Do you have someone stingy in your life? Well, you do, or you don’t. Netflix’s latest offering, Toaster, is good. The film centers on Ramakant, played by Rajkumar Rao, a stingy common man who hates spending money, especially wasting it, and if you do, it’s a big deal for him. And his stinginess is such that he keeps calculating throughout the day, and not just that, but he can go to any extent to save even a single penny.
The story opens, introducing Ramakant, played by Rajkumar Rao, who, even on his morning walk, saves the extra six rupees charged by the telecom company, and this pretty much gives the audience a hint at what stinginess means. The film explores Ramakant’s tactics to save money, and it surprises with every sequence. While this may seem boring, kudos to Rajkumar Rao, who played the character so well, balancing his stingy personality with the pretense of a big heart. His character isn’t just stingy but fun, and this very habit sets the stage for the plot.
But what’s interesting then? Ramakant lives with his wife, Shilpa, played by Sanya Malhotra, who is beautiful and smart but fed up with her life in a society where only elders surround her. She feels the spark in her life has been lost, and to keep that fire alive, she engages throughout the day, watching thrillers and crime dramas. One day, Ramakant and his wife Shilpa go to Shilpa’s Guruji’s daughter’s wedding. Shilpa takes a 5,000-rupee toaster as a gift, and here comes the first twist.
Ramakant discovers his gifted toaster going to waste, and this sets the stage for the film ahead. Being a stingy person, Ramakant wishes to reclaim the toaster and get his money back, only to find himself in a mess that only gets dirtier with every attempt to set things right.
Director Vivek Daschaudary’s clever work in Toaster delights, Rajkumar Rao as Ramakant undoubtedly shines in this rollercoaster comedy thriller, but Archana Puran Singh as Malini Pherwani brings the surprise that keeps you engaged through the second half of the film. Farah Khan is a delight to watch, while Patralekhaa looked sweet. This film has many characters, and the best part is that every character breathes life into the story with their presence, not making it feel too much but hitting exactly the right note.
Toaster is a must-watch if you wish to take yourself on a rollercoaster ride with fun, comedy, drama, thrill, and surprises that will keep you engaged.
IWMBuzz rates Toaster 3.5 out of 5 stars!
