In the teaser for Toxic, Yash's character authoritatively declares that it's not over until he says it's over. In another instance, he tells off the villains to have "f*cking manners". This style of English is reminiscent of the "Violence, violence, violence" punchline from KGF 2.
Film critic Anmol Jamwal has called it out. "Why do they have this obsession with half-baked English dialogues? Is this because of the pan-Indian movement so the dialogues have to be palatable across the board. They are like nursery rhymes. But without the flair," he writes.
The majority, however, are not in agreement with him. The KGF 2 punchline was a massive hit. And it suited the character's slum-dweller background. X user Ravi Gupta justifies the Toxic line. "English is a common language in India. It’s not some secret marketing formula invented yesterday. I am all for criticism. Spotting genuine flaws? Fair. But going on a treasure hunt for imaginary problems in every single thing? That’s not analysis… that’s a hobby," he writes, hitting out at critics.
Toxic is set in Goa and in the early decades of Indian independence. "It is set in an era when foreigners held some influence. You expect the characters to speak Old Kannada or Sanskrit instead of half-baked English?" an X user asks. Another movie buff sarcastically writes, "Why bother understanding the setting, characterisation, or even the context of the film? The teaser dropped, so obviously it’s time to deliver a PhD-level verdict on the language already."
Toxic hits the cinemas on March 19.
