# Geetu Mohandas directs Yash in Rs 500 crore gangster drama Toxic 2026-08-26T20:16:35+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets Geetu Mohandas has directed Yash in 'Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups', a gangster drama set largely in 1940s Goa. Times of India reports that Mohandas, who began as a child artist in Malayalam cinema, won National Film Awards for her debut feature 'Liar's Dice' and directed the acclaimed 'Moothon' before helming this pan-India project. She has described the film as a blend of 'Padayappa' and 'In the Mood for Love'. NDTV's review says the film, made on a reported budget of over Rs 500 crore, works largely because of Yash's presence and strong female roles played by Nayanthara, Kiara Advani and others. However, the review notes the story and screenplay are not as compelling as its characters, and that fight sequences feel stretched. Both sources highlight the film's stylised visuals and lavish production values. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Times of India frames the story as a filmmaker profile, emphasising Mohandas's journey from child artist to award-winning director. NDTV delivers a critical review, praising Yash's stardom and visual style but calling the screenplay incoherent. The review's focus on the film's shortcomings provides a counterweight to the profile's promotional tone. Together, the coverage suggests Toxic relies on spectacle and star power more than narrative cohesion. Audience and box office reception will test whether that formula sustains Yash's pan-India appeal. NDTV's review says the film, made on a reported budget of over Rs 500 crore, works largely because of Yash's presence and strong female roles played by Nayanthara, Kiara Advani and others. However, the review notes the story and screenplay are not as compelling as its characters, and that fight sequences feel stretched. Both sources highlight the film's stylised visuals and lavish production values. ## Coverage Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) Profile of Geetu Mohandas with no critical assessment of the film - ndtv.com (neutral report) Critical review focused on film's strengths and weaknesses This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources. Last updated 2026-08-26T20:21:22+00:00. Tags: Geetu Mohandas, Malayalam cinema, Toxic, Yash Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/geetu-mohandas-the-filmmaker-behind-yashs-toxic/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/geetu-mohandas-the-filmmaker-behind-yashs-toxic/#story-in-brief How this brief was made: an AI model read the reports linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. Stance labels are editorial classifications of how each outlet framed this story, assigned by the same model, not ratings of the outlets. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/