Five women, zero arcs: Yash’s Toxic promised a voice for women, fails each one of them

Five women stars, zero arcs: Yash's Toxic promised a voice for women, but fails to deliver on each of those promises. The film boasts a female director in Geetu Mohandas, who previously directed the acclaimed Mothoon and Liar's Dice, and features five accomplished actresses in its cast. Geetu Mohandas herself promises that the film will provide a voice for women characters, countering the negative portrayal often seen in teasers and trailers.

However, upon watching the film, the reality is quite different. The five female characters, played by genuinely talented actresses including Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Rukmini Vasanth, Tara Sutaria, and Huma Qureshi, each receive committed performances with the material they are given. Yet, despite this, each woman's existence in the film is tethered to the male lead, Raya, portrayed by Yash.

The women enter the story in direct relation to Raya's arc and exit when their relevance to his journey is fulfilled. Not a single character possesses a storyline independent of their connection to Raya, whether in terms of what they provide for him, what he provides for them, or how their fates intersect with his.

The film's structure ensures that no woman's plot is self-contained; instead, every narrative revolves around Raya's experiences and emotions. Nayanthara's character, Ganga, is the strongest female character in the film, having raised Raya after their mother's abandonment. However, Ganga's entire existence revolves around her relationship with Raya - she seeks nothing for herself and merely aims to see him become the king of Goa's underworld.

Her aspirations and emotions are entirely dependent on Raya's journey, making her a mere extension of his story.

Even Kiara Advani's Nadia, the film's best female character, is subjected to a narrative where her trauma is used solely to create a crisis for Raya to resolve. Tara Sutaria's Rebecca, the daughter of a mob boss, serves as a stepping stone for Raya's emotional journey, transitioning from a casual conquest to genuine affection. Mellisa, played by Rukmini Vasanth, enters the film late offering emotional warmth to Raya.

Yet, the audience is left questioning why she falls for him, as the film does not bother providing a satisfactory answer for her motivation.

Huma Qureshi's Elizabeth character, intended to carry a narrative twist, is entirely omitted from the promotional campaign, revealing her importance only when it's too late in the film. The screenplay fails to recognize the importance of women having their own stories before they are drawn to the male lead. Ultimately, Yash's Toxic makes a promise to its women but falls short of delivering on any of those promises, failing to create characters with independent narratives and instead relying on women to serve the male lead's arc.