Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-ups changes out the name of its main character, Yash, for Raya, a gangster whose violent character runs rampant throughout the film. The 3-hour-15-minute period drama is set in post-Independent Goa, and inspired by old gangster films, it depicts Raya’s journey through a world of crime, betrayal and complex relationships.
The movie starts in Goa at 1947 and lasts for about 20 years. Visually, it takes on the style of gangster films, featuring well-dressed men, flashy nightclubs and a style reminiscent of classic gangster movie archetype. But under the pretty figures the story is very violent and action packed one after another.
Known for films that delve into complex emotions, director Geetu Mohandas tries to imbibe romance and vulnerability in Raya’s character. But those more quiet moments are often lost in the constant violence and gore of the film.
The women in Raya’s world offer a few moments of emotion in the movie. Nayanthara plays his protective elder sister, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth play women who are attracted to him. The other gangster’s sidekick is played by Huma Qureshi. But it is Kiara Advani, the character of a bereaved circus trapeze artist, who really wins over with her softer aspect of Raya.
Even with such an ambitious setting and Yash’s strong screen presence, Toxic falls flat in its attempt to balance violence with emotional story-telling. The movie offers a grown-up version of a fairy tale, but has little to offer under its surface.
Toxic has a lot of violence, and scale and style, but too much running and repetition makes for a hard time connecting with characters. Both Yash and Kiara Advani deliver some of the film’s best moments, but Yash still oozes charisma. In the end, there’s quite a bit of noise and a lot of fury but not much substance.