‘Toxic’: Will Yash gamble again?

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After he rose to national fame with the KGF films, Yash said he didn’t like being known for just one or two movies. “If people associate you with just a few works, it means you haven’t attempted different kinds of movies,” he said in an interview. With Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups , he has already begun to deliver on that promise. Or at least 50 percent of it.

A good part of Toxic reminds you of KGF thanks to how the protagonist behaves. Yash, as the invincible gangster Raaya, is reckless and self-obsessed. In one scene, Raaya’s girlfriend says, “You are not bad. You are just toxic.” The alpha-male character is all too familiar, having seen protagonists from Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Upendra movies.

The lack of originality in the protagonist in the first half of Toxic has been a big grouse for people who went in with high expectations. The film’s second half springs a surprise, and we get a different Yash, who commits fully to the character’s vulnerability.

Toxic feels like two films in one, and it’s a result many feared when Yash and Geetu — two people with polar-opposite sensibilities — came together for the movie. The clash of ideas is evident in Toxic, and the mixed response has put the spotlight on Yash’s judgement. Did the actor, known in film circles for being meticulous with his calculations, get it wrong? Maybe.

The reactions to Toxic would have been an eye-opener for Yash on how pan-Indian films function. It’s not enough to pull off a nationwide release. You must also impress the diverse audience. Fans from different regions have homegrown stars. When they watch a popular actor from the neighbouring industries, they expect something special.

A major challenge for superstars is the dilemma surrounding their on-screen image. On the one hand, they find it tough to completely let go of their trademark style, be it in their mannerisms or dialogue delivery. On the other hand, they have the urge to experiment. The result for such projects might not always be positive. Rajinikanth was appreciated for opting for Kabali (2016) and Kaala (2018), but the box office numbers of the two movies tell a different story.

Toxic is a big gamble from Yash. It’s a spectacle-like, ‘mass’ movie with psychological undertones. The psychological subtext we see in the movie is usually explored fully in a genre-specific movie. It’s bold of Yash and Geetu to try and fit it inside an action film.

Yash plays a dual role in ‘Toxic’. | Photo Credit: Zee Music South/YouTube

Several critics have called Toxic a result of Trojan-Horse filmmaking. Yash, who co-wrote the movie, and Geetu have settled for the conventional grammar of a mass movie to convey a pertinent message for the classes. The issue is that the duo hasn’t struck the right balance between their ideas. Toxic comes across as a painstakingly shot and mounted film. But it’s let down by Yash and Geetu’s inability to decide what to retain and what to leave.

This clash of ideas has left people divided.