leading ladies, relentless action, and the promise of a bold psychological gangster drama. What it delivers instead is a visually noisy spectacle that often mistakes excess for substance.
The film’s biggest problem is its storytelling, or rather the lack of it. For a film reportedly mounted on a massive budget, Toxic struggles to establish a coherent narrative. The screenplay feels fragmented, with scenes stitched together in the hope that style alone can carry the experience. The father-son angle, dual-role twist, and hints of psychological themes never come together in a satisfying manner.
Core of Toxic
The film follows Raya (Yash), a ruthless gangster in Portuguese-ruled Goa. His rise to power is shaped by revenge, love, and betrayal. After falling for Nadia (Kiara Advani) while engaged to Rebecca (Tara Sutaria), The gangster’s life unravels through violence, family conflict, and tragic losses. Years later, his fractured psyche creates a split personality — ‘Ticket’ — who becomes the son he lost. In the end, Raya confronts the truth of his past, loses everyone he loves and vanishes in a final battle, with his fate left uncertain.
Director Geetu Mohandas, known for her acclaimed work in Malayalam cinema, attempts an unconventional blend of violence, sensuality, and stylized filmmaking. However, the experiment seldom clicks. Several sequences feel designed to shock rather than engage, including a much-talked-about scene where romance unfolds inside a car while a gunfight rages outside. What may have been intended as edgy and Tarantino-esque often comes across as unintentionally absurd.
Yash gives a committed performance and emerges as the film’s biggest asset. The actor is given ample room to showcase his range, and his screen presence remains intact even when the script lets him down. If Toxic benefits anyone, it is Yash the performer rather than Toxic the film.
Kiara shines, while other actresses struggle for substance – the women deserved better writing
Among the female cast, Kiara Advani stands out the most. She gets the strongest screen presence among the leading ladies and leaves a lasting impression despite the limitations of the material. Tara Sutaria is effective in her brief moments but suffers from an underdeveloped character. Huma Qureshi’s much-publicized gangster role never receives enough depth to make an impact, while the remaining female characters largely function as ornamental additions to an overcrowded narrative.
Action enthusiasts may find something to enjoy, as the film is packed with elaborate stunt sequences. Unfortunately, the overwhelming volume of action works against the film. When explosions, fights, and chases occur every few minutes, they stop generating excitement and begin to feel repetitive.
The music is another disappointment. Despite contributions from multiple composers, there are no memorable songs or standout musical moments. The soundtrack feels strangely absent for a film of this scale.
Toxic is a film that wants to be many things at once: a psychological drama, a gangster saga, an action spectacle, and an edgy romance. In trying to achieve everything, it succeeds at very little. The result is a bloated cinematic experience that leaves viewers exhausted rather than entertained.
The irony is hard to miss. The film may be titled Toxic, but “torturous” might be the more accurate description.
Honest Verdict
Toxic is a grand-scale spectacle without a compelling story, and it relies heavily on Yash’s charisma and nonstop action. Neither is enough to rescue a film that loses itself in style and excess. One star for mainly for Yash’s effort, the action choreography, and the sheer scale of the production. And an additional half star for the style and action sequences. A torturous watch for 194 minutes.
– Review by Jyothi Venkatesh
Cast of Toxic:
Yash in a dual role as Raya and Ticket (father and son)
Kiara Advani as Nadia (Ticket’s mother)
Nayanthara as Ganga (Raya’s elder sister)
Darrell D’Silva as Salvador Almeida
Huma Qureshi as Elizabeth (Salvador’s mistress)
Tara Sutaria as Rebecca Almeida (Salvador’s daughter)
Rukmini Vasanth as Mellisa (Raya’s lover / wife)
Akshay Oberoi as Tony (Elizabeth’s brother)
Sudev Nair as Karmadi (Raya’s friend)
Dhurandhar – movie review
Credits of Toxic:
Production companies – KVN Productions, Monster Mind Creations LLP
Produced by Konanki Venkata Narayana, Yash
Directed by Geetu Mohandas
Written by Yash, Geetu Mohandas
Story by Geetu Mohandas
Cinematography – Rajeev Ravi
Edited by Ujwal Kulkarni
Songs: Vishal Mishra, Ravi Basrur, Tanishk Bagchi, Faheem Abdullah, Arslan Nizami
Background Score: Ravi Basrur
