Movie Name: Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups
Cast: Yash, Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth, Huma Qureshi and Others
Director: Geetu Mohandas
Producers: Venkat K. Narayana and Yash
Music Directors: Ravi Basrur, Vishal Mishra, and Others
Cinematographer: Rajeev Ravi
Editor: Ujwal Kulkarni
Release Date: August 26, 2026
Rating: 2/5
Among the long-awaited films hitting theaters this week is “Toxic,” starring Rocking Star Yash. Despite facing a significant delay, this massive film managed to secure shocking advance bookings upon its theatrical release. Let us dive into the review to see if the movie lived up to the massive expectations.
Story:
Even though India gained independence in 1947, the Goa region remained under Portuguese control. The drug mafia, run by the Salvador brothers, grows even stronger with the backing of an elder brother-sister duo, Ganga (Nayanthara) and Raya (Yash). Eventually, Raya marries Rebecca (Tara Sutaria), Salvador’s daughter, and becomes the lord of that empire. However, Raya falls in love with Nadia (Kiara Advani), a circus girl who enters his life. Where does their love story lead? What happens to Raya after that? Why does his own son (Ticket) hold a grudge and vow to kill Raya? What is the final fate of Raya? This forms the core of the story.
Performances:
Setting up strong hype from the beginning, Yash tries to satisfy mass audiences seeking KGF-style action and performance. His trademark body language, action blocks, and punch dialogues deliver a good kick here and there. The actor playing his son, Ticket, does an exceptional job, especially in the climax. The emotional track between Nayan and Yash in the first half, along with the love track featuring Kiara, works well. Kiara Advani delivers a solid performance, bringing depth and expression to her role rather than just glamour. Rukmini Vasanth, Tara Sutaria, Huma Qureshi, and the rest of the supporting ensemble perform well within their respective spaces.
Technical Aspects:
The production values and grand set work are good. The VFX handled by a Hollywood studio is decent, though it could have been richer. Rajiv’s camera work is impressive. Ujjwal Kulkarni’s editing needed to be much tighter, as many scenes should have been trimmed. The Telugu dubbing feels subpar, and the dialogues sound clichéd despite the period backdrop. Ravi Basrur’s background score fails to make a notable impact or reach the expected scale. Director Geetu Mohandas turns out to be a major disappointment. Opting for bold, action-heavy elements, she handles a routine plot with unnecessary frills, ultimately leaving audiences let down.
Review:
Yash’s signature body language, action sequences, and star presence. Solid acts by Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, and the actor playing Ticket in the climax are a big plus for the film. The emotional track and initial setup between the lead characters are also good. A routine storyline with a dragging second half and a weak core plot is a minus. The track involving Rukmini Vasanth feels confusing and weak, and the heavy inclusion of bold intimate scenes feels unnecessary. The final plot twist fails to excite Telugu audiences, turning the build-up into a letdown, coupled with underwhelming direction and music. Overall, “Toxic” fails to live up to the massive hype. While Yash gives a sincere performance and a few action sequences or emotional moments work, the weak plot, uninspiring screenplay, and dragging second half crush the audience’s excitement. Despite a star-studded cast, the film ultimately does not impress.
Plus Points:
Performances
Yash’s Mass Appeal
First Half
Minus Points:
Weak Narrative
Cliché Script
Confusing Subplots
Direction
Final Verdict:
Toxic Is Not Worth The Hype And Your Time
Click Here To Read Review in Telugu
