Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Toxic Divides Critics Between Yash’s Swagger and Story
Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-ups is a new gangster movie set in the 1940s.
It stars Yash, who plays the main character, Raya.
Many critics think Yash is the best part of the movie.
They also like Kiara Advani’s performance and the film’s big, colorful visuals.
The movie has impressive action, music and production design.
However, it is very long at three hours and 15 minutes.
Some reviewers feel the story moves too slowly and is not developed well enough.
Others think the movie’s stylish action and star power make it entertaining.
Viewers are split between calling it a thrilling spectacle and saying it values style more than substance.
Yash is widely praised as Toxic’s strongest and most consistent element.
Critics highlight Kiara Advani, cinematography, production design, action staging and music.
The 3-hour-15-minute film is criticized for slow pacing, uneven editing and an overstretched screenplay.
Several reviews say Toxic relies on familiar KGF-style visuals, slow motion and excessive violence.
Audience reactions are divided between admiration for the spectacle and disappointment with the story.
- Who
- Yash leads the film, alongside Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Tara Sutaria, Huma Qureshi and Rukmini Vasanth; Geetu Mohandas directed it.
- What
- Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-ups is a 1940s-set gangster drama receiving sharply divided reviews.
- When
- The film has reached theaters, and early reviews and audience reactions are being reported.
- Where
- In theaters; the articles do not specify a particular location.
- Why
- Reactions differ because the film’s visual spectacle and Yash’s performance appeal to some viewers, while its length, pacing, violence and screenplay draw criticism.
Spectacle and Star Power
Story and Substance
Overall entertainment value
Spectacle and Star Power
Supporters say Yash’s charisma, swagger, action sequences, music and lavish visuals make Toxic a compelling superstar event.
Story and Substance
Critics argue that the spectacle cannot compensate for a weak or uneven story and that the film prioritizes whistle-worthy moments over character development.
Visual style
Spectacle and Star Power
Some viewers and reviewers praise the cinematography, production design and stylized presentation as major strengths.
Story and Substance
Others see the slow motion, color grading and editing as overly influenced by KGF and say the presentation becomes excessive.
Treatment of characters
Spectacle and Star Power
More favorable reviews praise the ensemble performances, especially Kiara Advani and the film’s major women performers.
Story and Substance
Critical reviews say the women are largely defined through their relationships with Raya and that the expected female gaze does not fully emerge.
- Film
- Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-ups
- Director
- Geetu Mohandas
- Lead actor
- Yash
- Runtime
- 3 hours and 15 minutes
- Setting
- The 1940s
- Critical ratings cited
- 1.5/5 from The Indian Express, 3/5 from NDTV and 2.5/5 from Firstpost
- Main criticism
- Length, slow pacing, uneven editing, excessive violence and an underdeveloped screenplay