Toby (film)

Toby is a 2023 Indian Kannada-language action drama film directed by debutant Basil Alchalakkal and written by Raj B. Shetty. The film stars Raj B. Shetty, Samyukta Hornad, Chaitra Achar and Raj Deepak Shetty. The music is composed by Midhun Mukundan, while the cinematography and editing was handled by Praveen Shriyan and Nithin Shetty.[1][2]

Toby
Theatrical release date poster
Directed byBasil Alchalakkal
Screenplay byRaj B. Shetty
Story byT. K. Dayanand
Produced byRavi Rai Kalasa
StarringRaj B. Shetty
Samyukta Hornad
Raj Deepak Shetty
Chaitra Achar
CinematographyPraveen Shriyan
Edited byNithin Shetty
Music byMidhun Mukundan
Production
companies
Lighter Buddha Films
Coffee Gang Studios
Agastya Films
Smooth Sailers
Distributed byKVN Productions
Release date
  • 25 August 2023 (2023-08-25)
CountryIndia
LanguageKannada

The titular character is based on a 8 page short story by T.K. Dayanand, Raj B Shetty retained the attributes of the character from the story and wrote a new screenplay for the film. The film is based in Kumta region of Uttara Kannada district in Coastal Karnataka.

Toby was released on 25 August 2023 and received highly positive reviews from critics.[3] The Film is dubbed and released in Malayalam by Dulquer salmaan's Wayfarer films on 22nd September 2023.[4]

Plot

Sampath is a newly appointed SI who joins duty at Tamas Katte police station. At this juncture, Jenny visits the police station and creates a ruckus over the cops inability to trace her missing foster father Toby. Sampath asks Kushalappa about Jenny and decides to investigate the case. Kushalappa takes Sampath to many people, including Fr. Iglesias who narrates that Toby had lost his voice in an incident and had met him in a remand home. Iglesias tells that he had helped Toby get released from the remand home and tried to get him a job at the church, but Toby had become a headache for him.

Sampath also meets a sex worker named Savithri who reveals about her love life with Toby and the circumstances which forced her to get married to another person. Sampath also meets Damodar, a mortuary worker who tells him about his friendship with Toby, and also learns from Toby's neighbour Shalini that Toby was often used as an assassin by the village chief Anand and that Anand impregnated Jenny in order for Toby to get released from prison as Toby was arrested for Anand's crimes. Toby assumed that Prashantha impregnated Jenny and tried to kill him after Anand told him to do so as Prashantha informed Anand's smuggling activities to the police, but Jenny stopped him and revealed the truth. Toby decided to mend his ways where he tracks down Prashantha and apologize to him.

After Sampath leaves, Shalini meets Toby and Prashantha and reveals that Jenny has been searching all the time. However, Ananda and his men attack Toby and Prashantha after learning of their arrival, where they are admitted to the hospital. Shalini learns from the doctor that Jenny had taken a surgical knife in order to kill Ananda, but Ananda killed her and stuffed her body into the meat grinder. An awaken Toby learns about this and finds Ananda at the fair. A battle ensues between Ananda and Toby, where Toby decapitates Ananda, thus avenging Jenny's death. Toby is later shot by Sampath and dies from his injuries.

Cast

Soundtrack

Midhun Mukundan composed the soundtrack and background score.

Reception

Toby received highly positive reviews from critics who praised Raj. B. Shetty and Chaitra Achar's performances, story, direction, musical score and technical aspects, but criticized its pacing and ending.

Critical response

Prathibha Joy of OTTplay gave 4/5 stars and wrote "Toby may not be a film for everyone, but should you give it a chance, you may just like it after all."[5] Sridevi S of The Times of India gave 3/5 atars and wrote "Toby is a good experience, but it will leave you craving for more. Also, there’s a small surprise for Garuda Gamana fans in this Raj-verse!"[6]

Vivek M. V. of The Hindu wrote "The top-notch performances propel the film’s interesting characters, but ‘Toby’ is marred by lack of surprises and a generic ending."[7] Shuklaji of The News Minute gave 3/5 stars and wrote "Raj B Shetty plunges headlong into his titular character of Toby, but he also becomes a bit of a control freak while doing so, telling us, the viewer, how to feel about every dramatic moment."[8]

A. Sharaadha of Cinema Express gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote "Toby offers a satisfying cinematic experience, yet it leaves a lingering sense of yearning for something more. Amid its multi-layered performances and visual sophistication, the film navigates a complex tapestry of human emotions."[9] Y Maheswara Reddy of Bangalore Mirror gave 3/5 stars and wrote "The slow pace of narration may be a drawback. But it is a must-watch if you want to see talented actor Raj B Shetty in a different avatar."[10]

References
  1. "First Look Of Raj B Shetty-starrer Kannada Film Toby Out; Take A Look". News18.
  2. "Raj B Shetty: Toby is a mass film that will have audiences rooting for the characters". OTTplay.
  3. "Raj Shetty's revenge drama Toby gets release date; writer-actor dubs the film as 'the beast that got the best out of us'". The Indian Express.
  4. "Raj B Shetty's 'Toby' Malayalam version to release on September 22 ; watch trailer here". The Times of India. 17 September 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  5. "Toby movie review: Raj B Shetty presents a heart-achingly beautiful and tragic tale". OTTplay.
  6. "Toby Movie Review: Toby review: An ordinary tale of an ordinary man, embellished with emotions and violence". The Times of India.
  7. "'Toby' movie review: Raj B Shetty's stylised, dark revenge saga grapples with predictability". The Hindu.
  8. "Toby review: An incredible Raj B Shetty shoulders a contrived film". The News Minute.
  9. "Toby Movie Review: An unavoidable, honest piece of art". Cinema Express.
  10. "TOBY (KANNADA) MOVIE REVIEW: GRIPPING MYSTERY OF A MISSING MAN". Bangalore Mirror.

Toby at IMDb

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