Toxic Review: Yash & Geetu Mohandas' Film Is A 'Headache For Grown-Ups'; Why Is Everyone Shouting?

Yash and Geetu Mohandas' movie Toxic received mixed reactions from audiences due to its delayed release. The film, set in the 1940s, follows Raya (Yash) and his quest to rule Goa with the help of his sister Ganga (Nayanthara) and a gang led by Salvador. Rebecca (Tara Sutaria), Salvador's daughter, falls for Raya while Nadia (Kiara Advani), a circus performer, captures Raya's attention.

The first half of Toxic is unremarkable, with a dull pace, lackluster action, and unemotional scenes. However, around the 15-minute mark before the interval, the movie briefly captivates viewers. Unfortunately, the second half fails to engage, leaving audiences bored and questioning the film's direction. Throughout the movie, most characters shout in dramatic and emotional scenes, causing a headache for viewers.

The climax twist is impressive, but the 3 hours and 14 minutes runtime is not worth it for this twist alone. The action sequences, such as Yash's fight with women, are not spectacular. Despite the objectification of actresses in South Indian films, this movie highlights Yash's objectification and features poorly framed close-ups in crucial scenes.

While Yash's performances as Raya and the younger version are commendable, Nayanthara's character lacks emotional depth. Tara Sutaria impresses with her role as Nadia, Huma Qureshi delivers a strong performance as Elizabeth, and Kiara Advani looks gorgeous. However, the film disappoints with Nayanthara's monotone expression. The music by Ravi Basrur, excluding Tabaahi, fails to leave an impact, and the background score is excessively loud.

Overall, Toxic had potential but fell short due to weak screenplay, direction, emotional connection, and an unnecessarily lengthy runtime. This Yash-starrer is an unbearable watch, so audiences should skip it.