Directed by Vivek Daschaudary, Toaster starts off as a quirky comedy with a unique idea but has trouble staying strong as the story goes on. With Rajkummar Rao, Sanya Malhotra, and Archana Puran Singh in the lead roles, the film tries to mix humor with a chaotic mystery. However, it loses both its direction and charm about halfway through.
The film begins in an unexpectedly interesting way, almost suggesting a darker, suspenseful story. But this feeling changes quickly when we meet Ramakant, played by Rajkummar Rao. He is stingy, a bit annoying, but also strangely relatable. His obsession with money, even trying to get back a toaster he once gave away, sets up what could have been a fun and unusual story.
The toaster is central to the story and becomes more than just an object. The latter half of the story gets confusing, with blackmail, secrets, repeated arguments, and too many subplots. This detracts from the film’s early humour. Instead of building tension or comedy, the story just feels repetitive and tiring.
The main problem is the screenplay. The film starts as a light comedy but soon loses its focus, especially after the first half. The second half feels slow, with scenes that drag on and don’t add much. By the time the ending comes, the movie is packed with ideas but doesn’t deliver them well.
Even with these problems, Rajkummar Rao stands out. He makes Ramakant feel real, showing both the funny and frustrating sides of the character. He manages to create some truly funny and emotional moments, even when the script isn’t strong. The rest of the cast doesn’t get much to work with. Sanya Malhotra is graceful but doesn’t have enough to do, and the other supporting actors don’t leave much of an impression.
On the technical side, Toaster is just average. The cinematography is fine, but the background music and score don’t really help set the mood. Editing is also weak, and a shorter cut could have made the film move faster. Some lines are funny, but many jokes feel forced and don’t really work.
In the end, Toaster feels like a missed opportunity. With a stronger script and better narrative control, it could have been an entertaining, offbeat comedy. Instead, it becomes a stretched, uneven experience that starts with promise but ends on a flat note.
WAO Rating: 3 Stars (3/5)